Football fans in Northeast Ohio will have a special treat this Saturday, Sept. 19th as three MAC schools will host college football. Toledo will host Ohio State at Cleveland Browns Stadium at Noon, followed by Akron hosting for the first time in school history a Big Ten opponent as Indiana visits InfoCision Stadium at 3:30 p.m. while Kent State will complete the day at home against Iowa State at 7:00 p.m

• The University of Akron opened their new football stadium, InfoCision Stadium — Summa Field, last Saturday with a 41-0 win over Morgan State. A sellout crowd of 27,881 were on hand for the shutout win.
• Toledo and Central Michigan knocked off Big-12 and Big Ten opponents last weekend. Toledo exploded with a 54-38 win over Colorado Friday night and Central Michigan came from behind to defeat Michigan State in East Lansing, 29-27.
• Central Michigan QB Dan LeFevour set a new MAC record for career total offense with 12,166 career yards. In the 29-27 win at Michigan State, LeFevour threw for 328 yards and three scores and eclipsed former Marshall QB Byron Leftwich’s career total of 12,084 yards.  QB Dan LeFevour became the MAC all-time leader in total offense as he threw for 328 yards and three touchdowns in the Chippewas’ 29-27 dramatic win at Michigan State. LeFevour led two scoring drives in the final minute for the thrilling come-from-behind victory.
• QB Aaron Opelt led the Rockets to a 54-38 win over Colorado Friday night in a nationally televised contest on ESPN. Opelt finished the victory with a career-high 428 all-purpose yards (319 passing and a career-high 109 rushing) and tallied the third-most yards in a single contest in school history. Opelt accounted for six touchdowns, four passing and two rushing, including a career-long 61-yard touchdown run.
• A total of six MAC games will be televised this week and three others will be streamed live on the All-MACcess package on www.mac-sports.com

This Week’s MAC Schedule – Saturday, September 19

Temple at Penn State, Noon (Big Ten Network)

Northern Illinois at Purdue, Noon (Big Ten Network)

Ball State at Army, Noon

Eastern Michigan at Michigan, Noon (Big Ten Network)

Ohio State at Toledo, Noon, Cleveland, OH (ESPN Plus/Game Plan)

Alcorn State at Central Michigan, 3:30 p.m. (All-MACcess)

Indiana at Akron, 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

Iowa State at Kent State, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN360.com)

Miami at Western Michigan, 7:00 p.m. (All-MACcess)

Cal Poly at Ohio, 7:00 p.m. (All-MACcess)

Bowling Green at Marshall, 7:00 p.m.

Buffalo at Central Florida, 7:30 p.m.

•  Buffalo sophomore QB Zach Maynard threw for 400 yards on 24-of-35 passing with four touchdowns and one interception in a 54-27 loss to Pittsburgh. Maynard’s’ 400 yards was the most ever in the Bulls’ Division IA era and the seventh best in school history. His four touchdown passes tied a school record in the Bulls’ Division IA era. Also in this game WR Brett Hamlin recorded 149 yards receiving and WR Naaman Roosevelt (pictured right, thanks Icon SMI) added 157 yards and two touchdowns. The duo became the first two receivers in Bulls’ Division IA era to have 100-yards receiving in the same contest. Buffalo gained 500 yards of total offense and it marked the first time since 2001 for the Bulls to top 500 yards of offense.
• Ohio’s win at North Texas, 31-30 in 2OT, was the first double overtime game in school history. With the win, the Bobcats have now won three of its last four road openers. In the victory, Ohio wide receiver Taylor Price’s added two touchdown receptions, including the game-tying touchdown in double overtime, and added the game-clinching two-point conversion on a rollout pass from QB Theo Scott.
• Toledo improved to 3-4 all-time vs. Big 12 opponents with a 54-38 win over Colorado, including a perfect 3-0 in the Glass Bowl. The win over Colorado ended at 12:55 a.m. early Saturday morning, making it the latest-ending game in Glass Bowl history. Toledo finished with 54 points and topped the 50-point plateau for the 22nd time in school history. The Rockets also finished with a commanding 305-95 edge in rushing yards and 624 – 451 in total yards.
• MAC receivers extend consecutive reception streaks…Three MAC wide receivers extended personal reception streaks and the conference boasts three of the top six receivers in the nation in that category. Central Michigan WR Bryan Anderson had six receptions for 120 yards at Michigan State and extended the nation’s top consecutive reception streak to 42 games. Buffalo WR Naaman Roosevelt has the second longest streak at 40 games as he had six receptions for 157 yards and two touchdowns vs. Pittsburgh. Also, Central Michigan’s Antonio Brown added 10 receptions for 71 yards and one touchdown at Michigan State to extend his streak to 29 games, which ranks sixth in the nation.

