Nick's 2005 MAC Football Picks - Week #6 Picks

The Mid-American Conference: "The Cradle of Coaches"

WEDNESDAY - October 5

Miami (2-2, 1-1 MAC) @ Northern Illinois (1-3, 0-1 MAC) - 6:30 pm CT

Television: ESPN2 (Gary Bender, play by play, Bill Curry, analyst; Dave Ryan, sideline.).

Site: DeKalb, Ill. - Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium (28,000/Field Turf)

Series: Miami leads 7-3 ... NIU won the last meeting 48-41 in 2002 in Oxford ... the road team has won the last two in the series (Miami 41-10 in DeKalb in 1998).

Coaches: MIA-Shane Montgomery (2-2, first season); NIU-Joe Novak (48-58, 10th season).

Game Notes:

Both teams were surprised with early season conference losses so the loser faces even longer odds in capturing a divisional title.
A loss by NIU would mark the first time since 2002 a four-loss season for the Huskies
Miami has won two in a row after an 0-2 start
The RedHawks top the MAC in scoring defense (24.5 ppg allowed), turnover margin (+1.25) and first downs (103)
The Huskies have the league's most productive rushing game and total offense but must hang onto the ball better as they are last in the conference in turnover margin (-1.75)

Nick’s Pick: Northern Illinois 31 - Miami 27

Line: NIU by 2

Comment: With both teams suffering surprising early season losses (CMU winning at Miami and NIU losing at Akron) this is a must game for both teams since 2-losses will not win either division. Expect this game to be played like a championship game, because in many ways, it is for each team. It’s wonderful for the league to have a game like this be played on national television with this much early season meaning with several future NFL players involved. The game could go either way but with NIU playing at home and having such a strong running game, I see the home team pulling out the victory.

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The Mid-American Conference: "The Cradle of Coaches"

SATURDAY - October 8

Central Michigan (2-3, 2-1 MAC) @ Army (0-4, Independent) - 1 pm ET

Television: ESPN Classic (Gary Bender, play by play, Bill Curry, analyst; Duke Castiglione, sideline.).

Site: West Point, N.Y. - Michie Stadium (39,000)

Series: First meeting.

Coaches: CMU-Brian Kelly (6-10, 2nd season at CMU; 124-45-2, 15th season overall); Army-Bobby Ross (2-13, 2nd season at Army; 96-89-2, 17th season overall).

Game Notes:

The Chippewas play their final non-conference game
Two of Army's losses have come against ranked teams - No. 19 Boston College and No. 22 Iowa State.
This is the fourth straight home game for the Black Knights before they embark on three consecutive road games
CMU's Ontario Sneed (570 rush yards) is on a pace to challenge the MAC Freshmen record for rushing yards of 1,117 held by the Chippewas' Jerry Seymour
CMU ranks 11th in the MAC in total defense (457.0 ypg allowed) but is fourth in scoring defense (27.4 ppg), due in part to a plus-5 turnover margin and a MAC third leading Red Zone defense (70.8 percent, 17-of-24 scoring opportunities allowed)

Nick’s Pick: CMU 24 – Army 21

Line: CMU by 1.5

Nick’s Prophetic Comment: The is a game with two evenly matched teams. Army has lost two games to BCS teams that they had a shot to beat while Central has played better on the road this season in Kelly’s 2nd season. I am picking the Chips but Army could just as easily win this game.

Maryland (3-2, 1-1 ACC) @ Temple (0-5, Independent) - 1 pm ET

Site: Philadelphia, Pa. - Lincoln Financial Field (68,532/Natural Grass)

Series: Maryland leads 5-0 ... the Terps won last year 45-22 ... the teams also met three times between 1997 and 2000.

Coaches: UM-Ralph Friedgen (37-16, 5th season); TU-Bobby Wallace (19-65, 8th season at Temple; 101-101-1, 18th season overall).

Game Notes:

The Owls just completed three consecutive losses vs. MAC foes (Western Michigan, Toledo, Bowling Green)
Maryland is coming off a 49-33 triumph over No. 19 ranked Virginia to fashion a two-game winning streak (also beat Wake Forest 22-12)
Owls' senior RB Umar Ferguson rushed for a career-high 132 yards on 18 carries last week at Bowling Green
QB Mike McGann has engineered five scoring drives of 80 or more yards this season.

Nick’s Pick: Maryland 45 – Temple 7

Line: Maryland by 27

Nick’s Prophetic Comment: The beatings will continue for the lowly Owls. When does basketball season begin?

