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Nick's 2007 MAC Football Picks - Week #3 Recap

Another Poor Showing for the MAC this Weekend

Ball State was the lone MAC program to beat a I-A (football bowl subdivision) non-conference foe this past weekend. The Cardinals played an extremely entertaining game at Navy and pulled out an impressive and dramatic 34-31 overtime victory. Navy finished with 585 yards, including 521 on the ground while Ball State amassed 539 yards, 277 of them on passes by QB Nate Davis. Entering the fourth quarter, the score (21-21) and the yardage (395-395) were perfectly even. Even the penalties (three apiece) were identical.

Kent State was the only other MAC program to get a non-conference win this past weekend with a 38-7 home victory over Delaware State. Eugene Jarvis rushed for 136 yards and scored two touchdowns while QB Julian Edelman passed for three scores. Shawn Bayes scored on a 42-yard reception while adding a 95-yard kickoff return for a score in the final minute for the Golden Flashes.

Temple went toe to toe all afternoon long with UConn but dropped a 22-17 heartbreaker as what appeared to be a TD reception on their final offensive play with just seconds remaining was called out of bounds. Video replay gave hope to the Owls that the call would be overturned but it was not and UConn escaped with a five-point victory. Temple really played well Jason Harper making his first career start for Temple, carried the ball 22 times for 114 yards and a touchdown. Ohio trailed just 14-7 in the 4th Quarter at Virginia Tech before the Hokies scored two late touchdowns to win 28-7 over the Bobcats.

In the lone MAC contest, Eastern Michigan did something they rarely do – they won a close contest with a nice 21-19 road victory against NIU. The Eagles snapped a seven-game losing streak extending back to October 2006 and beat the Huskies for the first time since 2000. A potential game-winning 50-yard field goal try by NIU kicker Chris Nendick was blocked as time expired.

Buffalo played very well at Penn State but lost 45-24. UB led 3-0 late in the second quarter before PSU scored 31 unanswered points. The Bulls had more total yards than PSU (395-393) with Drew Willy passing for 330 yards and one TD.

That is it for the MAC highlights. Now the many “lowlights.” Akron was tied at 17 at Indiana before the Hoosiers pulled away for a 41-24 win – their 19th straight over a MAC opponent dating back to 1977. Cincinnati pounded Miami in Oxford 47-10 while Purdue jumped out to a 38-0 lead before cruising 45-22 against Central Michigan. The Big 12 really smacked the MAC around this weekend too with Missouri dominating Western Michigan 52-24 and Kansas toyed with hapless Toledo 45-13.

Eastern Michigan @ Northern Illinois

Nick’s Pick: NIU 20 – Eastern Michigan 14

Actual Score: Eastern Michigan 21 – NIU 19

Buffalo @ Penn State

Nick’s Pick: Penn State 38 – Buffalo 13

Actual Score: Penn State 45 – Buffalo 24

Temple @ Connecticut

Nick’s Pick: UConn 38 – Temple 14

Actual Score: UConn 22 – Temple 17

Akron @ Indiana

Nick’s Pick: Indiana 28 – Akron 14

Actual Score: Indiana 41 – Akron 24

Miami vs. Cincinnati

Nick’s Pick: Cincinnati 24 – Miami 17

Actual Score: Cincinnati 47 – Miami 10

Central Michigan @ Purdue

Nick’s Pick: Purdue 51 – Central Michigan 34

Actual Score: Purdue 45 – Central Michigan 22

Western Michigan @ Missouri

Nick’s Pick: Missouri 48 – Western Michigan 24

Actual Score: Missouri 52 – Western Michigan 24

Ohio @ Virginia Tech

Nick’s Pick: Virginia Tech 41 – Ohio 12

Actual Score: Virginia Tech 28 – Ohio 7

Ball State @ Navy

Nick’s Pick: Ball State 38 – Navy 35

Actual Score: Ball State 34 – Navy 31 (OT)

Kent State vs. Delaware State

Nick’s Pick: Kent State 27 – Delaware State 14

Actual Score: Kent State 38 – Delaware State 7

Kansas @ Toledo

Nick’s Pick: Kansas 73 – Toledo 21

Actual Score: Kansas 45 – Toledo 13

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Ranking the MAC Teams after Week #3

1. Ohio - Still looking good even after loss at V-Tech

2. BGSU - Did the week off hurt their positive momentum?

3. Kent State - When they don’t turn it over, this is a very solid team

4. Ball State - After week #1 letdown, playing as expected now

5. Akron - Couldn’t hold on at Indiana, getting better as season goes on

6. Miami - Dominated by Cincinnati, back to square #1

7. Eastern Michigan - Will close win at NIU springboard the program’s turnaround?

8. Buffalo - Look out MAC; UB may have arrived – finally!

9. Temple - Heartbreaker at UConn, much improved

10. Central Michigan - Another slow start and wipeout at Purdue

11. NIU - Two straight home heartbreakers, is Novak’s magic gone?

12. Western Michigan - Preseason MAC favorite has looked nothing like one to date

13. Toledo - Quickly approaching DI-A’s worst team

by Nick Gerogosian

published 09.17.2007

Nick's 2007 MAC Football Picks & Recaps

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