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2008 Week #14 MAC Football Recap

After nearly a 78% accuracy for the first thirteen weeks to date, Nick’s Picks took it on the chin this past weekend going 2-5. Along the way, several MAC head coaches worked their last game on the sidelines for their schools. Already known, Eastern Michigan’s Jeff Genyk and Toledo’s Tom Amstutz finished their careers with previously announced resignations/firings from earlier this month. EMU won their final game for their coach in a wild 56-52 affair over rival Central Michigan. Toledo on the other hand totally flopped at home against their arch-rival, Bowling Green and were drilled in the Glass Bowl by the Falcons 38-10 in a game that wasn’t even that close. Surprisingly, BGSU then fired their coach Gregg Brandon the day after. As expected, Miami’s Shane Montgomery was relieved of his duties after their third straight losing season. On a positive note for the MAC, Ball State finished the season 12-0 and if they beat Buffalo in the MAC Championship next week Friday, they have a slim chance at receiving a BCS bid. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for the Cardinals.

Western Michigan @ Ball State

Nick's Pick: Ball State 33 - Western Michigan 27

Actual Score: Ball State 45 – Western Michigan 22

Pregame Comment: It's a true shame in college football that potential undefeated and quality teams like Ball State and Boise State can run the table and then sit back and watch pathetic champions from the ACC and Big East Conferences, with three-losses even, earn BCS games. Forget the playoff debate; let's end this shame right now. Given the current system, Ball State looks to make it interesting as they could easily finish 13-0 this season. They face a huge obstacle in Western Michigan.

Postgame Comment: MiQuale Lewis ran for three touchdowns and set a school single-season record while Nate Davis threw for one score and ran for another and even the defense got into the end zone as #15 Ball State rolled clinching a spot in the Mid-American Conference championship game.

Navy @ Northern Illinois

Nick's Pick: NIU 26 - Navy 23

Actual Score: Navy – 16 – NIU 0

Pregame Comment: With a win the Huskies could earn a bowl bid at 7-5 depending upon how this weekend develops. Navy is already set to play in the new Washington DC Bowl and still has a game against Army. The Huskies are playing very good football right now and are tough against the run, which is Navy's whole offense. Look for NIU to win a thriller in DeKalb and then keep their fingers crossed for that bowl destination.

Postgame Comment: Quarterback Ricky Dobbs scored a touchdown and ran for 124 yards in his first start to lead Navy to a 16-0 victory over Northern Illinois on Tuesday night. Navy (7-4) scored on its first two possessions and held the ball for more than 17 minutes in the first half as they beat the Huskies (6-6) for the second straight year.

Central Michigan @ Eastern Michigan

Nick’s Pick: Central Michigan 45 – Eastern Michigan 34

Actual Score: Eastern Michigan 56 – Central Michigan 52

Pregame Comment: This will be Eastern Michigan coach Jeff Genyk’s last game. A good guy and a good coach who has certainly improved this program, he could never sustain momentum to get over the four-win hump in a season. Central is a solid program right now and has a real shot at finishing with 10 wins. Central will win in a shoot out.

Postgame Comment: EMU’s Andy Schmitt broke the NCAA record (all divisions) for completions and WR Tyler Jones tied the NCAA Division I record for receptions and Eastern Michigan upset Central Michigan in the regular-season finale for both teams on Friday. Eastern Michigan's Jeff Genyk coached his last game Friday but his Eagles victory was one to remember as Schmitt's 58 completions broke the NCAA record of 57, which was set by Jeremy Moses of Stephen F. Austin earlier this season. The Football Bowl Subdivision record of 55 was shared by Purdue's Drew Brees in 1998 and Wake Forest's Rusty LaRue in 1995. Schmitt attempted 80 passes and his 516 yards broke the Eastern Michigan school record, which he set last week in a 55-52 loss at Temple. Schmitt also threw five touchdown passes and ran for a TD. Jones' 23 receptions tied the mark of UNLV's Randy Gatewood, who set it in 1994. Jerry Rice of Mississippi Valley State holds the NCAA record of 24 catches in 1983. Jones had 170 yards

Ohio @ Miami

Nick’s Pick: Ohio 30 – Miami 21

Actual Score: Ohio 41 – Miami 26

Pregame Comment: It’s hard to understand the fall Miami has incurred over the past three seasons. A very solid program under Randy Walker and Terry Hoeppner, the RedHawks have fallen on hard times. Ohio is rebuilding this year but is the better team this season.

