You are here > VanDelaySports.com > MAC Football > Nick's 2005 MAC Football Picks > Week #10 Picks

Nick's 2005 MAC Football Picks - Week #10 Picks

published 11.02.05

Use these "quick links" to jump to the date of the game you want or scroll down the page for your favorite MAC matchups!

MAC Quick Notes

Friday Game: Toledo @ Ohio

Saturday Games: NIU @ Central Michigan, WMU @ EMU, BGSU @ Kent State, Buffalo @ Miami, Akron @ Ball State

MAC Quick Notes

> Current MAC Standings (opens in new window)

MAC EAST DIVISION: Four teams are tied for first place records with three weeks remaining in the season. At 3-2 are Akron, Bowling Green, Miami and Ohio. The rest of the schedule for each team is as follows:

• Akron (at Ball State; Ohio; Kent State)
• Bowling Green (at Kent State; at Miami; Toledo)
• Miami (Buffalo; Bowling Green; at Ohio)
• Ohio (Toledo; at Akron; Miami)

MAC WEST DIVISION: Two teams are tied at 4-1 - Central Michigan and Toledo. Right behind at 3-2 are Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. The rest of the schedule for each team is as follows:

• Central Michigan (Northern Illinois; at Western Michigan; at Ball State)
• Toledo (at Ohio; Northern Illinois; at Bowling Green)
• Northern Illinois (at Central Michigan; at Toledo; Western Michigan)
• Western Michigan (Eastern Michigan at Ford Field; Central Michigan; at Northern Illinois)

MAC QUICK NOTES

• Friday night on ESPN2 Ohio will host Toledo at 8 p.m. (ET). Ohio is 3-0 at home this season. Toledo is 2-2 on the road
• Central Michigan's 21-17 win over defending MAC Champion Toledo snapped the Chippewas 10-game losing streak to the Rockets - CMU trailed at the half 14-7, but for the fifth consecutive game CMU's defense held its opponent without a touchdown in the second half
• Central Michigan held Toledo to 95 rushing yards, 136 below its average (231), and to 17 points, 22 points below its season average, in Saturday's win - CMU defensive end Dan Bazuin tied the school's single season sack record with his ninth of the season. CMU has won four consecutive games for the first time since 1994
• Western Michigan, 1-10 overall and 0-8 in the MAC last year, is one win shy of securing a winning season and becoming bowl eligible - The Broncos are 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the MAC
• Ohio's Kalvin McRae had his third 200-yard rushing game of the season with 224 yards in Saturday's 34-20 win at Buffalo - McRae's three 200-yard rushing games is second in the nation to the five 200-yard rushing performances by DeAngelo Williams of Memphis.
• Despite the loss at Central Michigan, Toledo QB Bruce Gradkowski passed for 262 yards to become the ninth player in MAC history to reach 8,000 career passing yards. Gradkowski has 8,225 yards and is 492 yards from eighth place- Gradkowski's 73 all-time passing TDs are fifth in league history.
• Ball State's win at Northern Illinois gives the Cardinals a 2-1 road record in MAC games as opposed to its 0-2 home record
• In MAC only games, Bowling Green is 2-0 on the road and 1-2 at home. Both Akron and Miami are 2-1 on the road and 1-1 at home - Only Toledo (3-0) and Ohio (2-0) are undefeated at home in MAC games
• Ohio's Dion Byrum had his fifth interception of the season Saturday at Buffalo - Byrum is tied with three other players for the most interceptions in the nation.
• Miami QB Josh Betts had 379 passing yards at Temple. Betts leads the MAC with four games with 300 or more passing yards - Betts was named as one of eight I-A finalists for the Draddy Trophy, emblematic of the Academic Heisman - The award is sponsored by the National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Fame - Launched in 1959, the NFF scholar-athlete foundation is the first initiative in history to credit a football player for both academic and athletic accomplishments
• Toledo’s Bruce Gradkowski has been invited to play in the Hula Bowl on January 21 in Honolulu
• In Ball State's 31-17 win at Northern Illinois, Cardinals QB Joey Lynch completed 69.6 percent of his attempts (23-of-33) to boost his season average to 65.5 (second in the MAC) and his career mark to 65.0 (fourth highest in MAC history)

> Current MAC Standings (opens in new window)

Related VanDelaySports.com Links:

New! "The Best of the MAC" - football ticket prices

New! MAC Team pages - all the info on your team!

2005 MAC football standings

Nick's recap for MAC football Week #8

Former MAC Players in the NFL

MAC football season awards, 1965-2004

FRIDAY - November 4

Toledo (6-2, 4-1 MAC) @Ohio (4-4, 3-2 MAC) - 8 pm ET

Television: ESPN2 (Dave Pasch, play-by-play; Trevor Matich and Rodney Gilmore, analysts).

