VanDelaySports.com > MAC Football > 2010 MAC Football Picks > Week #5 Picks

2010 MAC Football Picks - Week #5 Preview & Week #4 Review

MAC NOTES:

• Toledo’s 31-20 win at Purdue last Saturday extended the Rockets streak to five consecutive years with a win over a BCS automatic qualifying conference (37-31 (2OT) vs. Kansas in 2006; 36-35 vs. Iowa State in 2007; 13-10 vs. Michigan in 2008; 54-38 vs. Colorado in 2009).
• The MAC won two games against Big Ten opponents last weekend as Toledo defeated Purdue, 31-20 in West Lafayette, and Northern Illinois downed Minnesota, 34-23 in Minneapolis. NIU earned its third win all-time over a Big Ten team and defeated a Big Ten opponent for the second consecutive year.
• The two wins over the Big Ten increases the number of MAC wins over Big Ten opponents to eight over the last three seasons. The MAC had two wins in 2009 and four victories in 2008.
• Overall, the MAC was 2-6 against the Big Ten last weekend; in the six losses MAC teams were outscored 235-79 (47-16 average).
• In Michigan’s 65-21 win over BGSU the Wolverines put up 721 yards of total offense to just 283 for the Falcons.
• Two defensive scores opened and closed the day for Connecticut as the Huskies defeated Buffalo, 45-21. UConn had a 27-yard interception in the opening frame and a 45-yard interception returned for a touchdown in the fourth quarter that propelled UConn over Buffalo. Buffalo WR Ed Young scored his third touchdown of the game at 7:48 left in the third quarter to cut the UConn lead to 24-21.
• Trailing Marshall 24-17 with eight seconds left in regulation, Ohio WR Terrance McCrae grabbed a 36-yard touchdown pass from QB Boo Jackson in the back of the end zone with no time remaining, however the two point conversion attempt for the road win fell incomplete and the Bobcats lost to Marshall, 24-23.
• In Akron’s loss at Indiana, the Zips rushed for 160 yards and totaled 335 net yards of offense. Sophomore QB Patrick Nicely was 15-of-27 passing for 175 and two touchdowns, both to WR Jeremy LaFrance, with scoring throws of 18 and 28 yards.
• Kent State enjoyed a bye week last week and enter this week’s action with a 1-2 record overall. After three games, the Golden Flashes currently lead the nation in rush defense by allowing 61.3 yards per game on the ground. Kent State also ranks 22nd in the country in total defense (293.3 ypg) and tied for 15th in red zone defense (64%) by allowing only seven scores (2 touchdowns/5 field goals) in 11 drives.
• Central Michigan ranks tied for fourth in the nation in red zone defense (57%) by allowing only eight scores (5 touchdowns/3 field goals) in 14 drives. The Chippewas also rank tied for 15th in the nation in scoring defense (14.3 ppg), 18th in the country in rush defense (97.0 ypg) and tied for 24th in the nation in total defense (295.3 ypg).

MAC REVIEW – TOP PERFORMANCES FROM WEEK #4:

