VanDelaySports.com > MAC Football > Nick's 2009 MAC Football Picks > Week #13 Picks

Nick's 2009 MAC Football Picks - Week #13 Recap

Congratulations to Central Michigan and Ohio University for winning the west and east divisions respectively. The Chippewas and Bobcats will play for the MAC title on Friday night, December 4 at Detroit’s Ford Field. Kickoff is 8pm and the game will be shown live on ESPN2.

Ball State / Western Michigan

Nick’s Pick: Western 31 – Ball State 17

Actual Score: Ball State 22 – Western Michigan 17

Comment: Charlie Todd returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter for the Cardinals game-winning points. Tim Hiller completed 33 of 62 passes for 354 yards and a touchdown for the Broncos but he was intercepted four times. Hiller finished the season with 3,249 passing yards this season and joined Ben Roethlisberger, Chad Pennington and Byron Leftwich as the only quarterbacks in MAC history to throw for 3,000 yards in back-to-back-to-back seasons. Western outgained Ball State 463 yards to 226 but were done in by five turnovers.

Temple / Ohio

Nick’s Pick: Temple 26 – Ohio 20

Actual Score: Ohio 35 – Temple 17

Comment: Theo Scott had a career day and certainly looked like Superman in the Bobcats win over the Owls. Scott was 17 of 21 for 324 yards and had scoring passes of 9, 65 and 4 yards; he also scored on runs of 17 and 43 yards. The Bobcats won their fourth straight game and Temple had its school-record nine-game winning streak snapped. Matt Brown rushed for 172 yards on 25 carries for Temple. Ohio put up more total offense than Temple as well; 494-378, in a game that featured two of the league’s best defenses.

> Find a great selection of Akron Zips Apparel & Central Michigan Merchandise and Hats!

NIU / Central Michigan

Nick’s Pick: Central 38 – NIU 24

Actual Score: Central 45 – NIU 31

Comment: Dan LeFevour threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns in the final home game of his record-setting career and Bryan Anderson caught three passes for Central Michigan to set an NCAA all-divisions record with at least one reception in 52 straight games. The previous record of 51 was held by Tauren Henderson of Texas Tech and Michael Larkin of Miami ( Ohio). Bryan Schroeder rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries for Central. Huskie QB Chandler Harnish passed for 206 yards as the Chips put 512 yards of total offense to just 332 for Northern.

Eastern Michigan / Akron

Nick’s Pick: Akron 28 – Eastern 21

Actual Score: Akron 28 – Eastern 21

Comment: Eagle freshman QB Alex Gillett rushed for 102 yards and passed for 148 but Eastern’s two turnovers, including a ‘pick-six’ proved costly as the Zips prevailed in what was likely coach JD Brookhart’s last game for Akron. Alex Allen rushed for two TDs for the Zips.

Buffalo / Kent State

Nick’s Pick: Buffalo 33 – Kent State 23

Actual Score: Buffalo 9 – Kent State 6

Comment: In a battle of field goals, Buffalo kicked a 22-yarder with five seconds remaining to win. Buffalo had more total offense (320-159) as Kent State could only muster up eight first downs.

> Browse a selection of Kent State Apparel & Ohio Bobcats Merchandise!

Toledo / Bowling Green

Nick’s Pick: BGSU 36 – Toledo 27

Actual Score: BGSU 38 – Toledo 24

Comment: The Falcons jumped out to a quick 24-0 first quarter lead only to see Toledo tie in the second half. From there, the Falcons came up with the big plays to pull out the victory and possibly earn a bowl bid with a 7-5 record. The Rockets outplayed the Falcons putting up 485 yards of offense to just 289 for BG but losing five turnovers and have two punts blocked did in Toledo. UT true freshman Austin Danton passed for 326 yards while BG senior QB Tyler Sheehan passed for 137-yards. BG has won three straight in the MAC’s most heated rivalry.

Nick’s Picks went 4-2 this weekend and finished the season at 76-28 (73%).

Week #13 MAC Football Power Ranking - FINAL:

1. Central Michigan

2. Ohio

3. Temple

4. NIU

5. BGSU

6. Buffalo

7. Kent State

8. Western Michigan

9. Toledo

10. Ball State

11. Akron

12. Miami

13. Eastern Michigan

Bold = MAC Bowl Eligible Teams