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Nick's 2009 MAC Football Picks - Week #13 Preview & Picks

MAC News & Notes:

• Central Michigan (7-0) clinched the West Division title following a 35-3 win over Ball State and the Northern Illinois (5-2) road loss, a 38-31 setback at Ohio. Due to the Bobcats win over the Huskies, Ohio (6-1) remains in contention for the East Division title trailing Temple (7-0) by one game. Temple travels to Ohio this Friday, Nov. 27 at 11:00 a.m. (ESPNU) for the East Division title and the opportunity to face Central Michigan in the 2009 Marathon MAC Championship on Dec. 4th.
• Toledo RB Morgan Williams led the Rockets with 155 yards rushing on 11 carries (14.1 avg.) and one touchdown in a 47-21 win over Eastern Michigan.
• Temple RB Matt Brown stepped in and replaced injured Bernard Pierce in the backfield and responded with 156 yards and two touchdowns, including a 71-yard touchdown run, in a 47-13 win over Kent State.
• Bowling Green WR Freddie Barnes led the Falcons with 12 catches for 197 yards and two touchdowns in a 36-20 win over Akron. Barnes added 15 yards rushing and collected a combined 212 all-purpose yards.
• Northern Illinois WR Landon Cox totaled 11 catches for 132 yards in a 38-31 loss at Ohio. Cox recorded the first 100-yard game by a Huskie receiver this year.
• Bowling Green S P.J. Mahone had a team-high 13 tackles, one sack, one and one-half tackles for loss and added a quarterback hurry in a 36-20 win over Akron.
• Kent State S Brian Lainhart recorded his sixth interception of the season in a 47-13 loss at Temple. Lainhart now has 14 career interceptions and ranks third in school history and second among active FBS players.
• Central Michigan DT Sean Murnane totaled eight tackles, one and one-half tackles for loss, and one forced fumble in a 35-3 win at Ball State. Murnane led a defensive effort as the Chippewas held Ball State to 231 net yards of offense and only three points, the fewest points allowed in a game since 1996 (42-0 win over Akron).
• Ohio SS Patrick Tafua notched a career-high 11 tackles, one tackle for loss and one recovered fumble in a 38-31 win over Northern Illinois. Tafua’s recovered fumble set up a 28-yard field goal. Tafua and the Ohio defense held the Huskies to 2.8 yards per carry.

This Week’s MAC Schedule

Tuesday, November 24

• Ball State at Western Michigan, 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Friday, November 27

• Temple at Ohio, 11:00 a.m. ET (ESPNU)

• Northern Illinois at Central Michigan, 1:00 p.m. ET (ESPN360.com)

• Eastern Michigan at Akron, 2:00 p.m. (All-MACcess)

• Buffalo at Kent State, 2:00 p.m. (All-MACcess)

• Toledo at Bowling Green, 2:00 p.m. (All-MACcess)

Ball State (1-10, 1-6 MAC) at Western Michigan (5-6, 4-3 MAC)

Tuesday, November 24, 2009 • 7:00 p.m. ET • Kalamazoo, Mich. • Waldo Stadium (30,200); ESPN2

Series: Western Michigan leads, 19-16

Nick’s Pick: Western 31 – Ball State 17

Comment: Ball State ranks sixth in the MAC in rushing with 159.8 ypg...MiQuale

Lewis ranks fifth in the MAC with 825 yards rushing...Cardinals rank second in the conference in fewest penalty yards per game (45.3 ypg). Western’s Tim Hiller ranks 14th in the nation in passing yards per game (263.2 ypg) and 15th in total passing yards (2,895)...Brandon West ranks second in the nation with 2,220 all-purpose yards (201.8 ypg)...Broncos rank third in the MAC in fewest penalty yards per game (45.4).

Temple (9-2, 7-0 MAC) at Ohio (8-3, 6-1 MAC)

Friday, November 27, 2009 • 11:00 a.m. ET • Athens, Ohio • Peden Stadium (24,000); ESPNU

Series: Tied, 1-1

Nick’s Pick: Temple 26 – Ohio 20

Comment: The MAC game of the week, thank goodness it’s on national TV. Temple DE Adrian Robinson ranks tied for sixth in the nation with 11 sacks...Bernard Pierce ranks 10th in the nation in rushing (118.9 ypg)...Temple ranks 18th in the nation in rush defense (103.3 ypg)...Owls rank tied for 18th in the nation in red zone offense (89%). Ohio LB Noah Keller ranks tied for 16th in the nation with 109 tackles (9.9 per game)...Bobcats lead the MAC with a +11 turnover margin...Ohio ranks fourth in the conference in scoring defense (21.8 ppg)...Freshman K Matt Weller leads the conference with 18 field goals and a 78.3 field goal percentage.