Temple (0-1, 0-0 MAC) at Penn State (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten)

Saturday, September 19, 2009 • Noon ET • University Park, Pa. • Beaver Stadium (107,282). Big Ten Network • Announcers: Ari Wolfe, Anthony Herron, Kenny Jackson

Series: Penn State leads, 34-3-1

Nick’s Pick: Penn State 34 – Temple 10

Comment: Don’t expect the same beat-down as last year when PSU won 45-3 when Temple had only 138-yards of total offense.  Penn State will certainly win by a comfortable margin but this years contest will be much more respectable.

Northern Illinois (1-1, 0-0 MAC) at Purdue (1-1, 0-0 Big Ten)

Saturday, September 19, 2009 • Noon • West Lafayette, Ind. • Ross-Ade Stadium (62,500).  Big Ten Network • Announcers: Craig Coshun, Rod Woodson, Larra Overton

Series: First Meeting • N/A

Nick’s Pick: Purdue 28 – NIU 21

Comment: The Huskies just don’t get beat very bad under Coach Kill and had an excellent comeback fall just short at Wisconsin.  Don’t be surprised if this is an upset either but Purdue’s offense seems to be rejuvenated under new head coach Danny Hope.  Overtime is not out of the question in this contest.

Ball State (0-2, 0-0 MAC) at Army (1-1, 0-0 Independent)

Saturday, September 19, 2009 • Noon ET • West Point, N.Y. • Michie Stadium (39,929)

Series: Army leads, 1-0

Nick’s Pick: Army 22 – Ball State 10

Comment: Army is much improved this year under Rich Ellerson, formerly of Cal-Poly.  Ball State is a mess right now, especially on offense, and lost two games already (UNT & New Hampshire) that they should have won easily.  It looks to be a long year in Muncie.

Eastern Michigan (0-2, 0-0 MAC) at Michigan (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten)

Saturday, September 19, 2009 • Noon ET • Ann Arbor, Mich. • Michigan Stadium (106,201).  Big Ten Network • Announcers: Wayne Larrivee, Chris Martin, Charissa Thompson

Series: Michigan leads, 8-0

Nick’s Pick: Michigan 44 – EMU 21

Comment: EMU played very well in the second half at Northwestern and nearly had their first victory over a Big Ten team in their program’s history.  Michigan looks to have the bounce back in their step after beating Notre Dame lat week.

Ohio State (1-1, 0-0 Big Ten) at Toledo (1-1, 0-0 MAC)

Saturday, September 19, 2009 • Noon ET • Cleveland, Ohio • Cleveland Browns Stadium (73,200).  ESPN • Announcers: Michael Reghi, Doug Chapman

Series: Ohio State leads, 1-0

Nick’s Pick: Ohio State 42 – Toledo 30

Comment: The big question is how last week’s gut-wrenching home loss to USC will affect their game against Toledo this week.  The Rockets can certainly score points and if they can get off to a quick start (unlike their poor start at Purdue two weeks ago) this game could get very interesting. 

Alcorn State (0-1, 0-0 SWAC) at Central Michigan (1-1, 0-0 MAC)

Saturday, September 19, 2009 • 3:30 p.m. • Mount Pleasant, Mich. • Kelly/Shorts Stadium (30,255).  All-MACcess Live Streaming via www.mac-sports.com

Series: Tied, 1-1

Nick’s Pick: Central 55 – Alcorn St 14

Comment:  The ‘Chips are “fired up” after last week’s win over the Spartans and will crush the Braves in Central’s home opener.

