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2008 Week #6 MAC Football Recap

Week #6 MAC Notes:

• Week #6 saw six games featuring five MAC matchups and a single non-conference game as NIU put a scare into Tennessee in a 13-9 loss
• In five MAC games WMU, Ball State, EMU, Temple & Akron picked up wins with WMU & EMU getting wins for the MAC West over the East
• Luke's "Win of the Week" goes to the Western Michigan Broncos. Ohio has been a gutsy team and stayed close in all of their previous losses, but in this game WMU took advantage of their opportunities and pouned the Bobcats.
• For the week, Nick's Picks were 4-2 losing the Temple/Miami and Eastern Michigan/Bowling Green matchups.

Akron 30 - Kent State 27 - 2 OT

Nick’s Pick: Akron 26 – Kent State 13

Comment: Nick seemed prophetic when he said "Akron has been a surprise this season and should have beaten Cincinnati last week if it was not for a lousy kicking game. Kent State is beat up right now with injuries to star-players on both sides of the ball. It would be very surprising to see Kent State win this game, although the final score may be closer than the prediction above."

A missed FG in OT by Kent State's Nate Reed from 23 yards out was the difference in this one. The way I see it, if you cannot make a 23-yard field goal at any point in a football game, then you just plain do not deserve to win anyway. The Zips are now 1-1 in MAC play with Kent State facing a 0-2 start in conference play. Akron hosts BG on Saturday @ 6 pm while Kent hosts Ohio at 2 pm.

Western Michigan 41 - Ohio 20

Nick’s Pick: Western Michigan 30 – Ohio 28

Comment: "Ohio has the talent and the passing game to win but all season long untimely mistakes have killed them..." Mistakes have killed Ohio all season, both turnovers and penalties, and today was no different in Kalamazoo as Ohio had 3 turnovers and 9 penalties for 98 yards. WMU QB Tim Hiller threw for 347 yards and 4 TDs as he led the Broncos from a 11-7 halftime lead to a dominant 30-13 second half margin. Ohio is @ Kent State on Saturday while WMU is @ Buffalo.

Temple 28 - Miami 10

Nick’s Pick: Miami 14 – Temple 10

Comment: Nick wasn't far off on this one as he said "This is a battle between two of the most anemic offenses in the country. The first team with 250 total yards will win. We believe it will be Miami." The final tally on offense was Miami edging Temple 303-294 in total yards, but the Owls scores two TDs in just over two minutes to extend a 14-10 lead to 28-10. Four Miami turnovers played a key role in this game as 17,295 witnessed disappointment in Oxford. Temple is @ Central Michigan at 4 pm on Saturday while Miami is @ NIU.

Eastern Michigan 24 - Bowling Green 21

Ball State 31 - Toledo 0

Nick’s Pick: Ball State 48 – Toledo 24

Comment: Nick stated that this was a game between "Two programs going in totally opposite directions," and this game did nothing to disprove that statement. Despite just a 3-0 halftime lead for the Cardinals, Ball State dominated this game. In total yards Ball State held a 482-157 edge. In rushing yards the Cardinals dominated 240-14 and in Time of Possession Ball State had a 35:11 to 24:49 advantage. With the win Ball State is now 6-0 and #25 in the latest AP Poll as they head into a non-conference game @ Western Kentucky on Saturday night. Toledo heads to the Big House in Michigan where two struggling programs will square off.

> Find a nice selection of Ball State apparel & merchandise online through VanDelay Sports!

Tennessee 13 - Northern Illinois 9

Nick’s Pick: Tennessee 23 – NIU 19

Comment: Nick scores a touchdown with this pregame statement - " The Huskies have a real shot to win this game, but this publication is picking the home team in a close contest." Both teams struggled offensively as NIU cut into a Tennessee 13-3 lead with two 3rd quarter field goals, but the Vols' defense was too much holding NIU to just 194 total yards. It was an impressive defensive perfromance by the Huskies in holding a the defending 2007 SEC East champs to just 13 points and 225 yards of total offense, as NIU has now allowed just 16 points in their past three games. NIU hosts Miami on Saturday @ 4 pm as they get back into MAC play.

By Luke Jernigan
VanDelay Sports Webmaster & Marketing Director

Nick's MAC Football Picks are brought to you each week throughout the MAC football season here at VanDelay Sports.