The Miami (OH) RedHawks and the UMASS Minutemen will square off on Saturday with each looking to earn their first victory of the season and get the monkey off of their back this weekend.
The RedHawks are ranked 120th in the nation in passing offense averaging 106.8 passing yards per game. The running game has struggled averaging only 91.6 rushing yards per game. Points have been hard to come by with the RedHawks averaging 8.8 points per game (125 in the nation). Freshman quarterback turned running back Austin Gearing has been the lone bright spot of the offense. On the year, Gearing has accumulated 248 rushing yards for a 4.9 average and is coming off a 100-yard rushing game in the loss last week to Central Michigan (108 rushing yards).
UMASS is ranked 112th in the nation in passing offense averaging 148.8 passing yards per game and is 105th in the country averaging 114 rushing yards per game. The Minutemen are scoring seven points per game and are ranked 126th in the country in points scored. Sophomore wide receiver Tajae Sharpe has emerged as a solid No. 1 receiver with 31 receptions for 279 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, both teams have surrendered a ton of points. The RedHawks have allowed 35.6 points per game and the Minutemen have yielded 31.6 points per contest. This game could come down to turnovers, and the RedHawks hold the advantage in this category. Miami (OH) has been very aggressive in forcing turnovers with a +5 in turnover margin and UMASS is even in turnover margin.
Game time is set for 3:00 pm at UMASS.
Joseph Lisi is a MAC writer for www.Rantsports.com, follow him on Twitter @GoForthe2, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google