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Northern Illinois (7-4, 5-2 MAC) at Central Michigan (9-2, 7-0 MAC)

Friday, November 27, 2009 • 1:00 p.m. ET • Mount Pleasant, Ohio • Kelly/Shorts Stadium (30,255); ESPN360.com

Series: Central Michigan leads, 23-20-1

Nick’s Pick: Central 38 – NIU 24

Comment: The Huskies rank 15th in the nation in time of possession (32:03)...Northern Illinois ranks tied for fourth in the nation in red zone offense (95%) and tied for

fourth in red zone defense (71%)...Chad Spann ranks sixth in the nation in scoring with 19 touchdowns (114 points -- 10.4 ppg). Central Michigan ranks 15th in the nation in scoring defense (16.6 ppg)...

Chippewas’ rank 11th in red zone offense (92%) and tied for fourth in red zone defense (71%)...Dan LeFevour ranks sixth in the nation in passing efficiency (157.44 rating)...Antonio Brown ranks fifth in the nation with 2,000 all-purpose yards (181.8 ypg)...Brown also ranks 10th in the country in receptions per game (7.3).

Eastern Michigan (0-11, 0-7 MAC) at Akron (2-9, 1-6 MAC)

Friday, November 27, 2009 • 2:00 p.m. ET • Akron, Ohio • InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field (30,000); All-MACcess live video streaming via www.mac-sports.com

Series: Akron leads, 16-11

Nick’s Pick: Akron 28 – Eastern 21

Comment: The Eagles rank fourth in the nation in passing yards per game (153.1 ypg)...Andre Hatchett ranks tied for 20th in the nation in tackles with 106 (9.6 per game)...Chris May is tied for the conference lead with six interceptions. Akron LB Brian Wagner ranks eighth in the nation in tackles with 121 (11.0 per game)...Zips rank fifth in the MAC in passing defense (200.1 ypg)...Akron ranks fourth in the conference in kickoff returns (21.9 avg.)...Manley Waller ranks tied for fifth in the MAC with three interceptions.

Buffalo (4-7, 2-5 MAC) at Kent State (5-6, 4-3 MAC)

Friday, November 27, 2009 • 2:00 p.m. ET • Kent, Ohio • Dix Stadium (25,000); All-MACcess live streaming via www.mac-sports.com

Series: Kent State leads, 9-8

Nick’s Pick: Buffalo 33 – Kent State 23

Comment: Buffalo QB Zach Maynard has thrown a TD pass in each game this season...Buffalo ranks fourth in the MAC in rushing offense (165.7 ypg) and fifth in passing offense (247.5 ypg)...Maynard ranks third in the conference in total offense (254.6 ypg). Kent State S Brian Lainhart is tied for the MAC lead with six interceptions...Kent State red zone defense ranks 14th in the nation (73%)...Golden Flashes lead the conference with 31 sacks...Kent State ranks first in the conference with a 35.4 net punting average.

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Toledo (5-6, 3-4 MAC) at Bowling Green (6-5, 5-2 MAC)

Friday, November 27, 2009 • 2:00 p.m. ET • Bowling Green, Ohio • Doyt L. Perry Stadium (24,000); All-MACcess live streaming via www.mac-sports.com

Series: Bowling Green leads, 38-31-4

Nick’s Pick: BGSU 36 – Toledo 27

Comment: Toledo ranks 22nd in the nation in total offense (433.6 ypg)...Last week

both running backs Morgan Williams (155 yards and 1 TD) and DaJuane Collins (144 yards and 2 TD) topped the 100-yard plateau vs. Eastern Michigan...Eric Page ranks 11th in the nation in total receiving yards (1,029). The Falcons rank fifth in the nation in passing offense (325.9 ypg)...Freddie Barnes leads the nation in receptions (129) and receiving yards (1,482)...Tyler Sheehan ranks third in the nation in total passing yards (3,527) and third in passing yards per game (320.6 ypg).