VanDelaySports.com > MAC Football > Nick's 2009 MAC Football Picks > Week #10 Picks

Nick's 2009 MAC Football Picks - Week #10 Recap

BGSU at Buffalo

Nick’s Pick: Buffalo 30 – BGSU 27

Final Score: BGSU 30 – Buffalo 29

Comment: We saw that this game would be a thrilled and it was just that. Tyler Sheehan threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Barnes with 39 seconds to give the Falcons the win. BGSU rallied from a 13-point deficit as Sheehan threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and passed for 313-yards. True freshman Jeffvon Gill from Euclid ( Ohio) ran for 172 yards and a touchdown for Buffalo. He is the nephew of Coach Turner Gill. Bowling Green blocked two Buffalo punts. UB had 411-yards of total offense to 361 for the Falcons and the Bulls dominated time of possession 34-26 (minutes).

Miami (O) at Temple

Nick’s Pick: Temple 28 – Miami 21

Final Score: Temple 34 – Miami 32

Comment: We could see Miami’s improvement over the month and correctly called a very close game with the Owls pulling out their seventh victory of the season. Bernard Pierce ran for 178 yards and three touchdowns and Brandon McManus kicked an 18-yard field goal with 3 seconds left to give Temple the victory. With the Owls seventh straight victory, they match their longest winning streak since they won the final eight games of the 1973 season. Temple is guaranteed their first winning season since 1990. Miami’s Zack Dysert threw for 426 yards and three touchdown passes.

Eastern Michigan at NIU

Nick’s Pick: NIU 37 – Eastern 16

Final Score: NIU 50- Eastern 6

Comment: New coaching staff, same results for the downtrodden EMU Eagle football program. Tommy Davis returned the opening kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown and Chad Spann ran for a career-high 174 yards and two scores as NIU routed winless Eastern Michigan. NIU held a commanding 537-182 advantage in total offense. EMU twice drove inside the Northern Illinois 5 in the first quarter but reached Huskies territory just once the rest of the game.

Western Michigan at Michigan State

Nick’s Pick: MSU 38 – Western 14

Final Score: MSU 49 – Western 14

Comment: Michigan State was not going to lose two home games in a season to an in-state MAC program, and they didn’t. After losing at home 29-27 to Central Michigan, the Spartans thumped Western. How bad was the Bronco’s afternoon in East Lansing? At the end of the first half, Michigan State led 35-0, had forced seven Western punts and outgained the Broncos 358-36. Total offense was 602-211 in favor of the Spartans…ouch!

Kent State at Akron

Nick’s Pick: Kent State 27 – Akron 17

Final Score: Akron 28 – Kent State 20

Comment: One thing for sure, even though Akron Coach JD Brookhart may be gone after this season, he has owned his arch-rival Kent State during his tenure. The Zips won once again over KSU and all but ended any chance for the Golden Flashes to win the MAC East. Patrick Nicely threw two touchdown passes to Jeremy LaFrance for Akron - Nicely threw for 261 yards and LaFrance finished with eight catches. Andre Jones added 93 yards on just six carries for the Zips. True freshman Spencer Keith led the Golden Flashes with 377 yards and two touchdowns. Akron held a slim 429-415 advantage in total offense before a nice home crowd of 20K.

Nick’s Picks went 3-2 this weekend and stand at 62-24 YTD.

Week #9 MAC Football Power Ranking:

1. Central Michigan

2. Temple

3. NIU

4. Ohio

5. BGSU

6. Kent State

7. Buffalo

8. Western Michigan

9. Miami

10. Akron

11. Toledo

12. Ball State

13. Eastern Michigan

MAC Bowl Teams - Ranking