Nick's 2005 MAC Football Picks - Week #2 Recap

Temple @ Wisconsin

Senior tight end Owen Daniels caught a career-high three touchdown passes and Wisconsin opened up its passing game and emptied its bench in a 65-0 rout of Temple on Saturday. It was the Badgers' biggest margin of victory since an 85-0 shutout of Marquette in 1915 and their highest-scoring day since piling up 69 points against New Mexico State in 1962.
After running on 63 of their 73 offensive plays in their season-opening shootout with Bowling Green, the Badgers (2-0) finally got to show off their new passing game under co-offensive coordinator Paul Chryst, brother of MAC Commissioner Rick Chryst. John Stocco completed 12 of 19 passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns in 1 1/2 quarters of work. He hit Daniels on TD slants of 6 and 11 yards, then found him open down the middle for a 15-yard touchdown that made it 37-0 with 6:32 left in the first half.
The Badgers scored on all seven of their first-half possessions and also on Brandon Williams' 66-yard punt return.
The only highlights for the Owls were wiped out by penalties. Defensive end Mike Mendenhall scooped up Stocco's fumble and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown that was negated by an offsides call, and a holding penalty erased a 52-yard kickoff return by Michael Billops.
The Badgers' 121 points through the first two games are the most they've scored in consecutive games in 90 years.
Temple gained just 11 yards on 26 rushes, converted three of 15 third downs and gained but 45 yards of offense, 38 of which came on their final drive.

Nick’s Pick:
Wisconsin 54 – Temple 10

Actual Score:
Wisconsin 65 – Temple 0

Nick’s Prophetic Comment:
“The final score will be whatever Wisconsin wants it to be”

Akron @ Purdue

Jerod Void rushed for 102 yards and a score and Brandon Kirsch passed for 252 yards and two touchdowns as Purdue recorded a 49-24 victory over Akron in the season opener for both teams. Void was one of four players to record a rushing touchdown for the Boilermakers, who featured a balanced attack consisting of over 200 yards both on the ground and through the air.
The Zips clawed within 28-17 late in the third quarter, but Dorien Bryant capped a 14-play, 77-yard drive with a three-yard run to make it 35-17 with 11 minutes remaining.
Luke Getsy, playing his first game since transferring from Pittsburgh and the Zips' first game since the graduation of Charlie Frye, completed 25-of-44 passes for 283 yards and two scores.
Running back Brett Biggs also threw an 80-yard touchdown to Jason Montgomery with 1:31 left before halftime. Biggs also rushed 10 times for 42 yards for Akron, which lost for the 11th time in its last 12 openers.

Nick’s Pick Purdue 48 – Akron 6

Actual Score Purdue 49 – Akron 24

Nick’s Prophetic Comment: ”Purdue is a very good team with lots of talent while Akron has too many new faces to break in this fall. This is not the game to have so many unproven players.”

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Northern Illinois @ Northwestern

Tyrell Sutton ran for his fourth touchdown of the game with just over a minute left, and Northern Illinois failed to convert a 2-point conversion in the final seconds in the Wildcats' 38-37 win Saturday. Sutton finished the game with 30 carries for 214 yards for Northwestern (2-0).
After Sutton put Northwestern up 38-31 with a 5-yard touchdown run, Northern Illinois marched down the field in less than minute to set up Phil Horvath's 19-yard scoring pass to Sam Hurd with 6 seconds left. Instead of trying to send the game in overtime by kicking the extra point, Northern Illinois football coach Joe Novak decided to go for the win. But Horvath's pass to Hurd, who was closely guarded by Cole, was incomplete.
Garrett Wolfe rushed for 245 yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries for Northern Illinois (0-2). A.J. Harris got the Huskies within 24-21 with a 2-yard run early in the second half.
Northwestern quarterback Brett Basanez broke the school career records for total offense and passing, finished the game with 220 yards passing and 55 yards rushing. He completed 21 passes on 32 attempts.
Horvath threw for 283 yards, completing 24 passes on 37 attempts with one interception.