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The Mid-American Conference: "The Cradle of Coaches"

Akron (2-2, 1-1 MAC) @ Buffalo (0-4, 0-1 MAC) - 1:30 pm ET

Site: Buffalo, N.Y. - UB Stadium (29,013/Artificial Sportex)

Series: Akron leads 6-0 ... the Zips have won each game since UB joined the league in 1999.

Coaches: UA-J.D. Brookhart (8-7, 2nd season); UB-Jim Hofher (7-43, 5th season at UB; 51-79, 13th season overall).

Game Notes:

Both teams are coming off of losses - UB dropped a 31-21 decision at Western Michigan in the Bulls' conference opener while the Zips were surprised at home with a 31-17 loss to Central Michigan
UB freshman QB Drew Willy made his first start and responded with a school I-A record 30 completions in 38 attempts for 288 yards and two TDs, as well as 15 consecutive completions in the second half
The Zips play four of their next five games on the road
UA's Domenik Hixon leads the MAC in receiving yards per game (122.5) and the nation in all-purpose yards (233.2)
The Bulls are second in the league in total defense (383.0) but last in offense (242.2).

Nick’s Pick: Akron 21 – Buffalo 17

Line: Akron by 12

Nick’s Prophetic Comment: Buffalo is running out of games to win and this contest versus Akron is one of the few they will have any shot. Akron is still learning how to have a killer instinct and probably will not put away Buffalo early enough to cruise. This game could go either way but Akron has more talent, so pick the Zips.

Ohio (2-2, 1-0 MAC) @ Bowling Green (2-2, 1-0 MAC) - 6 pm ET

Site: BG, Ohio - Doyt Perry Stadium (23,724/Natural Grass)

Series: BGSU leads 33-21-2 ... the Falcons have won the last three ... Ohio's last win came in 2000 in Bowling Green 23-21.

Coaches: Ohio-Frank Solich (2-2, 1st season at Ohio; 60-21, 8th season overall); BG-Gregg Brandon (22-8, 3rd season).

Game Notes:

This game features the only two MAC East Division teams without a loss
The preseason MAC poll had BG winning the division and Ohio finishing third
Ohio leads the MAC in interceptions with 10 and Dion Byrum has a national best four picks
Challenging the Bobcats' secondary will be Falcons QB Omar Jacobs, who tops the MAC in passing (101-of-160 for 1,431 yards, 17 TDs and 2 int.)
Ohio's top two running backs, Kalvin McRae (5.3) and Voncarie Owens (6.4), are averaging over 5.0 ypc
BG's Steve Sanders has eight TD receptions and 18 for his career.

Nick’s Pick: BGSU 37 – Ohio 28

Line: BGSU by 23

Nick’s Prophetic Comment: Bowling Green is a much better team at home than on the road but Ohio has the defensive backs to give Omar Jacobs fits. Also, Ohio has a good enough running game to use a “Wisconsin game plan” approach against the Falcons. This game should be much closer than the odds makers have it but BG has more talent and should win an exciting contest.

Ball State (0-4, 0-1 MAC) @ Western Michigan (3-2, 1-1 MAC) - 7 pm ET

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

Site: Kalamazoo, Mich. - Waldo Stadium (30,200 NeXturf)

Series: WMU leads 18-13 ... BSU has won three of the last four, although the teams have split the last two meetings ... BSU won last year 41-14.

Coaches: BSU-Brady Hoke (6-21, 3rd season); WMU-Bill Cubit (3-2, 1st season at WMU; 37-20-1, 6th season overall).

Game Notes:

The Broncos are looking to put together their first four-game winning streak since 2000
Ball State played without 15 suspended players in Saturday's 38-0 loss at Boston College
Cardinal QB Joey Lynch has completed 68.5 percent (61-of-89) of his pass attempts
WMU's Greg Jennings has caught an average of 10 passes per game and needs 10 more receptions to reach 200 for his career
Jennings would be the 13th player in MAC history to reach 200 career receptions.

Nick’s Pick: WMU 28 – Ball State 24

Line: WMU by 10

Nick’s Prophetic Comment: Western is not at a point yet where they should be favored by 10 against anyone. Ball State continues to move forward even though more players will be suspended for this contest as well. The Cardinals can compete with WMU and this is one of the few contests they can win. Western will win at home but the game will be close as these two teams have played some very entertaining contests over the past decade.

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The Mid-American Conference: "The Cradle of Coaches"