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Nick's 2009 MAC Football Picks - Week #6 Preview & Picks

News & Notes:

• In five conference games last weekend the road team was victorious in four of the contests. Temple earned a 24-12 win at Eastern Michigan, while Toledo scored 23 fourth quarter points to pull out a 37-30 win at Ball State. Also, Central Michigan held on to a 20-13 win at Buffalo and Ohio won a shootout at Bowling Green in a 44-37 victory. The only home conference win last weekend was in De Kalb as Northern Illinois rolled to a 38-3 victory over Western Michigan.
• Buffalo RB Ike Nduka made his first career start and rushed for a career-best 172 yards on 22 carries in the Bulls’ 20-13 loss to Central Michigan. The effort was the eighth-best single-game performance in Buffalo’s Division I-A history.
• Northern Illinois RB Chad Spann ran for a career-high 132 yards and three touchdowns in the Huskies 38-3 win over Western Michigan.
• Ohio QB Theo Scott completed 11-of-19 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns in a 44-37 win at Bowling Green. Scott also ripped off a 68-yard touchdown run, the first rushing touchdown of his career.
• Kent State RB Jacquise Terry posted his second-consecutive 100-yard performance with 109 yards on 12 carries, including a 61-yard touchdown run, in a 31-15 loss at Baylor.
• Miami WR Armand Robinson had a career-high 10 receptions for 100 yards in a 37-13 loss vs. Cincinnati.
• Bowling Green QB Tyler Sheehan threw for a career-high 390 yards in a 44-37 loss to Ohio. Sheehan added two touchdown passes and one rushing score in the setback against the Bobcats.
• Western Michigan WR Jordan White led the team with 81 yards on six receptions in a 38-3 loss at Northern Illinois.
• Central Michigan QB Dan LeFevour accounted for 366 total yards (268 pass and two scores/ 98 rush) in the Chippewas’ 20-13 win at Buffalo.
• Central Michigan DB Josh Gordy totaled a season-high eight tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception and one pass defended in a 20-13 road win at Buffalo. His interception with 2:45 remaining in the fourth quarter helped seal the victory.
• Kent State S Brian Lainhart led the team and matched a career-high 14 tackles in a 31-15 loss at Baylor.
• Temple LB John Haley posted a team-leading eight tackles and an interception in a 24-12 road win at Eastern Michigan.
• Toledo S Barry Church finished with a game-high 14 tackles and a career-best three tackles for loss, and one pass defended in a 37-30 road win at Ball State.
• Buffalo S Davonte Shannon had eight tackles, one tackle for loss and one interception in a 20-13 loss to Central Michigan.
• Western Michigan LB Austin Pritchard finished with 10 tackles, his fifth-straight

This Week’s MAC Schedule - Saturday, October 10

• Eastern Michigan at Central Michigan, Noon ET (ESPN Plus/ESPN Game Plan/ESPN360.com)
• Miami at Northwestern, Noon ET (Big Ten Network)
• Ball State at Temple, 1:00 p.m. ET (*All-MACcess)
• Bowling Green at Kent State, 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX Sports Ohio/ESPN Game Plan/ESPN360.com/*All-MACcess)
• Gardner Webb at Buffalo, 3:30 p.m. ET (Time Warner SportsNet Buffalo/*All-MACcess)
• Ohio at Akron, 6:00 p.m. ET (*All-MACcess)
• Western Michigan at Toledo, 7:00 p.m. ET (*All-MACcess)
• Bye: Northern Illinois

Eastern Michigan (0-4, 0-1 MAC) at Central Michigan (4-1, 2-0 MAC)

Saturday, October 10, 2009 • Noon ET • Mount Pleasant, Mich. • Kelly/Shorts Stadium (30,255); ESPN Plus/ESPN Game Plan/ESPN360.com • Announcers: Michael Reghi, Doug Chapman

Series: Central Michigan leads, 53-27-6

Game Notes:

Eastern lost senior QB Andy Schmitt for the season with a knee injury suffered against Michigan (Sept. 19)...Eagles rank first in the nation in pass defense with only 89.3 ypg...Junior RB Dwayne Priest ranks fourth in the MAC with 78.8 yards rushing per game (315 yards on the year). Central’s Antonio Brown had 112 yards receiving last week at Buffalo...Chippewas’ defense leads the MAC in total defense (305.8 ypg) and ranks second in MAC and 24th in the nation in pass defense (170.8 ypg)...QB Dan LeFevour ranks fourth in the MAC in total offense (253.6 ypg).