Nick’s Pick: Northwestern 28 – NIU 24

Actual Score: Northwestern 38 – NIU 37

Nick’s Prophetic Comment: “This should be the MAC game of the week with the Huskies losing a heartbreaker.”

Central Michigan @ Miami

attendance in Oxford, OH: 16,945

Ontario Sneed's 60-yard touchdown run with 1:44 left lifted Central Michigan to a 38-37 win over Miami on Saturday, ending the RedHawks' 10-game home-winning streak. Both teams combined for 1,093 yards and Miami dropped a Mid-American Conference opener for the first time since 1995.
Quarterback Kent Smith accounted for four touchdowns and 478 yards of offense for Central Michigan (1-1, 1-0 MAC), throwing for 356 yards and running for 122 yards on 16 carries. He completed 26 of 36 passes, including touchdown throws of 50 yards to Damien Linson and 12 yards to Obed Cetoute, and had TD runs of 1 and 23 yards.
Josh Betts completed 27 of 46 passes for 395 yards and three touchdowns for Miami (0-2, 0-1), including 14-yard TD passes to Martin Nance and Ryne Robinson in the first quarter to give the RedHawks a 14-0 lead. Robinson had eight catches for 152 yards and Nance caught seven passes for 104 yards. Brandon Murphy rushed for 98 yards on 22 carries.
A second-quarter pass from Betts to Josh Wilson that was ruled incomplete in the end zone became the first play reviewed at Yager Stadium under instant replay. The ruling was upheld.

Nick’s Pick Miami 38 – CMU 27

Actual Score CMU 38 – Miami 37

Nick’s Prophetic Comment: “As a big underdog, CMU should make this game competitive”

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Bowling Green @ Ball State

attendance in Muncie, IN: 17,460

Omar Jacobs passed for 428 yards and five touchdowns as Bowling Green beat Ball State 40-31 Saturday. Jacobs, who has been mentioned as a possible Heisman Trophy candidate, completed 27 of 43 attempts with one interception as the Falcons (1-1, 1-0 Mid-American) held off the suspension-depleted Cardinals.
Ball State quarterback Joey Lynch finished with 272 yards and four TDs, completing 22 of 31 passes with two interceptions, one of which led to a 47-yard return by Antonio Smith that gave the Falcons the final margin with 6:22 left.
The Cardinals (0-2, 0-1) took an early 7-0 lead when Dan Dunford scored on a 64-yard pass from Lynch, but Jacobs hit Steve Sanders and Charles Sharon for a pair of short-yardage scores to edge ahead. Lynch then connected with Charles Wynn for a 23-yard score with 1:04 left in the first quarter to tie the score at 14-14. Bowling Green dominated until the fourth quarter, when Lynch hit Chris Clancy for a 1-yard pass with 10:44 left in the game to take a 31-28 lead.
The Cardinals were without eight players who were serving suspensions in a continuing investigation of alleged NCAA violations discovered last spring. Thirteen football players sat out last week's season-opening 56-0 loss at now-No. 8 Iowa.

Nick’s Pick:
BGSU 49 – BSU 24

Actual Score:
BGSU 40 – BSU 31

Nick’s Prophetic Comment:
“BG’s defense must get better ASAP and going against a depleted BSU offense will gauge how much, if any, improvement has been made.”