Site: Athens, Ohio - Peden Stadium (24,000/Field Turf)

Series: Toledo leads 28-19-1 ... the Rockets have won the last 9 in a row and the last 4 meetings in Athens.

Coaches: UT-Tom Amstutz (42-17, fifth season); Ohio-Frank Solich (4-4, 1st season at Ohio; 62-23, 8th season overall).

Game Notes:

• Ohio is 3-0 at home and is coming off its first road win of the season, a 34-20 triumph at Buffalo
• The Rockets were dealt their first conference loss of 2005 last week, a 21-17 setback at Central Michigan
• Despite the loss, Toledo still leads the league is scoring offense (36.6 ppg) and scoring defense (18.9 ppg allowed)
• At home, Ohio is scoring 29.6 ppg and allowing 21.0 ppg
• This matchup also features two of the three MAC teams averaging over 200 yards rushing per game (UT 214 & OU 200)
• This is the last cross divisional game for Ohio
• Ohio's Kalvin McRae has 488 rushing yards the last two games

Nick’s Pick: Toledo 21 - Ohio 20

Line: Toledo by 11

Comment: Toledo was upset last week at Central and I actually thought this would be the road game they would lose at the beginning of the season. Ohio has earned respect under Frank Solich and they have yet to lose at home. Expect a real dog fight in this contest but Toledo plays best when their backs are against the wall as it is now after the loss to the Chippewas. Toledo will hold off the Bobcats in a close match.

SATURDAY - November 5

Northern Illinois (4-4, 3-2 MAC) @Central Michigan (5-3, 4-1 MAC) - 1 pm ET

Site: Mount Pleasant, Mich. - Kelly Shorts Stadium (30,199/Field Turf)

Series: CMU leads 21-18-1 ... the Huskies have won the last 7 in a row and the last 3 played at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

Coaches: NIU-Joe Novak (51-59, 11th season); CMU-Brian Kelly (9-10, 2nd season at CMU; 127-45-2, 15th season overall).

Game Notes:

• CMU beat Toledo 21-17 last week to go to 4-1 in the MAC for the first time since 1998
• The Chippewas also have a four-game winning streak, its longest since 1994
• The Huskies had a three-game winning streak stopped in its 31-17 loss to Ball State
• NIU was held to 66 rushing yards, far below its average of 213 per game
• Garrett Wolfe, the league's top rusher (144 ypg) is listed as extremely doubtful for the game
• Huskie WR Britt Davis has 29 receptions, just six shy of the school record for a freshman
• CMU has played it close this year as it has a one-point win and two four-point triumphs, a seven-point loss and an overtime loss by three

Nick’s Pick: CMU 24 - NIU 21

Line: NIU by 3

Comment: Central is for real and their defense has played very well for most of the year, especially in the second half. NIU looked really confused offensively against Ball State last week and if Central watches the tape of the Cardinals holding a potent Huskie rushing attack to just 66 yards, they should be able to hold off NIU and keep their bowl hopes alive.

Related VanDelaySports.com Links:

The Wacky MAC & midseason award picks

Updated 2005 MAC football standings

Nick's recap for MAC football Week #9

MAC Team Pages

Western Michigan (5-3, 3-2 MAC) @Eastern Michigan (3-5, 2-3 MAC) - 1 pm ET

Television: Comcast Local (Ben Holden, play-by-play; Rob Otto, analyst).

Site: Detroit, Mich. - Ford Field (65,000/Field Turf)

Series: WMU leads 24-14-2 ... the Eagles 35-31 win last year snapped a 7-game losing streak in the series.

Coaches: WMU-Bill Cubit (5-3, 1st season at WMU, 39-21-1, 6th season overall); EMU-Jeff Genyk (7-12, 2nd season).

Game Notes:

• This is the second consecutive year EMU will host a game at Ford Field as the Eagles beat Central Michigan 61-58 in four overtimes last season
• The Eagles are coming off a bye week and take a three-game losing streak into the contest
• The Broncos have won five of their last six games after an 0-2 start and have outscored the opposition 89-28 in the last two games
• Western frosh QB Tim Hiller has completed 65.6 (58-of-88) percent of his pass attempts for 840 yards, 12 TDs and 3 interceptions for a 184.27 pass efficiency rating
• EMU WR Eric Deslauriers needs 34 yards receiving to reach 2,000 for his career and his 18 career TD receptions is two shy of the school record
• EMU can defend its Michigan MAC Championship with a win since they have already beaten Central

Bowling Green (4-4, 3-2) @Kent State (1-7, 0-5 MAC) - 2 pm ET

Television: FSN Ohio, Comcast Local, CSN Chicago (Michael Reghi, play-by-play; Bob Chmiel, analyst; Brooke Wesbrod, sideline).

