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Nick's 2008 MAC Football Picks - Week #9 Preview & Picks

MAC Notes:

• Week #9 features five games, all of which are conference games matchups
• Four of the five games feature divisional matchups as Ohio plays @ Temple on Tuesday night, and on Saturday Kent State is @ Miami, EMU is @ #20 Ball State and CMU is @ Toledo
• The other MAC game pits the East vs the West as Bowling Green plays @ NIU

Idle this week --

Akron (4-4, 2-2 MAC)

Next Game: Nov. 5 vs. Toledo, 8 pm - ESPN2 or ESPNU

Akron will have a 17-day layoff between games ... a miraculous comeback resulted in a 42-35 win Oct. 18 at Eastern Michigan ... the Zips had a field goal blocked with 39 seconds left while trailing 35-34, but recovered it for a first down and went on to score a game-winning TD...Dennis Kennedy paved the way with 277 rushing yards and 3 TDs ... the Zips will be looking for consecutive wins for the first time this season on Nov. 5 ... Akron’s 2-2 record has it in first place in the East Division.

Buffalo (3-4, 1-2 MAC)

Next Game: Nov. 28 at Ohio, 7 pm - ESPNU

The Bulls 27-24 overtime win Oct. 25 vs. Army snapped a three-game losing streak ... UB rallied from a 24-10 deficit with fourth quarter scoring passes from Drew Willy to Naaman Roosevelt (8 yards) and Ernest Jackson (15 yards at the 4:19 mark), and then won it on an A.J. Principe 34-yard field goal ... it was UB’s second consecutive OT game after the previous week’s 34-28 loss to Western Michigan ... James Starks (103.0 ypg) missed the game with turf toe ... backup RB Brandon Thermilus is averaging 38.6 ypg but has 6 TDs.

Western Michigan (6-2, 4-1 MAC)

Next Game: Nov. 1 vs. Eastern Michigan, 2 pm

The Broncos had their six game winning streak stopped in a 38-28 loss at Central Michigan...Tim

Hiller established a school record with 471 passing yards (also tied for sixth in MAC history) at CMU ... three receivers gained over 100 yards - Juan Nunez (145), Schneider Julien (128) and Jamarko Simmons (118) ... the EMU marks the first of three consecutive home games for WMU... the Nov. 8 contest will be at Ford Field vs. Illinois from the Big Ten before returning to Waldo Stadium for the Nov. 15 contest vs. Toledo.

MAC vs. FBS (I-A)

ACC

Boston College vs. Kent State @ Cleveland..... L 21-0

Eastern Michigan at Maryland.................. L 51-24

Big East

Bowling Green at Pittsburgh....................W 27-17

Connecticut at Temple............................L 12-9 (OT)

Akron at Syracuse....................................W 42-28

Buffalo at Pittsburgh................................. L 27-16

Miami at Cincinnati.................................. L 45-20

Cincinnati at Akron................................... L 17-15

Big Ten

Akron at Wisconsin................................... L 38-17

Northern Illinois at Minnesota.................. L 31-27

Miami at Michigan...................................... L 16-6

Ohio at Ohio State..................................... L 26-14

Minnesota at Bowling Green.................... L 42-17

Eastern Michigan at Michigan State......... L 42-10

Ball State at Indiana.................................W 42-20

Central Michigan at Purdue...................... L 32-25

Ohio at Northwestern.................................. L 16-8

Temple at Penn State................................... L 45-3

Toledo at Michigan..................................W 13-10

Central Michigan at Indiana.............................N 1

Illinois vs. W. Michigan (@Detroit)................N 8

Big 12

Western Michigan at Nebraska................. L 47-24

Kent State at Iowa State............................ L 48-28

Buffalo at Missouri................................... L 42-21

C-USA

UTEP at Buffalo.......................................W 42-17

Mountain West

Ohio at Wyoming...................................... L 21-20

Bowling Green at Wyoming....................W 45-16

PAC 10

Toledo at Arizona...................................... L 41-16

SEC

Vanderbilt at Miami.................................. L 34-13

Central Michigan at Georgia..................... L 56-17

Northern Illinois at Tennessee..................... L 13-9

Sun Belt

Kent State at Louisiana-Lafayette............. L 44-27

FIU at Toledo............................................ L 35-16

Ball State at Western Kentucky...............W 24-7

WAC

Western Michigan at Idaho......................W 51-28

Bowling Green at Boise State..................... L 20-7

Fresno State at Toledo............................... L 55-54 (2OTs)

Independent

Temple at Army..........................................W 35-7

Navy at Ball State....................................W 35-23

Akron at Army...........................................W 22-3

Eastern Michigan at Army........................ L 17-13

Army at Buffalo...................................W 27-24 (OT)

Temple at Navy................................................N 1

Navy at Northern Illinois...............................N 25

MAC vs. FCS (I-AA)