Nick’s Pick: Central 37 – Eastern 21

Comment: As good as Central has been and has bad as Eastern has been; the Eagles have won four of the past five including two-straight in this intra-state series. That will change Saturday as the ‘Chips have far too much firepower and will jump on EMU early in this contest.

Miami (0-5, 0-2 MAC) at Northwestern (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten)

Saturday, October 10, 2009 • Noon ET • Evanston, Ill. • Ryan Field (47,129) ESPN Plus/Game Plan/ Big Ten Network

Series: Miami leads, 5-2

Game Notes:

Redshirt freshman QB Zac Dysert has started the last two contests...WR Armand Robinson nabbed a career-high 10 catches for 100 yards last week vs. Cincinnati...Sophomore DB Anthony Kokal had a career-high 13 tackles against the Bearcats…DB Jordan Gafford and senior WR Dustin Woods named team captains. Northwestern had a 27-21 road win at Purdue last week as senior quarterback Mike Kafk scored on a 2-yard run with 2:09 left in the game to cap the comeback...Northwestern returns 13 starters (5 offense/ 8 defense) from last year’s team that went 9-4, including 5-3 in the Big Ten, and earned an invitation to the Valero Alamo Bowl.

Nick’s Pick: Northwestern 28 – Miami 14

Comment: The RedHawks have found a keeper in QB Dysert and if they cut down on their mistakes, mainly turnovers, they could make this game interesting. The Wildcats struggled to beat Eastern Michigan last month.

Ball State (0-5, 0-1 MAC) at Temple (2-2, 2-0 MAC)

Saturday, October 10, 2009 • 1:00 p.m. ET • Philadelphia, Pa. • Lincoln Financial Field (68,350); All-MACcess Live Streaming via www.mac-sports.com

Series: First Meeting

Game Notes:

MiQuale Lewis ranks sixth in Ball State’s record books for career rushing yards with 2,672...Kyle Kuntz tallied the first fumble recovery of his career when he recovered a Toledo muffed punt last week...Charlie Todd recorded the first interception of his career last week against the Rockets. Temple captured its 400th win in school history and now stands at 400-541-52 overall in 111 seasons of football... Temple opened MAC play at 2-0 for

the first time ever...RB Bernard Pierce finished with 180 yards rushing and two scores last week at Eastern Michigan, the most rushing yards since 2004...LB John Haley recorded the first interception of the year and third of his career in last week’s 24-12 road win at Eastern Michigan.

Nick’s Pick: Temple 24 – Ball State 21

Comment: Ball State played well last week in their gut-wrenching loss to Toledo. The Cardinals are playing better football with such a young offensive line. Temple continues to build confidence with every win and this middle part of schedule is set up for several wins. Expect a close game.

Bowling Green (1-4, 0-1 MAC) at Kent State (2-3, 1-0 MAC)

Saturday, October 10, 2009 • 3:30 p.m. ET • Kent, Ohio • Dix Stadium (30,000); FOX Sports Ohio/ ESPN Game Plan/ ESPN360.com/ All-MACcess Live Streaming via www.mac-sports.com

Series: Bowling Green leads, 54-16-6

Game Notes:

QB Tyler Sheehan’s 390 yards passing last week vs. Ohio marked a career-high and moved him into second place in school history (7,521)...Sheehan ranks sixth in the nation with 1,455 passing yards...WR Freddie Barnes ranks 19th in the nation with 444 yards receiving. S Brian Lainhart has forced 13 turnovers in the last 12 games (10 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles)...Lainhart ranks tied for 11th in the nation with three

forced fumbles...RB Jacquise Terry has rushed for two consecutive 100+ yard games... Kent State ranks fourth in the MAC in rush defense (162.2 ypg).

