VanDelaySports.com > MAC Football > Nick's 2006 MAC Football Picks > Week #1 Picks

Nick's 2006 MAC Football Picks - Week #1 Picks

THURSDAY - August 31st

Boston College @ Central Michigan

This is a terrific home game for the Chippewas taking on a much-storied Boston College program from the ACC. These two teams have only met once before, a 43-0 Eagle home victory in 2002. BC has never lost to a team from MAC and in most cases has dominated them. Tom O’Brien is a solid coach who guided BC to a 9-3 record last season. Central is much improved under Coach Brian Kelly and this is a huge opportunity for this program to get their first non-conference signature win since the early 1990s. CMU will be up to the challenge and will put a scare into BC but the Eagles should be able to leave Mount Pleasant with a win.

Line: BC by 14

Nick’s Pick: BC 34 – Central Michigan 23

Eastern Michigan @ Ball State

The Eagles have been looking forward to this game since November 12th when they blew a 25-7 4th quarter lead at home and lost 26-25 to the Cardinals. Ball State is looking forward to opening up at home after winning three of their final four games last season. On paper the Cardinals have the better team but this has been a very entertaining series the past two year with 'Cards one-point win last year and EMU’s 31-24 triumph in Muncie two years ago. Ball St. leads the overall series 25-20-2 including a 12-9-2 mark at home. Once again I see an entertaining contest with Ball State getting off to a winning start for the '06 season.

Line: Ball State by 5

Nick’s Pick: Ball State 31 – EMU 24

Temple @ Buffalo

A terrific contest between two young and extremely enthusiastic coaches who are trying desperately at changing their programs dismal football histories. Each coach has to be looking at this game as one of their very few realistic chances at victory for 2006. Expect a hard fought physical war. But let’s face it; UB is not at a point where they can give 6-points to any team in the country. This may prove to be a serious motivator for the new Temple coaching staff during their pre-game pep talk. Pick UB at home in a close contest. UB leads the all time series 9-1.

Line: Buffalo by 6

Nick’s Pick: Buffalo 21 – Temple 20

Minnesota @ Kent State

This is the first meeting between these two schools and will be the first time a Big Ten team has ever visited Dix Stadium. Head Coach Doug Martin stated to me in March "this will be the first time we have ever had a real college game day atmosphere is a very long time – we need to take advantage of that." Minnesota is coached by Glen Mason, who coach the Golden Flashes in 1986 and 1987. Minnesota heavily recruits the Buckeye state and looks at this as a recruiting trip. KSU is much improved and was a better team than their 1-10 record indicated last year. If the Golden Flash offense can do anything, but this could become a very close game as KSU’s defense is pretty good too. Minnesota will look to keep it simple and run the ball effectively and the Golden Gophers will pull away in the second half.

Line: Minnesota by 16

Nick’s Pick: Minnesota 30 – Kent State 13

Northwestern @ Miami

This will an emotional evening as both teams will be honoring former head coach (of both schools) Randy Walker, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this summer. These two teams have met seven times before with Miami holding a commanding 6-1 edge in the series including a 44-14 thrashing of the Wildcats in 2003. Northwestern’s lone win came in 1963. Miami will have several new starters on defense but the RedHawks have recruited well enough to hold down their Big Ten foe. This should be a terrific contest between two evenly matched teams. Take Miami at home and their winning tradition in this series.

Line: Northwestern by 3

Nick’s Pick: Miami 30 – Northwestern 24

Toledo @ Iowa State

This game could very well be a terrific second-tier bowl game. The Cyclones have a ton of talent returning on the offensive side of the ball while Toledo is solid on defense and boasts the MAC’s top offensive line. Toledo will be playing their first season without Bruce Gradkowski as their starting QB since 2002. There are several pieces in place for UT to pull out a road win, but Tom Amstutz is 3-2 in season openers including 0-2 on the road. ISU will be a player in the '06 Big Twelve season and may very well win the North division. Toledo will make a strong run at double-digit wins this fall but will stumble out of the block in Ames, Iowa. This should be a fun game to watch.