Big South

Charleston Southern at Miami................W 37-28

Colonial

Northeastern at Ball State.......................W 48-14

MEAC

Delaware State at Kent State.....................W 24-3

Missouri Valley

Indiana State at Eastern Michigan............W 51-0

Indiana State at Northern Illinois..............W 48-3

Ohio Valley

Eastern Illinois at Central Michigan.......W 31-12

Tennessee Tech at W. Michigan................W 41-7

Southern

VMI at Ohio............................................W 51-31

Ohio Bobcats (2-5, 1-2 MAC) @ Temple Owls (2-5, 1-3 MAC)

DATE: Tuesday, October 21st @ 8 pm ET

SITE: Lincoln Financial Field (68,532/Natural Grass) - Philadelphia, PA

TELEVISION: ESPN2, ESPN360.com

COACHES: Frank Solich (4th year @ Ohio) & AL Golden (3rd year @ Temple)

Nick’s Pick: Ohio 24 - Temple 20

Comment: Ohio has the offense to score points while Temple has a solid defense. Expect turnovers and several lead changes but in the end, look for the Bobcats to squeeze out a victory over the Owls.

Eastern Michigan (2-6, 1-3 MAC) @ #20 Ball State (7-0, 3-0 MAC)

SITE: Schuemann Stadium (22,500/Field Turf) - Muncie, Ind.

TELEVISION: None

SERIES RECORD: BSU leads 27-20-2 ... the Cardinals have won the last three meetings ... the series began in 1936 and has been continuous since 1973 ... EMU last won in Muncie in 2003 and is 2-19 all-time as the visitor.

COACHES: EMU-Jeff Genyk (15-39, fifth season); BSU-Brady Hoke (29-37, sixth season).

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GAME NOTES: Ball State was idle last week and most recently played Oct. 11 in a 24-7 win at Western Kentucky ... the Cardinals are No. 20 in the first BCS rankings, No. 20 in the Associated Press poll, and No. 22 in the USA TODAY Coaches poll ... each of those rankings are the highest ever for the BSU program ... the Cardinals lead the MAC in scoring offense (37.4 ppg), total offense (455.6 ypg), pass efficiency (161.4), pass efficiency defense (102.8), third down conversions (53.2 pct.), penalties (fewest, 37.7 ypg) and red zone offense (90.3 pct.) ... Nate Davis tops the MAC in pass efficiency (162.3 rating, 137-of-200 for 1,817 yards, 13 TDs, 4 int.) and MiQuale Lewis has a league-leading 130.6 rushing yards per game (914 yards, 13 TDs, 5.7 ypc) ... BSU ranks second in the MAC in scoring defense (15.4 ppg allowed) and Sean Baker is tied for the lead in interceptions with four ... EMU has played three games in a row where the final scoring margin has been 3, 4 and 7 points, but are 1-2 in those games ... RB Terrence Blevins rushed for 91 yards last week vs. Akron and is tied for second in the league with nine rushing TDs ... freshman DL Brad Ohrman had two sacks and a key forced fumble last week ... this is the first of three consecutive road games for the Eagles ... last week Andy Schmitt passed for season highs in yards (258) and TDs (3).

Nick’s Pick: Ball State 34 – Eastern 21

Comment: The Cardinals and Eagles have played some thrilling games over the past decade. While EMU’s record is just 2-6 they do have some talent to keep this game close. Look for Ball State to win by double-digits but not a blow-out victory.

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Central Michigan (5-2, 4-0 MAC) @ Toledo (2-5, 1-2 MAC)

SITE: Glass Bowl (26,248/NeXturf) - Toledo, Ohio

TELEVISION: MAC Game of the Week/ESPN Plus & Game Plan (Michael Reghi, Doug Chapman)

SERIES RECORD: Toledo leads 17-16-3 ... the Chippewas have won the last three meetings...under current CMU QB Dan LeFevour, the Chippewas have combined for 95 points the last two games ... the schools have met every season since 1975.

COACHES: CMU-Butch Jones (13-8, second season); UT-Tom Amstutz (57-37, eighth season).

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GAME NOTES: These programs have combined to represent the West Division in seven of the 11 MAC Championship games ... the Rockets have lost all three of their home games this season and are averaging 9.0 ppg overall in their last four games ... UT lost last week at Northern Illinois 38-7... CMU defeated rival Western Michigan 38-28 and has won three consecutive games for the first time since weeks 5-6-7 last year ... the Chippewas last won four in a row during the 2006 season ... QB Dan LeFevour will return after missing last week’s game due to an ankle injury he suffered Oct. 11 vs. Temple ... Brian Brunner started in his place, passing for 346 yards and a TD...freshman Bryan Schroeder rushed for 106 yards a week after seeing his first collegiate action with 37 yards vs. Temple ... Frank Zombo had 2.5 sacks vs. WMU and now leads the MAC with 7.5 sacks... Rockets QB Aaron Opelt (16-of-22, 138 yards) was injured in the fourth quarter at NIU but is expected to return this week ... sophomore Alex Pettee stepped in for Opelt, seeing his first action for UT (1-of-2 passing, 11 yards) ... the Rockets have two of the MAC’s top 10 rushing leaders - DeJuane Collins (77.2 ypg) and Morgan Williams (52.0 ypg) but were limited to 80 rushing yards last week ... CMU has not played on the road since Sept. 20 at Purdue ... with three receptions last week, Bryan Anderson became CMU’s all-time receptions leader with 194.