Postgame Comment: OU’s Boo Jackson passed for three touchdowns and Chris Garrett ran for two as Ohio beat Miami of Ohio 41-26 on Friday, piling up 516 yards of total offense. Garrett rushed 23 times for 222 yards, and Jackson was 15-of-20 for 190 yards for Ohio (4-8, 3-5 Mid-American Conference.) Jackson had touchdown passes of 3 and 2 yards, but also connected with Taylor Price for a 51-yard score. Dan Raudebaugh was 26-of-41 for 258 yards and a touchdown for Miami (2-10, 1-7) while Andre Bratton had 100 yards on 17 carries.

Akron @ Temple

Nick’s Pick: Akron 27 – Temple 21

Actual Score: Temple 27 – Akron 6

Pregame Comment: The winner of this game will be the #2 ranked team in east division if BG loses at Toledo Friday. That’s how far behind the MAC east is from the west division right now. Akron has the better offense to pull out a close game.

Kent State @ Buffalo

Nick’s Pick: Buffalo 37 – Kent State 21

Actual Score: Kent State 24 – Buffalo 21

Pregame Comment: Five weeks ago we stated Buffalo would not lose again this regular season, finish 8-4 and win the east division. A win over hard-luck Kent State will prove us right. This will likely be the last “home” game for UB coach Turner Gill as he has become one of the hottest coaching prospects in the nation.

Postgame Comment: Julian Edleman's 25-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Simpson with 5:57 left gave Kent State a 24-21 win over Mid-American Conference East champion Buffalo Friday. Edleman, who also ran for 167 yards while completing 13 of 23 attempts for 114 yards, drove Kent State (4-8, 3-5 MAC) 80 yards and capped the drive by lofting the game-winning completion to Simpson, his only catch of the day. Earlier, Buffalo's (7-5, 5-3 MAC) Drew Willy teamed up with Naaman Roosevelt for a go-ahead 23-yard score with 9:11 left and a 21-17 lead. Kent's Derek Burrell dashed Buffalo's hopes for a game-winning touchdown when he forced Brett Hamlin to fumble at the 1-yard line. Eugene Jarvis ran for 150 yards and scored two touchdowns. The Golden Flashes had 426 yards of total offense, rushing for 312 yards. Roosevelt had 8 receptions for 124 yards. James Starks ran for 136 yards on 24 carries with one touchdown.

Bowling Green @ Toledo

Nick’s Pick: Toledo 42 – BGSU 31

Actual Score: BGSU 38 – Toledo 10

Pregame Comment: Two weeks ago this publication would have picked the Falcons to win by two or three touchdowns but after last week’s home meltdown at Doyt-Perry, BGSU has to be kicking themselves of what might-have-been. A 7-5 season, a MACC birth and bowl game were all lost when the Bulls blew a 20-point 4th quarter lead and lost in OT. It took the Toledo coaching staff eleven weeks to finally figure out that RB Morgan Williams is the best offensive weapon on the team. They will ride his skills two weeks in a row for a rivalry victory and send coach Tom Amstutz away with a smile.

Postgame Comment: Tyler Sheehan threw three touchdown passes as Bowling Green easily beat Toledo 38-10 Friday, spoiling coach Tom Amstutz's last game with the Rockets. Willie Geter ran for 160 yards for the Falcons (6-6, 4-4 Mid-American), including a 70-yard touchdown run in the third that made it 31-3. Sheehan was 20 of 33 for 241 yards and an interception while leading an offensive attack that piled up 534 yards. He had a 17-yard TD pass to Tyrone Pronty in the first quarter, a 33-yard touchdown pass to Jermiah Kelley in the third and a six-yard score to Corey Partridge in the fourth. Toledo (3-9, 2-6) didn't get a touchdown until midway through the fourth, when quarterback Aaron Opelt ran in from two yards out. Morgan Williams had 153 yards, including a 65-yard run, but the Rockets couldn't do much else when they had the ball, gaining just 196 offensive yards.

After going just 2-5 this week, Nick’s Picks finishes the MAC’s regular season 76-28 (73%).

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.