• NIU’s Chad Spann rushed for 223 yards on 17 carries (14.9 avg.) to lead a powerful running attack in a 34-23 win at Minnesota. Spann scored on a 61-yard run in the fourth quarter to give NIU a 34-16 lead. He also had a run of 56 yards in the first quarter to set up the first touchdown, and added a 33-yard jaunt in the second quarter.
• Central Michigan QB Ryan Radcliff set a career-high with 347 yards, 29 completions and 43 attempts in the contest. WR Cody Wilson added a 31-yard touchdown run and Radcliff connected with RB Carl Volny on a 17-yard score in the first half. Volny added a two-yard touchdown run and Radcliff hit WR Kito Poblah with a 25-yard score with 1:11 left in regulation for the 30-25 final.
• Ohio ’s senior wide receiver Terrence McCrae had four catches for 118 yards and two TDs in a 24-23 loss at Marshall. McCrae’s first TD catch was a two-yarder and his second came on a Hail Mary in the back of the end zone from QB Boo Jackson on a 36-yard connection to pull within one on the final play of the game.
• Temple traveled to Penn State with hopes to win their first game against the Nittany Lions since 1941 and the Owls effort fell short with a 22-13 loss. Sophomore RB Bernard Pierce rushed for 42 yards and two touchdowns in the first half as the Owls opened a 13-9 halftime lead, however Pierce left the game in the third with an injury. Pierce rushed for scores from five and three yards.
• Miami QB Zac Dysert was 20-of-27 passing for 178 yards and one interception and WR Armand Robinson led the club with 10 receptions for 99 yards in their loss at Missouri.
• Toledo QB Austin Dantin accounted for four touchdowns in a 31-20 win at Purdue. Dantin was 24-of-31 passing for 209 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 64 yards and two scores.
• Buffalo WR Ed Young made the most of his three receptions as he collected 68 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-21 loss at Connecticut.
• Central Michigan QB Ryan Radcliff was 29-of-43 passing for 347 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 30-25 loss at Northwestern.
• Bowling Green WR Tyrone Pronty had a career-high 92 yards receiving, including a 71-yard touchdown reception, in a 65-21 loss at Michigan.

Nick’s Picks for Week #5

Ohio (1-3, 0-1 MAC) at Eastern Michigan (0-4, 0-2 MAC)

Saturday, October 2, 2010 • Noon ET • Ypsilanti, Mich. • Rynearson Stadium (30,200)

All-MACcess Video Streaming on www.mac-sports.com

Series: Ohio leads 15-11-1

Notes:

Since 1998, Ohio is 43-14 (.754) when scoring 28 points or more...Sophomore K Matt Weller is already fourth in school history with 26 career field goals...Head Coach Frank Solich has 33 wins at Ohio and is tied for fourth on the program’s all-time victories list. Sophomore QB Alex Gillett (6-1, 205) and redshirt freshman QB Devontae Payne (6-6, 231) continue to split QB duties for the Eagles...Senior RB Dwayne Priest ranks 12th in school history with 1,510 yards rushing... LB Neal Howey is tied for 13th in the nation in total tackles with 44.

Nick’s Pick: Ohio 23 – Eastern 17

Comment: The Eagles are getting better even though their record may not show it; the Bobcats do not have the offense to blow out teams.

Temple (3-1, 1-0 MAC) at Army (3-1, Independent)

Saturday, October 2, 2010 • Noon ET • West Point, N.Y. • Michie Stadium (39,929)

CBS College Sports

Series: Army leads 4-3

Notes:

Seven of Temple’s 2010 opponents participated in postseason play the previous year...LB Adrian Robinson and DT Muhammad Wilkerson are both tied for 22nd in the nation with two forced fumbles...Temple scoring defense ranks second in the MAC at 18.0 ppg. Army improved to 3-1 on the year with a 35-21 win over Duke...Army’s

24-point victory over North Texas on Sept. 18 (24-0) was its largest since a 44-13 win at Tulane on Oct. 4, 2008...The win over Northern Texas was the first time in the Black Knights’ last six wins that the margin of victory has been greater than seven points.

Nick’s Pick: Temple 21 – Army 17

Comment: Expect a dog fight with one of these teams getting one step closer to a bowl birth.

Kent State (1-2, 0-0 MAC) at Miami (2-2, 1-0 MAC)

Saturday, October 2, 2010 • 1:00 pm ET • Oxford, Ohio • Yager Stadium (24,286)

All-MACcess web streaming via www.mac-sports.com

Series: Miami leads 44-13

Notes:

Kent State begins a stretch of playing three of the next four conference games on the road (at Miami, vs. Akron, at Toledo, at Bowling Green)... Kent State ranks No. 1 in the nation in rush defense (61.3 ypg), tied for 15th in red zone defense (64%) and 22nd in total defense (293.3 ypg). Miami’s LB Ryan Kennedy has filled in for injured LB Luke Kelly and had team-best eight tackles, 3.5 tfl and 1.5 sack vs. Colorado State and career-best 14 tackles vs. Eastern Michigan...QB Zac Dysert ranks ninth on Miami’s career passing list...WR Armand Robinson ranks 17th in the nation in receiving yards per game (95.5 avg.).

