2011 MAC Football Picks - Week #7 Preview

MAC Notes:

Toledo junior wide receiver Eric Page became the school’s all time career receptions leader with 235 career receptions; Page collected 11 receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown in the Rockets 54-16 win over Eastern Michigan.
Temple junior running back Bernard Pierce became the school’s all-time leader in career rushing touchdowns with 41 scores; Pierce rushed for 121 yards and three touchdowns in the Owls 42-0 win at Ball State; he is also one of the most explosive backs currently in college football. Pierce ranks first in the nation with 15 rushing touchdowns, second in the country in scoring (15.0 ppg) and 13th in rushing (115.3 ypg).
Western Michigan wide receiver Jordan White added 12 receptions for 156 yards and two touchdowns in the Broncos 45-21 win over Bowling Green. White has 3,100 career receiving yards, which ranks third in school history and has totaled 233 career receptions, which also ranks third in Bronco history and ranks tied for 13th in conference history.
UB’s Brandon Oliver ran for a career-high 179 yards on 34 carries and scored three touchdowns, including the game winner to help lift Buffalo to a 38-37 win over Ohio.
Northern Illinois’ defense allowed just 70 yards and recorded seven sacks as the Huskies defeated Kent State, 40-10.
Miami ’s Zac Dysert had a hand in all five touchdowns as Miami scored 21 unanswered points to overcome a 14-point deficit and pick up the first win for Head Coach Don Treadwell as the RedHawks defeated Army 35-28; Dysert finished the day with 342 yards, four touchdowns in the air and rushed for another touchdown.
Ohio QB Tyler Tettleton threw for over 200 yards for the fourth consecutive week as he finished with 203 yards passing and rushed for a career-high 66 yards on the ground.
Currently the MAC is 9-31 in non-conference competition against FBS teams and 12-0 against FCS teams totaling 21-31 overall.

…Nick’s Picks went 6-2 last week and now stand at 52-12 on the season…

This Week’s Games:

Saturday, October

Toledo at Bowling Green, Noon ET; (ESPN Plus/ESPN Game Plan/ESPN3)
Buffalo at Temple, 1:00 pm ET (mac-sports.com)
Eastern Michigan at Central Michigan, 3:00 pm ET; (mac-sports.com)
Miami at Kent State, 3:30 pm ET (mac-sports.com)
Ball State at Ohio, 3:30 pm ET; (SportsTime Ohio/Comcast Indiana/ESPN Game Plan/ESPN3)
Western Michigan at Northern Illinois, 3:30 pm ET; (Comcast SportsNet Chicago/ESPN Game Plan/ESPN3)

Nick's Picks:

Toledo (3-3, 2-0 MAC) at Bowling Green (3-3, 1-1 MAC)

Saturday, October 15, 2011 • Noon ET • Bowling Green, Ohio • Doyt L. Perry Stadium (24,000); ESPN Plus • ESPN Game Plan • ESPN3; Series: Bowling Green leads 39-32-4

Nick’s Pick: Toledo 37 – BGSU 20

Comment: Both teams can score points as the Rockets average 36-points per game wile BG puts up 30. Defensively their numbers are similar with UT giving 25-points per game against some very heavy competition (Boise State & Syracuse) while BG is giving up 29. The difference may very well be turnovers as the Rockets are #1 in the MAC in turnover ration while BG is last. Look for Toledo to win their second in a row in this very heated backyard rivalry.

Buffalo (2-4, 1-1 MAC) at Temple (4-2, 2-1 MAC)

Saturday, October 15, 2011 • 1:00 pm ET • Philadelphia, Pa. • Lincoln Financial Stadium (68,532); Streamed live via ww.mac-sports.com; Series: Buffalo leads 12-3

Nick’s Pick: Temple 31 – Buffalo 21

Comment: Temple has the MAC’s top rushing offense, top rushing defense and top overall scoring defense. Buffalo has shown improvement this year and their win over Ohio last week was impressive. Beating Temple in Philadelphia is another story.

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

Saturday, October 15, 2011 • 3:00 pm ET • Mount Pleasant, Mich. • Kelly/Shorts Stadium (30,255); Streamed live via www.mac-sports.com; Series: Central Michigan leads 55-27-6

Nick’s Pick: Central 34 – Eastern 23

Comment: Eastern’s three wins are a mirage with wins over Akron, Howard and Alabama State. Central has shown signs of life this season and have a nice win over NIU at home. Fire up Chips!

Miami (1-4, 0-1 MAC) at Kent State (1-5, 0-2 MAC)

Saturday, October 15, 2011 • 3:30 pm ET • Kent, Ohio • Dix Stadium (25,000); Streamed live via www.mac-sports.com; Series: Miami leads 45-13

Nick’s Pick: Miami 42 – Kent State 16

Comment: Miami finally got their first win of the season beating a good but not great Army team. Kent State is dreadful offensively ranking dead last in the MAC in scoring offense (12 points per game) and total offense (170-yards per game).

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Ball State (3-3, 1-1 MAC) at Ohio (4-2, 1-1 MAC)

Saturday, October 15, 2011 • 3:30 pm ET • Athens, Ohio • Peden Stadium (24,000); SportsTime Ohio • Comcast Indiana • ESPN Game Plan • ESPN3; Series: Ball State leads 13-8

Nick’s Pick: Ohio 20 – Ball State 17

Comment: Each team had games to forget last week; OU losing a heartbreaker on the road to Buffalo and Ball State getting crushed by Temple. Look for both to rebound and go with the Bobcats at home.

Western Michigan (4-2, 2-0 MAC) at Northern Illinois (3-3, 1-1 MAC)

Saturday, October 15, 2011 • 3:30 pm ET • DeKalb, Ill. • Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium (24,000); Comcast SportsNet Chicago • ESPN Game Plan • ESPN3; Series: Western Michigan leads 23-13

Nick’s Pick: Western 33 – Northern 31

Comment: While in most years the BG/Toledo game would be the game of the week, we believe this contest is the MAC’s best game. NIU has the league’s top offense scoring 37-points per game while giving up 35; Western is scoring 32-points per game and giving up 22. Don’t be surprised if the team with the ball last wins…expect a close game with major divisional title and bowl bid ramifications on the line.