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2010 MAC Football Picks - Week #4 Preview & Picks

Notes :

The MAC programs went 3-6 last week in non-conference action, including wins over Big East ( Temple over UConn, 30-16), Conference USA ( Bowling Green over Marshall, 44-28) and Mountain West ( Miami over Colorado State, 31-10) opponents
The MAC is looking for its first win over a Big Ten opponent during the 2010 campaign and will face eight Big Ten teams this weekend
Northern Illinois QB Chandler Harnish accounted for 325 total yards of offense with 117 yards rushing, including a 37-yard score, and 208 yards passing in a 28-22 road loss at Illinois.
Bowling Green RB Willie Geter rushed for 100 yards on 31 carries and added five receptions for 86 yards in a 44-28 win over Marshall.
Miami QB Zac Dysert threw for 231 yards on 18-of-22 passing and three touchdowns in a 31-10 win over Colorado State.
Western Michigan WR Jordan White had a career-high 13 receptions for 170 and one touchdown in a 37-24 loss to Toledo.
Toledo WR Kenny Stafford added two receptions for 84 yards and one touchdown in a 37-24 win at Western Michigan.
Buffalo WR Marcus Rivers collected seven receptions for 102 yards in a 24-10 loss to Central Florida.

MAC OFFENSIVE LEADERS TO DATE:

Rushing Yards Per Game

Paris Cotton Central 114.3
Bernard Pierce Temple 100.3
Chandler Harnish NIU 98.3
Willie Geter BGSU 81.0
Chad Spann NIU 78.3

Passing Avg Per Game

Alex Carder Western 307.0
Ryan Radcliff Central 265.0
Matt Schlitz BGSU 221.3
Jerry Davis Buffalo 218.3
Spencer Keith Kent State 215.3

Receiving Yards Per Game Avg

Jordan White Western 127.3
Kamar Jorden BGSU 114.3
Marcus Rivers Buffalo 103.3
Cody Wilson Central 100.0
Armand Robinson Miami (O) 94.3

This Week’s MAC Schedule ~ Saturday, September 25

Ball State at Iowa, Noon ET (Big Ten Network)
Bowling Green at Michigan, Noon ET (ESPN2)
Toledo at Purdue, Noon ET (Big Ten Network)
Central Michigan at Northwestern, Noon ET (Big Ten Network)
Buffalo at Connecticut, Noon ET (ESPN Plus/ESPN Game Plan)
Miami at Missouri, 2:00 pm ET
Eastern Michigan at Ohio State, 3:30 pm ET (ABC)
Temple at Penn State, 3:30 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
Akron at Indiana, 7:00 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
Ohio at Marshall, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN Game Plan/ESPN3.com)
Northern Illinois at Minnesota, 8:30 pm ET (Big Ten Network)
Bye Week-- Kent State, Western Michigan

Nick’s Picks for Week #4

Ball State (1-2, 0-0 MAC) at Iowa (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten)

Saturday, September 25, 2010 • Noon ET • Iowa City, Iowa • Kinnick Stadium (70,397) Big Ten Network

Series: Iowa leads 1-0

Nick’s Pick: Iowa 33 – Ball State 13

Comment: The Hawkeyes will bounce back after a tough loss at Arizona last week.

Bowling Green (1-2, 0-0 MAC) at Michigan (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten)

Saturday, September 25, 2010 • Noon ET • Ann Arbor, Mich. • Michigan Stadium (109,901) ESPN2 • Announcers: Bob Wischusen, Brian Griese

Series: Michigan leads 1-0

Nick’s Pick: Michigan 36 – BGSU 20

Comment: After a near colossal loss last week UMass, UM will not take the Falcons lightly.

Toledo (2-1, 2-0 MAC) at Purdue (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten)

Saturday, September 25, 2010 • Noon ET • West Lafayette, Ind. • Ross-Ade Stadium (62,500) Big Ten Network

Series: Purdue leads 3-2

Nick’s Pick: Purdue 28 – Toledo 13

Comment: The Rockets actually have a respectable defense thus far but the Boilermakers have more offensive playmakers…the Rockets will have a chance in this contest though.

Central Michigan (2-1, 1-1 MAC) at Northwestern (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten)

Saturday, September 25, 2010 • Noon ET • Evanston, Ill. • Ryan Field (47,129)

Big Ten Network

Series: First Meeting

Nick’s Pick: Northwestern 27 – Central 17

Comment: One of the few shots a MAC team has against their Big Ten foe this weekend; the Wildcats are steady and should win at home.

Eastern Michigan (0-3, 0-1 MAC) at Ohio State (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten)

Saturday, September 25, 2010 • 3:30 pm ET • Columbus, Ohio • Ohio Stadium (102,329) ABC • Announcers: Carter Blackburn, Mike Bellotti

Series: First Meeting

Nick’s Pick: Ohio State 56 – Eastern 0

Comment: The score will be what ever OSU wants it to be…

Temple (3-0, 1-0 MAC) at Penn State (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten)

Saturday, September 25, 2010 • 3:30 pm ET • State College, Pa. • Beaver Stadium (107,282) Big Ten Network

Series: Penn State leads 35-3-1

Nick’s Pick: Penn State 21 – Temple 14

Comment: The Owls have the defense to keep Temple in the game, is there a shocker waiting to happen in Happy Valley? Some in Philadelphia think so.

> Buy Kent State apparel & merchandise online through VanDelay Sports!

Akron (0-3, 0-0 MAC) at Indiana (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten)

Saturday, September 25, 2010 • 7:00 pm ET • Bloomington, Ind. • Memorial Stadium (49,225) Big Ten Network

Series: Indiana leads 2-0

Nick’s Pick: Indiana 41 – Akron 7

Comment: It’s a sad day when the Hoosiers are light-years ahead of you…oh how the Zips have fallen.