Nick’s Pick: Miami 20 – Kent State 16

Comment: Both defenses are solid; give the nod to the host RedHawks who have a long history of getting the best of the Golden Flashes.

Idaho (2-2, 0-0 WAC) at Western Michigan (1-2, 0-1 MAC)

Saturday, October 2, 2010 • 2:00 pm ET • Kalamazoo, Mich. • Waldo Stadium (30,200) ESPN Plus/ESPN Game Plan

Series: Western Michigan leads 2-0

Notes:

QB Nathan Enderle is on the Manning Award, Unitas Golden Arm and Davey O’Brien Award watch lists, while S Shiloh Keo is on the Jim Thorpe Award watch list...The Vandals’ turn-around in 2009 was the second best in the country behind SMU, after a 2-10 2008, Idaho went 8-5 in 2009...Fell to 2-2 with a 36-34 loss at Colorado last week. Coming off the bye week, Broncos host Idaho at Waldo Stadium then travel for the next three on the road (at Ball State, Notre Dame and

Akron )...QB Alex Carder ranks fifth in the country in passing yards per game (307.0) and seventh in the nation in total offense (320.7 ypg).

Nick’s Pick: Western 38 – Idaho 34

Comment: The Broncos have the offense to fly with Vandals and earn a nice win over an improving WAC program.

Ball State (1-3, 0-0 MAC) at Central Michigan (2-2, 0-1 MAC)

Saturday, October 2, 2010 • 3:30 pm ET • Mount Pleasant, Mich. • Kelly/Shorts Stadium (30,255) All-MACcess Web Streaming via www.mac-sports.com

Series: Central Michigan leads 22-19-1

Notes:

Ball State S Sean Baker already has three interceptions this season and is

tied for third on schools all-time interception list with 13 career picks...RB MiQuale Lewis rushed for his first TD this season at Purdue and now has 31 in his career, which is tied for second in school history...S Sean Baker is tied for sixth in the nation with his three interceptions. Ten different CMU players have registered a sack after only four games...Chippewas defense ranks tied for fourth in the nation in red zone defense (57%), tied for 15th in the nation in scoring defense (14.3 ppg), 18th in rush defense (97.0 ypg) and tied for 24th in total defense (295.3 ypg).

Nick’s Pick: Central 34 – Ball State 17

Comment: The Chips are the better team – period.

Buffalo (1-3, 0-0 MAC) at Bowling Green (1-3, 0-0 MAC)

Saturday, October 2, 2010 • 3:30 pm ET • Bowling Green, Ohio • Doyt L. Perry Stadium (24,000) All-MACcess Web Streaming via www.mac-sports.com

Series: Bowling Green leads 5-2

Notes:

Buffalo WR Marcus Rivers has his second 100-yard receiving game of the year with 7 receptions for 102 yards vs. UCF on Sept. 18...S Davonte Shannon has moved into fourth place all-time in school history with 365 tackles...Senior K A.J. Principe already owns the school record for field goals (41), PATs (118) and points scored by a kicker (241). BGSU WR Kamar Jorden ranks second in the nation in receptions per game (10.0 rpg), 11th in receiving yards per game (103.3 ypg) and seventh in total receiving yards (413).Since 2002, the Falcons are 52-6 when scoring at least 30 points and just 9-36 when scoring 29 points or fewer.

Nick’s Pick: BGSU 27 – Buffalo 23

Comment: Both teams want to get the bad taste out of their mouth after poor performances last weekend.