Line: ISU by 8

Nick’s Pick: ISU 37 – Toledo 21

Related VanDelaySports.com Links:

Week #1 MAC Football Quick Notes

2006 MAC Football Pigskin Preview

2006 Preseason All-VanDelay team

SATURDAY - September 2nd

Akron @ Penn State

Akron wants to prove the 2005 MAC championship was no fluke. They have the opportunity to earn their first ever signature non-conference win at Beaver Stadium. Toledo dominated Penn State 24-6 in 2000 and most certainly the Zips coaching staff is reminding their players "it can be done!" Akron has some studs on the defensive side and enough playmakers on offense to make this game very interesting. Penn State is riding an impressive 11-1 season and may get caught up looking ahead to their trip to Notre Dame on September 9. If that happens, Akron may have their chance for that first signature OOC win. Historically, the Zips begin the season slow. Look for PSU to muscle their way past Akron, but it should be a much better contest that the 48-10 whipping of 2004.

Line: Penn State by 17

Nick’s Pick: Penn State 35 – Akron 14

Northern Illinois @ Ohio State

If OSU fans have never heard of Garrett Wolfe, they will be asking themselves after this game "how did the Big 10 miss this kid?" NIU put serious scares in Northwestern and Michigan last season before dropping those contests by one and sixteen points respectively. Buckeye fans can be some of the most annoying in the country, but until a MAC team finally beats them, they will always look down on this quality league. Unfortunately, NIU doesn’t quite have enough firepower to pull out an upset, but they will certainly prove to be a very formidable opponent.

Line: Ohio State by 18

Nick’s Pick: Ohio State 28 – NIU 13

Western Michigan @ Indiana

A year ago Indiana opened up with Western’s arch-rival, and the Hoosiers pulled out a hard fought 20-13 win over the Chippewas at CMU. This year, former Miami head coach Terry Hoeppner opens the season against another MAC foe, Western Michigan, only this time in Bloomington. Like Central Michigan last season, Western Michigan will come into this game feeling they can get a win over a Big Ten school. IU has one of the best WRs in the country in James Hardy, but a very young Western defensive backfield last season has matured into some solid veterans this fall. Expect this contest to go down to the wire and the Broncos could very well win this ballgame. IU leads the series 2-0 (all at home) with a 14-point victory in 1995 and a 15-point victory in 1998.

Line: Indiana by 4

Nick’s Pick: Indiana 35 – WMU 27

Wisconsin vs. Bowling Green @ Cleveland Browns Stadium

If only BGSU still had Omar Jacobs, this would have been a game the Falcons likely would have won. Freddie Barnes will be the starting QB for this contest as new starter Anthony Turner will sitting out this game as a penalty for violating team rules a few months back. BG graduated their starting backfield, starting WR corps and lost Jacobs. Wisconsin will be breaking a new head coach, Bret Bielema. The Badgers recruit the state of Ohio well and especially the greater Cleveland area, so look for some good Badger fan support in the Rock-n-Roll city for this contest. One thing should stay the same for UW, a strong running game; something the Falcons will have a tough time stopping. Wisconsin leads this series 2-0 with wins in 1992 and 2005. BG will put on a good show but Wisconsin will wear them down with their huge line and strong RBs.

Line: Wisconsin by 10

Nick’s Pick: Wisconsin 38 – BGSU 26

Tennessee-Martin @ Ohio

This is the first meeting between the Bobcats and SkyHawks. UTM is an I-AA school from the Ohio Valley Conference and posted a 6-5 record in 2005. They have a new head coach in Jason Simpson and their second game of the season is Urbana, a NAIA school west of Columbus, Ohio.

Related VanDelaySports.com Links:

Week #1 MAC Football Quick Notes

2006 MAC Football Pigskin Preview

2006 Preseason All-VanDelay team