Comment: Miami has never lost to Buffalo and leads the series 10-0, but there is a first time for everything and this year is the year where Buffalo will win the MAC East. UB will be favored in their final four MAC contests while Miami will struggle to win another game this season. Look for a big UB victory.

Toledo (2-6, 1-3 MAC) @ Akron (4-4, 2-2 MAC)

Site: Rubber Bowl (31,000/AstroPlay) - Akron, Ohio

Wednesday, November 5, 8 pm ET

Television: ESPNU

Nick’s Pick: Akron 28 - Toledo 23

Comment: Toledo leads the series 8-7 but has dominated this series since the Zips joined the MAC in 1992. Akron is playing for a shot in the MAC Championship Game while Toledo is simply playing for pride as they are assured of their third straight losing season. With Monday's announcement that UT coach Tom Amstutz will be done at the end of the season, who knows what to expect from Toledo. Give the nod to the home team since they are playing for something, but from a pure talent point of view, the Rockets have more on their roster than Akron.

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Northern Illinois (5-3, 4-1 MAC) @ #17 Ball State (8-0, 4-0 MAC)

Site: Schuemann Stadium (22,500/FieldTurf) - Muncie, Ind.

Wednesday, November 5, 8 pm ET

Television: ESPN2

Nick’s Pick:
Ball State 24 - NIU 20

Comment:
The Cardinals lead the series 19-14 and won a tight battle last season 27-21. With the vast improvement of NIU across the board this year, especially on defense, look for this to be another close contest. Ever since Dante Love's injury, the BSU offense has not clicked as well. This is a "trap-game" for the nationally ranked Cardinals, who can't look ahead to their games later this month against Central and Western Michigan. This game will be a dogfight.

Illinois (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) @ Western Michigan (7-2, 5-1 MAC)

Site: Detroit, MI

Saturday, November 8, 12 p.m. ET

Television: ESPN GamePlan, ESPN360.com

The Broncos defeated Eastern Michigan last week 31-10 to get back into the win column ... the Illini captured a 27-24 win over Iowa last week ... two of UI’s four losses are to ranked teams (Missouri and Penn State) ... QB talent Juice Williams has 403 plays of total offense, resulting in 2,441 passing yards and 19 TDs, and 509 rushing yards and five TDs ... WMU counters with the MAC’s top passing yards leader in Tim Hiller ... Hiller has 2,856 yards and 28 TDs with just five interceptions ... the Broncos feature Brandon West and his 94.7 ypg in their running attack ... the Broncos are 4-0 in home games while the Illini is 1-3 in road games with its lone victory coming in Ann Arbor ... WMU has seven wins for the third time in Bill Cubit’s four years as head coach and are one win shy of his best of eight victories in 2006 ... the Illini’s Zook, a graduate of MAC member Miami and an all-MAC selection in 1975 at DB, took his 2007 squad to the Rose Bowl in his second year after inheriting a 2-10 squad ... likewise, Cubit took the WMU program to a bowl game in his second season after taking over after a 1-10 season (International Bowl, 2006 season) ... Hiller has a TD pass in 12 consecutive games and WR Jamarko Simmons has caught a pass in 26 consecutive games ... Simmons tops the MAC in receptions (73) and receiving yards (830).

Nick’s Pick: Western Michigan 33 - Illinois 27

Comment: The MAC has a few wins over Big Ten teams this season and should be able to add one more to the mix this weekend at Detroit's Ford Field. Western's offense can hang with most BCS teams while Illinois has struggled of late. In a minor upset, look for the Broncos to beat the Illini in a thriller.

Bowling Green (4-5, 2-3 MAC) @ Ohio (2-7, 1-4 MAC)

Site: Peden Stadium (24,000/FieldTurf) - Athens, Ohio

Saturday, November 8, 2p.m. ET

Television: None

The Falcons won their first home game of 2008 last week, jumping to a 28-0 lead en route to a 45-30 triumph over Kent State ... the Bobcats played a Tuesday night (Oct. 28) versus Buffalo and suffered a 32-19 loss ... the Bobcats had seven fumbles, losing four to the Bulls ... Boo Jackson completed 20-of-29 pass attempts for 290 yards and two TDs and also led the team in rushing with 70 yards on nine carries for Ohio ... BG signalcaller Tyler Sheehan also led his team in rushing with a career-high 109 yards on 14 carries, adding a TD ... Sheehan also passed for two TDs and 159 yards, completing 16-of-23 attempts ... the BG defense made two early interceptions to spark the 28-point halftime margin as P.J. Mahone and Jeret Sanderson came away with picks ... the Falcons will be looking to win back-to-back games for the first time this year and perhaps ignite a strong finish as they did in 2007, when a four-game winning streak to end the regular season vaulted them into the GMAC Bowl ... Ohio is out to break a two-game losing streak.

Nick’s Pick: Ohio 33 - Bowling Green 31

Comment: Is there a bigger Jeckle-Hyde team in the MAC than the BG Falcons? This publication has done a dreadful job picking them this year so this should be welcome choice for the Falcon faithful. Ohio's offense is scoring as are the Falcons, but something seems to be missing with this year's BG squad. Just when you think they've turned the corner, they stumble. Just when you write them off, they win again. After clubbing Kent State last week, it's BG's turn to stumble this week.

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