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Northern Illinois (2-2, 0-0 MAC) at Akron (0-4, 0-0 MAC)

Saturday, October 2, 2010 • 6:00 pm ET • Akron, Ohio • InfoCision Stadium Summa Field (30,000) All-MACcess Web Streaming via www.mac-sports.com

Series: Northern Illinois leads 6-5

Notes:

Five starters -- RB Chad Spann, OG Joe Pawlak, TE Jason Schepler, DE Jake Coffman and DE Sean Progar-- and 11 players on NIU’s current depth chart originally came to NIU as walk-ons...NIU ranks first in the MAC in rush offense and 12th in the nation (245.0 ypg)....RB Chad Spann ranks 13th in the nation in rushing (114.5 ypg). Akron has scored eight touchdowns this season, four on the

ground, four through the air...Senior offensive lineman Mike Ward (C/OG) and Corey Woods (LT) have started all 40 games of their career...Host Northern Illinois before traveling for the next two on the road (at Kent State, at Ohio).

Notes:

Nick’s Pick: NIU 28 – Akron 20

Comment: The Zips always seem to play the Huskies tough.

Wyoming (1-3, 0-0 Mountain West) at Toledo (3-1, 2-0 MAC)

Saturday, October 2, 2010 • 7:00 pm ET • Toledo, Ohio • Glass Bowl (26,248)

All-MACcess Web Streaming via www.mac-sports.com

Series: First Meeting

Wyoming begins a stretch of playing three of the next four games on the road (at Toledo, at TCU, vs. Utah, at BYU)...Senior WR David Leonard has 117 career receptions and ranks 11th on the schools all time list...Fell to 1-3 on the year with a 20-14 loss to Air Force last Saturday. In the past three games, Toledo’s defense has forced 13 turnovers, scored a TD off an interception and set up two other scores from inside the five-yard line...Rockets rank 17th in the nation in

rush defense (96.0 ypg).

Nick’s Pick: Toledo 30 – Wyoming 24

Comment: The Rockets have a rare shot (in recent years) at a four game winning streak; the Cowboys are a team that is better than their record indicates.

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Nick’s Picks for Week #4 went 8-3 and now stand 36-9 YTD

Nick’s Pick: Iowa 33 – Ball State 13

Actual Score: Iowa 45 – Ball State 0

Comment: Cardinals were no match for the Hawkeyes coming off a tough loss at Arizona.

Nick’s Pick: Michigan 36 – BGSU 20

Actual Score: Michigan 65 – BGSU 21

Comment: Really thought the Falcons would put in a better performance; poor tackling on several plays made small runs turn into big runs & TDs.

Nick’s Pick: Purdue 28 – Toledo 13

Actual Score: Toledo 31 – Purdue 20

Comment: Pleasant surprise for the MAC as the Rockets beat the Boilermakers for the third time over the past sixteen years. UT dominated the first half and held on in the second half for the convincing win.

Nick’s Pick: Northwestern 27 – Central 17

Actual Score: Northwestern 30 – Central 25

Comment: The Chips had a chance but couldn’t close the deal at the end.

Nick’s Pick: Ohio State 56 – Eastern 0

Actual Score: Ohio State 73 – Eastern 20

Comment: As expected the Buckeyes blew out the Eagles, the only item not foreseen was that Eastern would score 20-points.

Nick’s Pick: Penn State 21 – Temple 14

Actual Score: Penn State 22 – Temple 13

Comment: The Owls had a chance here but once Bernard Pierce was injured the Owl offense sputtered.

Nick’s Pick: Indiana 41 – Akron 7

Actual Score: Indiana 35 – Akron 20

Comment: Nice to see the Zips put up a fight.

Nick’s Pick: Minnesota 31 – NIU 24

Actual Score: NIU 34 – Minnesota 23

Comment: The Huskies beat Minnesota soundly although Coach Kill has yet to beat a team with a winning record during his three-year tenure in DeKalb.

Nick’s Pick: UConn 26 – Buffalo 13

Actual Score: UConn 45 – Buffalo 21

Comment: The Bulls trailed by just three in the third quarter before the bottom fell out.

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

Actual Score: Missouri 53 – Miami (O) 13

Comment: Former Toledo head coach Gary Pinkel pummeled his former MAC rival.

Nick’s Pick: Ohio 20 – Marshall 17

Actual Score: Marshall 24 – Ohio 23

Comment: As expected this game went down to the wire in this Ohio River war; a failed two-point conversion at the end of regulation was the difference.