Indiana (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten) at Akron (1-1, 0-0 MAC)

Saturday, September 19, 2009 • 3:30 p.m. ET • Akron, Ohio • InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field (30,000).  ESPNU • Announcers: Todd Harris, Charles Arbuckle

Series: Indiana leads, 1-0

Nick’s Pick: Akron 28 – Indiana 27

Comment: Every time we pick Indiana to lose to a MAC team they almost always win a tightly fought contest.  IU rarely loses to MAC teams over the past 30-years but Akron is playing in their new stadium that finally gives them a home-field advantage, unlike the old and ugly Rubber Bowl.  Look for the crowd to carry the Zips over the top in a very close and entertaining contest.

Iowa State (1-1, 0-0 Big 12) at Kent State (1-1, 0-0 MAC)

Saturday, September 19, 2009 • 7:00 p.m. • Kent, Ohio • Dix Stadium (25,000)

ESPN360.com • Announcers: Dave Weekley, Jerod Cherry

Series: Iowa State leads, 5-1

Nick’s Pick: Iowa St 27 – Kent St 16

Comment: This publication really wants to pick Kent St who rarely has the chance to host a BCS team but with question marks at QB and the loss of RB Eugene Jarvis, we really don’t see the Golden Flashes having the offense needed to win.  A KSU victory would have been predicted with a healthy Jarvis and consistent QB play, ISU is not a very good BCS team.

Miami (0-2, 0-0 MAC) at Western Michigan (0-2, 0-0 MAC)

Saturday, September 19, 2009 • 7:00 p.m. ET • Kalamazoo, Mich. • Waldo Stadium (30,200).  All-MACcess Live Streaming via www.mac-sports.com

Series: Miami leads, 37-17-1

Nick’s Pick: Western 35 – Miami 14

Comment: First off, Miami will finally score some points this week.  Second, Western has played poorly against two Big Ten teams and should have won at Indiana even with their turnovers and mistakes.  Western is playing their first home game of the season and Miami is the perfect patsy to get their season back on track.

Cal Poly (1-0, 0-0 Great West) at Ohio (1-1, 0-0 MAC)

Saturday, September 19, 2009 • 7:00 p.m. ET • Athens, Ohio • Peden Stadium (24,000)

All-MACcess Live Streaming via www.mac-sports.com

Series: First Meeting

Nick’s Pick: Ohio 30 – Cal Poly 21

Comment: This game is not a slam dunk for the Bobcats as Cal Poly is a very good I-A team that lost by a point at Wisconsin last season.  Look for Ohio to win but this game will be much closer than expected.

Bowling Green (1-1, 0-0 MAC) at Marshall (1-1, 0-0 Conf-USA)

Saturday, September 19, 2009 • 7:00 p.m. • Huntington, W.V. • Joan C. Edwards Stadium (38,019)

Series: Bowling Green leads, 20-7

Nick’s Pick: BGSU 37 – Marshall 23

Comment: The Falcons missed a tremendous opportunity last week at Missouri when they lost a 14-point 3^rd quarter lead and lost by a touchdown.  Still, with that overall performance and their 17-point win against a very good Troy team shows the talent of this football team.  The Marshall football program of today is only a shadow of what they were a decade ago under Bobby Pruett and playing in Huntington is no longer an automatic “L.”

Buffalo (1-1, 0-0 MAC) at UCF (1-1, 0-0 Conf-USA)

Saturday, September 19, 2009 • 7:30 p.m. ET • Orlando, Fla. • Bright House Stadium (45,000)

Series: Central Florida leads, 5-1

Nick’s Pick: Buffalo 27 – UCF 23

Comment: Buffalo put up 500 yards last week against a nationally ranked Pitt team and if not for four turnovers deep in their own territory that directly led to 27-points, the outcome of that game may have been different.  UB already has won at UTEP, a preseason favorite in C-USA.  UCF struggled against I-AA Samford and lost by a touchdown at So. Miss.  Expect a very close game and UB seems to win almost all of these close games under Turner Gill.

 

**Nick’s Picks went 9-3 last week and stand at 16-9 YTD.

 

 

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