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Nick's MAC Football Championship Game Pick

published 11.29.05

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2005 MAC Football Championship Game

Ford Field - Detroit, Michigan

Thursday, December 1st @ 7:30 pm - ESPN

Akron Zips (6-5, 5-3) vs. Nothern Illinois Huskies (7-4, 6-2)

Northern Illinois Huskies Preview
While this might not be the Toledo/BGSU match up most experts picked in the preseason, this should be an extremely entertaining contest between two schools making their first appearance in the MAC Championship game. NIU has long been a ‘bridesmaid’ to Toledo but this year they finally got over the hump by beating the Rockets – in Toledo – for the first since 1989 and the first time at the Glass Bowl since 1972. Garrett Wolfe has really taken this team on his shoulders averaging 165-yards per game in the eight games he has participated while redshirt freshman QB Dan Nicholson has played extremely well in relief of Phil Horvath. Coach Joe Novak stated to his program in the late 1990s that “those who stay will be champions.” Well, it took a few more years than Novak would have liked, but this NIU football program is on solid ground and this year’s MAC West divisional champ will be difficult to beat.

Akron Zips Preview
Akron was predicted by every preseason publication to be in the middle of MAC East, well behind either BGSU or Miami. But the young Zips had a terrific road win at Bowling Green and through a series of tie-breaker rules, are the East champs in just second season for JD Brookhart. After the graduation of all-everything QB Charlie Frye, few thought the Zips would be much of a factor this season. Some may forget that Akron beat NIU on September 24th by a score of 48-42 in OT at the Rubber Bowl. Each team passed for over 400 yards that day as the Huskies rallied from a 21-point 4th quarter deficit to force OT.

Overview
Each team is playing their best football of the season and only the winner of this game will get a bowl bid – the Motor City Bowl. Defensively, each team has been very good and Akron has the best statistical defense in the league this season in total defense. Look for a hard hitting and well played game by two teams that are very well coached. With NIU having more offensive weapons at their disposal, it’s hard to see them losing to the Zips, but the game should be very close. The last time these teams played in September, the game went to OT. This contest may very well go to overtime too.