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Nick's 2009 MAC Football Picks - Week #2 Recap

Most coaches stay that your biggest improvement comes from the first game to the second. If true, the MAC took a major step forward in “improvement” from last week and got a few nice non-conference wins and several near misses. After going just 3-10 in non-conference competition last week, the MAC stepped up and went 5-7 this past weekend, which included quality victories over a Big 12 and Big 10 team. Toss the heartbreaking losses of EMU at N’western, BGSU at Missouri and Western at Indiana, and this weekend could have been something really special.

Colorado at Toledo

Who could have guessed the Rockets would hold leads of 30-3 and 54-24? I’m not surprised by the win since this is the third time in the past four years that UT has beaten a Big 12 at home, but I am shocked at how badly they drilled the Buffalos. Toledo put up 624-yards of total offense led by Aaron Opelt throwing for 319-yards and four TDs and added 110-yards rushing with and two more TDs. DaJuane Collins rushed for 160-yards while true freshman Eric Page had 138-receiving yards to compliment Kenny Stafford’s 88-yard game. Toledo’s much maligned defense did produce three QB sacks and three INTs.

Nick’s Pick: Toledo 36 – Colorado 34

Actual Score: Toledo 54 – Colorado 38

Pitt at Buffalo

Losing to Pitt at home isn’t bad, but losing by 27 at home was disturbing considering UB is the reigning MAC champ. Also, after last week’s quality victory at UTEP and coming off their first ever MAC championship (in any sport) while hosting a local Big East school, I would have expected a better crowd than 21,870 on such a beautiful afternoon. The stats in this game do not make much sense compared to the final score. UB did much better than Pitt in first downs (25-19) and total offense (500-381) and had a 400-passing day from Zach Maynard. Wideouts Naaman Roosevelt and Brett Hamlin and huge days as they each produced 157 and 149-receiving yards respectively.

Nick’s Pick: Pitt 24 – Buffalo 20

Actual Score: Pitt 54 – Buffalo 27

Western Michigan at Indiana

Western blew several chances at victory against the Hoosiers losing to a BCS team they certainly should have beaten. While Tim Hiller had a nice day throwing for 266-yards and a TD without an INT, the Bronco rushing attach was pitiful. Western rushed for a paltry 22-yards on 29 carries, a mere 0.8 average per rush.

Nick’s Pick: Western Michigan 28 – Indiana 23

Actual Score: Indiana 23 – Western Michigan 19

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Eastern Michigan at Northwestern

“New coaching staff, same ole’ Eastern. If the Eagles cannot handle Army, they certainly cannot handle the Wildcats” is what I wrote prior to this game. Well, kudos to Eastern for making that prediction to silly. After the Wildcats jumped out to a 21-0 lead, the ‘not so same ole Eastern’ team fought hard and eventually tied Northwestern at 24 late in the game. NU kicked a 49-yard FG with six seconds remaining to preserve the home win. EMU’s Dwayne Priest rushed for 127-yards while Jacory Stone had seven catches and a TD.

Nick’s Pick: Northwestern 36 – EMU 14

Actual Score: Northwestern 27 – EMU 24

Central Michigan at Michigan State

“Under Butch Jones tenure, the ‘Chips have not fared well in non-conference games.” I can no longer state that now after Central’s stunning two-point win in East Lansing over the weekend. Great job ‘Chips for beating MSU for the first time in seventeen years. Central put up more yards (418-316) and first downs (27-17) as well. Dan LeFevour looked like a MAC Player of the Year throwing for 328-yards and three TDs. Bryon Anderson had 120-yards receiving while Antonio Brown chipped in with ten catches, 71-yards and a TD.

Nick’s Pick: Michigan State 30 – Central Michigan 13

Actual Score: Central Michigan 29 – Michigan State 27

Morgan State at Akron

“The Zips picked a cream puff to open their beautiful new stadium. Hopefully this is the game that kick-starts the offense and the season after last weeks disaster at Penn State.” Morgan State was more of a cream-putt than I expected but give Akron credit for trouncing on them from the get-go. A capacity crowd of 27, 881 witnessed the very first game at InfoCision Stadium. This also marked Akron’s first shut out since 1992. Chris Jacquemain threw three TDs as the Zips put up 436-yards and held the Bears to three first downs. Next week will be the real test for AU as they host Indiana.

Nick’s Pick: Akron 41 – Morgan State 20

Actual Score: Akron 41 – Morgan State 0

Kent State at Boston College

“The Golden Flashes have a defense good enough to keep it close but unless the offense wakes up, unlike their performance last week against Coastal Carolina, BC’s offense will be on the field way too long and the KSU defense will wear down and falter in the second half.” This prediction came true to a tee as KSU’s offense was dreadful putting up just 179-yards of total offense. RB Eugene Jarvis was held to just 17-yards rushing on ten attempts.

Nick’s Pick: Boston College 24 – Kent State 7

Actual Score: Boston College 34 – Kent State 7

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BGSU at Missouri

Kudos to the Falcons to pushing a top-25 team to the brink before falling late. The Falcons silenced the 65,000 in attendance when they took a 20-6 lead in the 3 rd period before the Tigers mounted a comeback, scoring 21 unanswered points to pull out the win. BG’s Tyler Sheehan threw for 206-yards and Willie Jeter rushed for 99. BG fell to 3-2 all-time against Missouri.

Nick’s Pick: Missouri 38 – BGSU 17

Actual Score: Missouri 27 – BGSU 20

Ohio at North Texas

We saw this as a tight game and it certainly played out that way. The Bobcats nearly were the second straight MAC team to fall to UNT. Theo Scott and Taylor Price hooked up for a 15-yard touchdown and the ensuing 2-point conversion pass as Ohio rallied for a 31-30 double-overtime victory in Denton, TX. Kenny Jackson’s pick-six for Ohio in the middle of the 4 th period propelled OU to the 20-20 tie at the end of regulation.

Nick’s Pick: Ohio 21 – North Texas 17

Actual Score: Ohio 31 – North Texas 30 (2 OTs)

New Hampshire at Ball State

“Don’t be surprised and saddened as MAC fans if the Wildcats prevail.” We saw this one coming too but didn’t want to admit it. Ball State is not good people and the coaching change from Brady Hoke to Stan Parrish has put this program (which had come such a long way forward) several steps backwards now. The ‘Cards could only muster up nine first downs and 127-yards of total offense against a I-AA team.

Nick’s Pick: Ball State 20 – New Hampshire 17

Actual Score: New Hampshire 23 – Ball State 16

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Western Illinois at Northern Illinois

NIU did what you are supposed to do when you host a Missouri Valley Conference team – win by a comfortable margin. Quite often over the years MVC teams have found success against DI-A teams, mostly at the MAC’s expense. The Huskies put up nearly 400-yards of offense led by RBs Me’co Brown’s 119-yards rushing and Chad Spann’s three TDs.

Nick’s Pick: NIU 26 – Western Illinois 21

Actual Score: NIU 41 – Western Illinois 7

Miami at Boise State

Sadly we saw this one coming. It’s hard to believe that this tradition-rich football-proud program that not long ago had Big Ben Roethlisberger as their QB s has become a DI-A bottom-feeder. Boise State had the ball for only 25-minutes of the game but still put up 441-yards of offense and seven TDs.

Nick’s Pick: Boise State 35 – Miami 0

Actual Score: Boise State 48 – Miami 0

Nick’s Picks went 9-3 this week and now stand at 16-9 year-to-date.