AKRON, Ohio -- The challenge is simple for the Akron Zips: stop giving the football away.
Favored in their last three games, the Zips (4-5, 2-3 MAC East) have lost them all while committing 14 turnovers in those three games to put themselves in a hole.
The dreams of a division title are gone. The challenge now is to finish at least .500, become bowl eligible, and build from there. That begins Tuesday at 8 p.m. against the Buffalo Bulls on ESPNU.
Buffalo is also reeling, having lost four straight, including two since firing head coach Jeff Quinn. The Bulls (3-6, 1-4) advanced to a bowl game last season, and even after losing several players to graduation and to the NFL, a return to postseason play was the aspiration for 2014.
Like the Zips, Buffalo still has bowl game dreams, but must win out, which means knocking off the Zips. Akron needs to win two of their last three.
Stop the turnovers and the Zips could quickly return to their winning ways. The miscues have come in just about every form, led by interceptions by a pair of quarterbacks, incumbent starter Kyle Pohl and backup Thomas Woodson. But blocked punts, blocked field goals, fumbled punts, fumbled receptions and fumbled center snaps have all come into play as well.
Akron-Buffalo quick hits:
The weather: For the second straight week the Zips will have to face tough weather conditions. Temperatures are expected to drop near freezing by game time with the possibility of snow. Last week the Zips faced high winds and rain, and combined with their turnovers led to defeat.
On the run: The season-long question is why the Zips practically refuse to run, even with a pair of veteran tailbacks in senior Jawon Chisholm and junior Conor Hundley. Akron is averaging just 121.6 rushing yards, but Chisholm is averaging 5.0 yards per carry (388 yards, 4 TD) and Hundley is at 5.6 (455 yards, 3 TD).
In Akron's 27-10 loss to Bowling Green last week, the Zips paid the price for throwing the football too much. Meanwhile, the Falcons dialed down their passing game in the inclement weather and had two players rush for over 100 yards each instead.
On the other hand: The Bulls have tailback Anthone Taylor (988 yards, 9 TD) on the cusp of 1,000 yards, yet interim head coach Alex Wood said Monday in the weekly MAC coaches teleconference, "we're still having trouble getting our running game going."
Buffalo is averaging 151.3 rushing yards, allowing 188.6. Perhaps most alarming is the Bulls have allowed 26 rushing TDs. Akron's run defense is solid, allowing 143.8 yards per game and just nine touchdowns.
The end game: Needing two victories in their last three games, the Zips can still become bowl eligible. But after ending last season with four wins in their last five games, ending this season on the slide would be a step back.
Buffalo has lost four straight. Akron still has UMass (2-7) and Kent State (1-8). Akron has already suffered its MAC upset for the season, at Ball State (3-6, 2-3). The Zips really can't afford another one and still call this season a success.
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