Louisiana Lafayette @ Eastern Michigan

attendance in Ypsilanti, MI: 5,600

Matt Bohnet threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns and added 67 yards rushing and two scores to lead Eastern Michigan to a 31-10 win over Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday night. Bohnet completed 26 of 36 passes for the Eagles (1-1), including a 38-yard strike to senior wideout A.J Bennett just 3:42 into the game. The Eagles had 424 yards of offense in the first meeting between the schools. Bennett finished with nine receptions for 94 yards and one touchdown, while Eric Deslauriers caught eight passes for 99 yards and scored once.
The Ragin' Cajuns (0-2) offense didn't take the field until 9:10 into the first quarter and found themselves behind 14-0 after they fumbled on their first kickoff and punt returns of the game.
Bohnet threw two touchdowns and ran in a third to give the Eagles a 24-3 lead at halftime. The Ragin' Cajuns had 410 yards of offense, but fumbled the ball four times - twice on offense and twice on special teams.
Eastern Michigan capped the game by stopping the Ragin' Cajuns on fourth-and-one from the Eagles' 10-yard line with 4:40 left in the fourth.
Lafayette quarterback Jerry Babb finished the game 21 for 29 passing for 228 yards and led the team's rushing attack with 77 yards.

Nick’s Pick EMU 34 – ULL 23

Actual Score EMU 31 – ULL 10

Nick’s Prophetic Comment: “Anything is possible, but EMU does have more talent. This game is a must win for the Eagles.”

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SE Missouri St. @ Kent State

attendance in Kent, OH: 6,228

Michael Machen threw two touchdown passes and Bruce Rice returned a fumble eight yards for a touchdown and Kent State took a 21-0 lead en route to a 33-12 victory over Southeast Missouri State on Saturday. Machel threw a 14-yard TD pass to Shawn Lewis in the first quarter and a 17-yard scoring pass to Marcus Hill in the second quarter for the Golden Flashes (1-1). He finished 17-for-42 passing for 136 yards with an interception.
The Indians (0-2) had 295 yards of total offense to 195 yards for Kent State, but had four turnovers and 16 penalties for 154 yards. Kent State had three turnovers and 14 penalties for 100 yards.
Mike Haley was 34 of 61 for 275 yards, including an 18-yard TD pass to Samora Goodson for the Indians' only touchdown. He also threw three interceptions.
Andre Kirkland intercepted the Indians' attempt for a two-point conversion and returned it to the end zone for two points for Kent State.

Nick’s Pick:
Kent State 42 – SEMS 17

Actual Score:
Kent State 33 – SEMS 12

Nick’s Prophetic Comment:
“Without Josh Cribbs KSU had no running game at MSU last weekend. This SEMS team is certainly no where as talented as that Spartan team. Kent State should have their way against a lower level team from the I-AA ranks.”

Buffalo @ Syracuse

Damien Rhodes ran for 236 yards and scored four touchdowns, leading Syracuse to a 31-0 victory over Buffalo on Saturday for Greg Robinson's first win as coach of the Orange. The Bulls (0-2) were shut out for the third straight game dating back to last season. They lost 38-0 at Connecticut last week in their season opener and also were beaten 29-0 by the Huskies in the 2004 season finale.
Rhodes' rushing total was 16 yards shy of the school record of 252 yards by Joe Morris against Kansas in 1979 and 5 yards off the Carrier Dome mark set two years ago by Walter Reyes against Central Florida.
Rhodes gained 216 yards on 19 carries and scored three times in the first half to help the Orange (1-1) take a 24-0 halftime lead. He scored on runs of 27, 50, and 54 yards, the last one alone equaling the Bulls' offensive production for the half.
Buffalo never seriously threatened to score in the game and finished with 123 yards on offense.
A year ago, Buffalo threw a scare into the Orange, taking a 10-3 lead in the first quarter before Syracuse scored 34 straight points and won 37-17 at Buffalo. There was no scare on this day - the Bulls drove past midfield only three times and Ben Woods punted 11 times for the second straight week.
Buffalo defensive tackle Rob Schroeder blocked a field goal attempt by Krautman early in the second quarter. It was the eighth block of Schroeder's career, tops in the nation among active players.

Nick’s Pick Syracuse 41 – UB 7

Actual Score Syracuse 31 – UB 0

Nick’s Prophetic Comment: “Judging by the performance at UConn last weekend, this is still the same ole’ Bulls. Syracuse has too much speed and talent for this game to be very close.”

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