Nick’s Pick: BGSU 30 – Kent State 26

Comment: Few MAC series are as one-sided as this one. The Falcons have lost three seven-point contests they could have won while Kent State took advantage of Miami miscues to win at home last week. BG has more offensive weapons and that will be the difference in the game.

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Gardner Webb (3-1, 0-0 Big South) at Buffalo (1-5, 0-2 MAC)

Saturday, October 10, 2009 • 3:30 p.m. ET • Buffalo, N.Y. • UB Stadium (29,013); Time Warner SportsNet Buffalo/All-MACcess Live Streaming via www.mac-sports.com

Series: First Meeting

Game Notes:

QB Stan Doolittle was named Big South Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season with a career-best 341 yards of total offense in a 27-23 win at VMI...S Darren Rogers was named Defensive Player of the Week with six tackles, one tackle for loss and a fumble recovery. QB Zach Maynard has thrown a TD pass in each of the Bulls’ games this season...S Sherrod Lott tied his career-high with nine tackles last week vs. Central Michigan...RB Ike Nduka’s career-high 172 yards rushing in his first career start last week...WR Naaman Roosevelt moved into 10th in MAC career receptions (233).

Nick’s Pick: Buffalo 35 – GW 19

Comment: Gardner Webb is a respectable program that will not be a push over for the Bulls. GW lost at NC State earlier in the year 45-14. Surprisingly since UB has become a IA member they have never beaten a team from the I-AA ranks.

Western Michigan (2-3, 1-1 MAC) at Toledo (3-2, 1-0 MAC)

Saturday, October 10, 2009 • 7:00 p.m. ET • Toledo, Ohio • Glass Bowl (26,248); All-MACcess Live Streaming via www.mac-sports.com

Series: Toledo leads, 36-27-0

Game Notes:

Western Michigan QB Tim Hiller ranks 20th in the nation with 1,224 total passing yards...Broncos LB Austin Pritchard ranks t-21st in the nation with 50 tackles...RB Brandon West ranks fifth in the MAC with 76.2 rushing yards per game (381 total on the year). Senior QB Aaron Opelt threw for 422 yards and five scores last week at Ball State...Opelt ranks 2nd in the nation in passing yards (1.704), 4th in the nation in total offense (365.8 ypg)...Freshman WR Eric Page ranks 6th in the nation in receiving yards (585)...S Barry Church racked 14 tackles and a career-high three tackles for loss in last week’s 37-30 road win at Ball State.

Nick’s Pick: Toledo 44 – Western 31

Comment: Football is a game about confidence and the past three years the Broncos have had the confidence factor on their side and beat the Rockets each time. This year the tide has turned, Toledo is riding high and Western is clearly the most disappointing team in the MAC this season. Toledo may just blow out WMU at home.

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Ohio (3-2, 1-0 MAC) at Akron (1-3, 0-1 MAC)

Saturday, October 10, 2009 • 6:00 p.m. ET • Akron, Ohio • InfoCision Stadium (30,000); All-MACcess Live Streaming via www.mac-sports.com

Series: Tied, 12-12-1

Game Notes:

Bobcats travel to Akron (Oct. 10) before returning home for the next two (Miami, Kent State)...Ohio ranks fifth in the MAC in total defense (362.2 ypg)...KR Chris Garrett leads the MAC with a 28.4 kickoff return average...LB Errik Ejike ranks tied for 11th in the nation with three forced fumbles. Akron had a bye week last week... Akron hosts Ohio on Oct. 10 and then hits the road for the next three on the road (at Buffalo, at Syracuse and at Northern Illinois)...LB Brian Wagner ranks 5th in the nation in tackles (11.5 tpg) and leads the team with 46 tackles on the year.

Nick’s Pick: Ohio 27 – Akron 21

Comment: This marks the very first on campus homecoming game for Akron since 1937. The Zips have had two weeks to prepare for this contest and to get their QB situation settled after the Chris Jacquemain issues. Ohio is on a path to win the MAC east and a road victory this week followed by two home games against Miami and Kent State will propel them into that position. One game at a time though; expect OU to win in a close contest.

 

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