Northern Illinois (1-2, 0-0 MAC) at Minnesota (1-2, 0-0 Big Ten)

Saturday, September 25, 2010 • 8:30 pm ET • Minneapolis, Minn. • TCF Bank Stadium (50,000) Big Ten Network

Series: Minnesota leads 2-0

Nick’s Pick: Minnesota 31 – NIU 24

Comment: The hard-luck Huskies will drop another close contest against a Big Ten team.

Buffalo (1-2, 0-0 MAC) at Connecticut (1-2, 0-0 Big East)

Saturday, September 25, 2010 • Noon ET • Storrs, CT • Rentschler Field (40,000) ESPN Plus/ESPN Game Plan/ESPN3.com • Announcers: Dave Gleason, John Congemi

Series: UConn leads 13-4

Nick’s Pick: UConn 26 – Buffalo 13

Comment: Each team is looking for their first win of the season over a FBS team; UConn has owned this series over the last decade and should continue to prosper against the Bulls.

Miami (O) (2-1, 1-0 MAC) at Missouri (3-0, 0-0 BIG 12)

Saturday, September 25, 2010 • 2:00 pm ET • Columbia, MO • Memorial/Faurot Field (68,349)

Series: First Meeting

Nick’s Pick: Missouri 23 – Miami (O) 10

Comment: After clubbing Colorado State and playing Florida tough defensively, the RedHawks have the Tigers attention.

Ohio (1-2, 0-1 MAC) at Marshall (0-3, 0-0 Conf. USA)

Saturday, September 25, 2010 • 7:00 pm ET • Huntington, WV • Joan C. Edwards Stadium (38,019) ESPN Game Plan/ESPN3.com

Series: Ohio leads 29-18-6

Nick’s Pick: Ohio 20 – Marshall 17

Comment: The Bobcats will bounce back and add even more misery to the Herd’s difficult season.

> Buy Akron apparel & hats online through VanDelay Sports!

Nick’s Picks for Week #3 went 9-2 and now stand 28-6 YTD

Nick’s Pick: Purdue 37 – Ball State 14

Actual Score: Purdue 24 – Ball State 13

Comment: Surprised that the Cardinal defense held it’s own against the Boilermakers; Ball State trailed 14-6 entering the fourth quarter, however, they could not get any closer as the Boilermakers scored a touchdown and a field goal on their next two possessions to open a 24-6 lead.

Nick’s Pick: UConn 16 – Temple 13

Actual Score: Temple 30 – UConn 16

Comment: Kudos to the Owls for winning a nice non-conference game against a very good mid-level BCS program that has had its way against MAC teams over the past six seasons. Sophomore RB Bernard Pierce sparked the offense with 169 yards rushing and added three touchdowns

Nick’s Pick: Penn State 31 – Kent State 7

Actual Score: Penn State 24 – Kent State 0

Comment: As expected, Kent State’s defense held it’s own, the offense was non-existent. Kent State QB Spencer Keith was 26-of-36 passing for 170 yards and completed a pass to nine different receivers.

Nick’s Pick: Illinois 30 – NIU 20

Actual Score: Illinois 28 – NIU 22

Comment: We couldn’t have called this game any closer… Junior QB Chandler Harnish totaled 325 yards of offense with 11 carries for 117 yards, including 37-yard touchdown run, and was 19-of-25 passing for 208 yards.

Nick’s Pick: Ohio State 28 – Ohio 10

Actual Score: Ohio State 43 – Ohio 7

Comment: The Buckeyes dominated the Bobcats but at least the Ohio Bobcat mascot got the best of Brutus Buckeye. The Buckeyes outgained the Bobcats 439-158 in net yards and forced five Ohio turnovers.

Nick’s Pick: Miami 26 – Colorado State 17

Actual Score: Miami 31 – Colorado State 10

Comment: We correctly called this game; the RedHawks are much improved from last year while CSU is way down. The RedHawks scored twice in the second period to open a 17-3 lead and never looked back.

Nick’s Pick: Central 27 – Eastern 23

Actual Score: Central 52 – Eastern 14

Comment: Very surprised that this game was such a blow-out. The Chippewas offense rolled to 523 net yards of offense, including 269 yards rushing and 254 yards passing.

Nick’s Pick: Toledo 28 – Western 27

Actual Score: Toledo 37 – Western 24

Comment: Toledo KR Eric Page had a 98 yard kickoff return for a

TD in the fourth quarter to seal a win after Western had closed a 31-7 gap to 31-24. Western Michigan QB Alex Carder set a school-record with 43 completions and threw for 403 yards and one touchdown and four interceptions.

Nick’s Pick: BGSU 23 – Marshall 20

Actual Score: BGSU 44 – Marshall 28

Comment: The Falcons pulled away in the 4 th quarter. Defensively, Bowling Green forced four interceptions and turned two into scores as LB Dwayne Woods returned an interception 78-yards for a score on the final play of the first quarter to open a 14-0 lead. In the fourth period, corner Jerry Gates swiped an interception and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown to secure a 44-28 win.

Nick’s Pick: Buffalo 21 – UCF 17

Actual Score: UCF 24 – Buffalo 10

Comment: The Golden Knights pulled away in the 4 th quarter in this contest. The Bulls limited UCF to only 288 net yards of offense.

Nick’s Pick: Kentucky 45 – Akron 13

Actual Score: Kentucky 47 – Akron 10

Comment: We couldn’t have called this game any closer either… The Wildcats outgained Akron 544-172 and scored on six consecutive possessions