Kent State (1-6, 0-3 MAC) @ Miami (2-5, 1-2 MAC)

SITE: Yager Stadium (24,286/Field Turf) - Oxford, Ohio

TELEVISION: ONN (Tim Bray, Neil Dougherty)

SERIES RECORD: Miami leads 44-11 ... the teams have split the last two meetings, MU winning last year 20-13, a and KSU in 2006, 16-14 ... the visitor has won the last three meetings ... since

1989, Miami holds a 17-2 advantage ... the schools have met every year since 1955.

COACHES: KSU-Doug Martin (16-37, fifth season); (MIA-Shane Montgomery (17-26, fourth season).

GAME NOTES: The RedHawks snapped a three-game losing streak last week with a 27-20 win at Bowling Green ... Kent State was idle last week and last saw action Oct. 11 in a 26-19 home loss to Ohio, the Golden Flashes fourth consecutive defeat ... KSU has lost its last six road games ... RB Eugene Jarvis returned to action Oct. 11 for the first time since the Delaware State game (Sept. 13) and rushed 14 times for 50 yards vs. Ohio ... Flashes QB Julian Edelman ranks third in the MAC in rushing (89.0 ypg) and has piled up 249 yards on 39 attempts the last two games ... KSU’s 205

rushing ypg tops the MAC, but their 168.9 passing ypg ranks 12th ... the RedHawks’ 27 points last week were its most this year vs. an FBS (I-A) opponent ... two freshmen excelled in the win at BG ... RB J.R. Taylor gained 127 yards on 18 attempts and scored the game-winning touchdown ...QB Clayton Belton, in his first career start, completed 11-of-23 attempts for 123 yards, including a 53-yard score to Chris Givens ... in its first five games, Miami averaged 80.4 ypg rushing; in its last two games Miami has averaged 181.5 ypg rushing ... KSU has allowed 19 rushing TDs, the second highest total in the league, but just six passing TDs, the second fewest via the air.

Nick’s Pick: Miami 23 – Kent State 13

Comment: Has Miami found an offense? It’s been missing for two seasons now. Kent State continues to self-destruct and it’s their mistakes that will lead the RedHawks to a victory and a .500 mark in the MAC.

Bowling Green (3-4, 1-2 MAC) @ Northern Illinois (4-3, 3-1 MAC)

SITE: Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium (24,000/Field Turf) - DeKalb, Ill.

TELEVISION: CSN Chicago (Tom Dore, Dave Kaplan, Bob Chmiel, Jim Blaney)

SERIES RECORD: BGSU leads 10-5 ... this is the first meeting between the teams since 2004, a

34-17 NIU victory ... the Falcons last win was in 2003 by a 34-18 score when NIU was ranked No. 12 and BGSU No. 23.

COACHES: BGSU-Gregg Brandon (41-28, sixth season); NIU-Jerry Kill (4-3, first season at school; 108-60, 15th season overall)

GAME NOTES: This is the last of three consecutive home games for the Huskies ... NIU is after its first three-game winning streak since 2006 (4 straight wins in weeks 3-6) ... the Huskies are 3-0 at home this season after last week’s 38-7 win over Toledo and have outscored opponents 103-23 in those three games ... BGSU dropped to 0-3 in its home at Doyt Perry Stadium with a 27-20 loss to Miami last week ... the Falcons are 3-1 on the road with wins at Pittsburgh, Wyoming and Akron...the Huskies are sparked offensively by freshmen Chandler Harnish at QB and Me’co Brown at RB...Harnish returned to the starting lineup last week and threw for 3 TDs, completing 12-of-16 passes for 173 yards ... Brown has rushed for a team leading 54.7 yards per game, ninth highest total in the MAC ... in the only two games he has been given 16 or more rushing attempts, Brown has surpassed the 100-yard mark (Miami 16 for 123; EMU 17 for 111) ... the Huskies defense ranks among the best nationally and leads the MAC in scoring defense (13.7 ppg allowed) and total defense (281.4 ypg allowed, and 45 yards better than the No. 2 team) ... BG’s offense thrives on the passing arm of Tyler Sheehan, who averages 239 passing yards per game and has 11 TDs with only five interceptions ... TE Jimmy Scheidler has just 11 receptions for 74 yards but six of those receptions are for touchdowns ... Kenny Lewis ranks third in the MAC in kickoff returns (27.3 ypr) and also in passes defended (7, 5 break ups, 2 interceptions) ... BG’s running game ranks 12th in the league at 106.4 ypg, but the Falcons are 3-1 in games they produce 100-plus yards rushing ... NIU has allowed four of its seven opponents to rush for 100-plus yards this season.

Nick’s Pick: NIU 21 – BGSU 10

Comment: The Falcons have played much better on the road than at home this season but NIU is easily the most improved MAC team this fall. Jerry Kill should be a shoe-in for the MAC Coach of the Year honor.

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