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2008 Week #12 MAC Football Recap

What a week in the MAC. Three of the five games this week were decided by a FG and two games went into overtime. Before are a few highlights from these games.

This Week’s Games:

Tuesday – November 18

• Northern Illinois @ Kent State

Wednesday – November 19

• Ball State @ Central Michigan - ESPN2

Friday – November 21

• Buffalo @ Bowling Green
• Miami @ Toledo

Saturday - November 22

• Eastern Michigan @ Temple
• Akron @ Ohio

#14 Ball State @ Miami

Nick’s Pick: Ball State 35 – Miami 14

Actual Score: Ball State 31 – Miami 16

Pre Game Quote: “Historically these are very close contests but Ball State has far too much to lose to play around with the RedHawks this season.”

Post Game Comment: Ball State was able to break away in the second half. As expected, Miami played the Cardinals very well before falling.

Top Performers:

• BALL STATE
• Nate Davis 17-24-289 – passing
• Miquale Lewis 26-165 - rushing
• Briggs Orsbon 7-97 - receiving
• MIAMI
• Dan Raudabaugh 25-42-254 – passing

Central Michigan @ Northern Illinois

Nick’s Pick: Central Michigan 31 – Northern Illinois 17

Actual Score: Central Michigan 33 – NIU 30 (OT)

Pre Game Quote: “Central is still in the hunt for a west division championship and can’t afford a slip up before their big game against Ball State later this month. NIU is vastly improved but took it on the chin last week at Ball State. This should be a competitive game but the ‘Chips will win in the end.”

Post Game Comment: The ‘Chips built a 30-6 lead late in the 3 rd quarter before NIU made a furious comeback to force OT. Central held on in OT but you have to love the way the Huskies are playing for new coach Jerry Kill. At 5-5, four of NIU’s losses are by four points or fewer. This team is a only a few plays from being 9-1 just one year after posting a 2-10 record.

Top Performers:

• CENTRL MICHIGAN
• Dan LeFevour 29-121 – rushing
• Dan LeFevour 19-26-189 – passing
• NORTHN ILLINOIS
• Chandler Harnish 18-36-288 – passing
• Matt Simon 6-131 - receiving

Temple @ Kent State

Nick’s Pick: Kent State 27 – Temple 22

Actual Score: Kent State 41 – Temple 38

Pre Game Quote: “Both teams have lost games this season they should have won including Temple’s melt-down last week against Navy. Kent State recently gave coach Doug Martin a vote of confidence this past week. Flip a coin in a game like this but this publication is picking the home team. More than any other MAC game this week, this game could go either way.”

Post Game Comment: As expected, this game was very tight and went back and forth before the Golden Flashes prevailed. KSU held a commanding 561-354 edge in total yardage.

Top Performers:

• KENT STATE
• Eugene Jarvis 34-185 - rushing
• Julian Edelman 22-144 – rushing
• Julian Edelman 18-26-232 – passing
• TEMPLE
• Adam DiMichele 17-29-282 – passing

Buffalo @ Akron

Nick’s Pick: Buffalo 33 – Akron 24

Actual Score: Buffalo 43 – Akron 40 (4 OTs)

Pre Game Quote: “The Zips are playing their final game in the venerable Rubber Bowl but have yet to beat a team winning record this season. UB is playing the best football of any east division team right now and should ride the wave to a victory.”

Post Game Comment: Simply put, this was an incredible game. While the final UA game ever in the 60-year old Rubber Bowl didn’t go the Zips way, it was certainly a memorable four-overtime thriller that lasted over four hours.

Top Performers:

Toledo @ Western Michigan

Nick’s Pick: Western Michigan 51 – Toledo 28

Actual Score: Western Michigan 27 – Toledo 17

Pre Game Quote: “Western is looking for a nice bowl game to invite them with an 8-2 record which includes a victory over Illinois, the third straight season the Broncos have beaten a team from a BCS conference.”

Post Game Comment: Western scored a touchdown in the final play of the first half to take a 10-7 lead into the locker room and that momentum propelled the Broncos to a home victory. The third straight WMU beat the Rockets.

Top Performers:

• WESTRN MICHIGAN
• Aaron Winchester 28-111 – rushing
• Jamarko Simmons 8-96 - receiving
• Juan Nunez 5-87 – receiving
• TOLEDO
• Morgan Williams 16-83 – rushing
• Nick Moore 10-97 - receiving
• Stephen Williams 6-94 – receiving

Nick’s Picks were 5-0 this week (100%); 69-22 year to date (76%).

By Nick Gerogosian
Owner, VanDelay Sports

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