Site: Kent, Ohio - Dix Stadium (29,287/Field Turf)

Series: BGSU leads 51-15-6 ... the Falcons have won the last 4 in a row 27 of the last 30 meetings.

Coaches: BG-Gregg Brandon (24-10, 3rd season); KSU-Doug Martin (6-13, 2nd season).

Game Notes:

• BG has dropped back-to-back MAC games for the first time since the 2000 season
• The Golden Flashes have lost their last six games, two of them by three points and one by seven points
• The Falcons will not know until gameday if injured (non throwing shoulder) QB Omar Jacobs will be available - Jacobs has completed 149-of-244 attempts for 2,097 yards and 20 TDs in 7 games
• Without Jacobs, the Falcons have been outscored 69-22
• The Golden Flashes are last in the league in rush offense (51 ypg) but third in passing (276 ypg)
• BG has a layoff of 10 days as its next game is November 15 at Miami

Nick’s Pick: BGSU 34 - Kent State 13

Line: BGSU by 12

Comment: This has been a nightmare season for both programs. For Kent State, they are used to losing records but BG is really reeling since they expected so much more this year. BG has owned this series through the years and has much more talent. BG needs a game like this to get their confidence back and to get a much needed win.

Buffalo (0-8, 0-5 MAC) @Miami (5-3, 3-2 MAC) - 2 pm ET

Television: Time Warner - delayed locally (Tom Michaels, play-by-play; Gino DiGiandomenico, analyst).

Site: Oxford, Ohio - Yager Stadium (24,286/Field Turf)

Series: Miami leads 7-0 ... the teams have met each season since 1999 ... the lone game prior to Buffalo's arrival in the MAC came in 1951.

Coaches: UB-Jim Hofher (7-47, 5th season at UB; 51-83, 13th season overall); MIA-Shane Montgomery (5-3, 1st season).

Game Notes:

• The RedHawks have won three in a row to climb back into title contention and have outscored the opposition 116-60 in that stretch
• Josh Betts passed for 379 yards and 3 TDs last week at Temple - Betts has a league-high 2,351 passing yards
• WR Ryne Robinson (105) and Martin Nance (99) have combined to average 204 receiving yards per game and RB Brandon Murphy is posting 124 rushing yards per game
• Buffalo has averaged 17.5 ppg the last two weeks, nearly double its season average of 9.1
• Jared Patterson (93 yards rushing) and TE Chad Upshaw (8 rec., 116 yards) had career days last week vs. Ohio
• Miami is second in the MAC in total offense (453.0 ypg) while Buffalo is fourth in total defense (386.9 ypg allowed)
• RedHawks WR Martin Nance needs two yards receiving to become the ninth player in MAC history to reach 3,000 career receiving yards

Nick’s Pick: Miami 38 - Buffalo 10

Line: Miami by 26

Comment: Buffalo has really improved this season but sadly for Bulls fans their record does not indicate it. Miami has owned this series and only one game has been close since UB entered the MAC in 1998. UB’s defense will keep them in it for one half, then the RedHawks offensive explosion will take over.

Related VanDelaySports.com Links:

The Wacky MAC & midseason award picks

Updated 2005 MAC football standings

Nick's recap for MAC football Week #9

MAC Team Pages

Akron (4-4, 3-2 MAC) @Ball State (2-6, 2-3) - 2 pm ET

Site: Muncie, Ind. - Ball State Stadium (22,500/Natural Grass)

Series: Akron leads 10-6-1 ... the Zips have won the last three meetings in 1998, 1999 and 2004 (35-23).

Coaches: UA-J.D. Brookhart (10-9, 2nd season); BSU-Brady Hoke (8-23, 3rd season).

Game Notes:

• Ball State played its best game of the year last week with a 31-17 win at Northern Illinois
• Both of the Cardinals wins this year have been on the road (NIU & Western Michigan)
• The Zips snapped a two-game losing streak with a 24-14 win at then East Division leader Bowling Green
• UA's Brett Biggs had 75 rushing yards in the first half and 84 in the second half to boost his season average to 88 ypg
• BSU is allowing 232 rushing yards a game but held MAC rushing leader NIU to just 66 yards on the ground last week
• Cardinals QB Joey Lynch has completed 65.5 percent of his pass attempts with 13 TDs and 6 interceptions
• Last week Charles Wynn led BSU with 122 rushing yards and in receiving with six catches for 33 yards
• BSU has the league's top punter in Chris Miller (44.0 ypk) while Akron features the MAC's top all-purpose performer in Domenik Hixon (175.9 ypg).

Nick’s Pick: Ball State 33 - Akron 23

Line: Akron by 3

Comment: Just when I start to believe in Akron, they usually let me down. Ball State has been getting better every week this season and fighting through so many off the field distractions. Their win at NIU was the most complete game this program has played in Brady Hoke’s tenure. The Cardinals will win at home.