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MAC Notes: More From the MAC
By Nick Gerogosian | November 10, 2008
#14 Ball State (9-0, 5-0 MAC) at Miami (2-7, 1-4 MAC) - 7:00
SITE: Yager Stadium (24,286/Field Turf) - Oxford, Ohio
TELEVISION: ESPN2/ESPN2 HD (Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard)
SERIES RECORD: Miami leads 15-10-1 … the visiting team has won the last six meetings…Miami won last year, 14-13 in Muncie … the Cardinals won 20-17 in 2006 in Oxford … BSU has won three of the last four meetings at Yager Stadium.
COACHES: BSU-Brady Hoke (31-37, sixth season); MIA-Shane Montgomery (17-28, fourth season).
GAME NOTES:
Ball State won its 11th consecutive regular season game with a 45-14 triumph over Northern Illinois last week (Wed., Nov. 5) … the Cardinals’ potent offense put up almost as many points (45) as the Huskies had allowed in its previous six games (49) … Nate Davis riddled the NIU defense for 300 yards and four TDs passing, completing 18-of-22 attempts … MiQuale Lewis rushed for 119 yards and has gained 112-plus yards in seven of nine games this season … BSU leads the MAC in scoring offense (38.3 ppg), scoring defense (15.3 ppg allowed), total offense (458.4 ypg), net punting (39.1), pass efficiency (167.6), pass efficiency defense (104.3), and fewest sacks allowed (8) … the RedHawks have dropped five of their last six games … in his three games as a starter, RB J.R. Taylor has rushed for 309 yards on 54 carries, an average of 5.7 ypc … also a freshman, since inserted into the starting lineup three games ago, QB Clay Belton has passed for 478 yards and two TDs, although Belton will not play due to an injury suffered in the Buffalo game (Nov. 4) … junior Daniel Raudabaugh (121-of-214 attempts, 4 TDs, 5 int., 1,252 yards in 8 games this season) will reclaim the starting role … Miami is 0-2 in conference home games this season … BSU has won its last seven MAC road games dating back to the 2006 season.
Nick’s Pick: Ball State 35 - Miami 14
Comment: Ball State is currently ranked #14 in the latest BCS ranking and is carrying the load of the MAC to become the league’s first ever participant. If BSU beats Miami, and then finishes off two very tough divisional foes (Western & Central Michigan) followed by win in the MACC, it’s a very real possibility that the Cardinals will play in a major bowl. Miami is trying to get through another tumultuous season under Shane Montgomery, likely his last in Oxford. Historically these are very close contests but Ball State has far too much to lose to play around with the RedHawks this season.
MAC Matchups - Games for Wednesday, November 12
Central Michigan (7-2, 5-0 MAC) at Northern Illinois (5-4, 4-2 MAC) - 8:00
SITE: Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium (24,000/Field Turf) - DeKalb, Ill.
TELEVISION: ESPN2/ESPN2 HD (Eric Collins, Shaun King)
SERIES RECORD: NIU leads 22-20-1 … CMU’s 35-10 win last year snapped the Huskies nine game winning streak in the series.
COACHES: CMU-Butch Jones (15-8, second season); NIU-Jerry Kill (5-4, first season at school;
109-61, 15th season overall).
GAME NOTES:
The Chippewas will have 11 days between games after winning at Indiana, 37-34, on Nov. 1 … Brian Brunner (65-of-101, 64.4 pct., 6 TDs, 2 int., 981 yards in 8 games) stepped in from his back up role for Dan LeFevour (152-of-228, 66.7 pct., 11 TDs, 3 int., 1,619 yards in 7 games), who was battling an ankle injury … Brunner set a school record with his 485 passing yards, also the fifth highest total in league history, and added four TD passes … this week’s starting QB will be a game day decision … CMU has won its last five games as they seek defense of their MAC Championship … the Huskies dropped a 45-14 decision at Ball State (Wed., Nov. 5) that snapped a three-game winning streak … NIU still leads the MAC in total defense (296.3 ypg allowed) and is second in scoring defense (17.1 ppg allowed) … Me’co Brown has the most rushing yards by a freshman in the MAC this season with his 481 yards on 97 carries, a 5.0 ypc average … QB Chandler Harnish, also a freshman, has added to the Huskies ground attack with 232 yards in the last three games … NIU needs one more win to become bowl eligible just a year after a 2-10 season …NIU DE Larry English is the current NCAA all-time leader in tackle for loss yards (261) and lost yards in sacks (206).
Nick’s Pick: Central Michigan 31 - NIU 17
Comment: Central is still in the hunt for a west division championship and can’t afford a slip up before their big game against Ball State later this month. NIU is vastly improved but took it on the chin last week at Ball State. This should be a competitive game but the ‘Chips will win in the end.
Temple (3-6, 2-3 MAC) at Kent State (2-7, 1-4 MAC) - 8:00
SITE: Dix Stadium (25,000/Field Turf) - Kent, Ohio
TELEVISION: ESPN360.com (Michael Reghi, Bob Chmeil)
SERIES RECORD: Tied 1-1 … Temple won last year 24-14 in Philadelphia … the Golden Flashes won in 2006, also in Philadelphia, 28-17.
COACHES: TU-Al Golden (8-25, third season); KSU-Doug Martin (17-38, fifth season).
GAME NOTES:
Julian Edelman continues to pile up the numbers as he rushed for 170 yards and two TDs Nov. 1 at Bowling Green … Edelman is averaging 105.7 yards per game, third in the MAC, and KSU leads the league in rushing at 222.1 yards per game … that average is 31 yards better than the No. 2 rushing team (Ball State) … Edelman also threw for a season-high 219 yards and two more TDs at BG … in MAC-only games he has a league-best 129.4 ypg … Brian Lainhart grabbed his national best (tied) sixth interception … The Owls have lost three games this year on the final play, most recently a 33-27 loss in overtime at Navy … Temple held a 27-7 fourth quarter lead before the Navy comeback … Adam DiMichele, in his second game back, completed 21-of-28 attempts for 340 yards and three touchdowns … two of his TDs went to Bruce Francis, both from 49 yards out … Francis had six receptions for 151 yards … Kee-ay Griffin’s 29 rushing attempts and 87 rushing yards at Navy are the most by an Owls player this season.
Nick’s Pick: Kent State 27 - Temple 22
Comment: Both teams have lost games this season they should have won including Temple’s melt-down last week against Navy. Kent State recently gave coach Doug Martin a vote of confidence this past week. Flip a coin in a game like this but this publication is picking the home team. More than any other MAC game this week, this game could go either way.
MAC Matchups - Games for Thursday, November 13
Buffalo (5-4, 3-2 MAC) at Akron (5-4, 3-2 MAC) - 7:00
SITE: Rubber Bowl (31,000/Astro Play) Akron, Ohio
TELEVISION: ESPNU (Charles Neal, Jay Walker, Jessica Mendoza)
SERIES RECORD: Akron leads 8-1 … UB’s 26-10 win last year was the Bulls’ first in the series that began in 1999.
COACHES: UB-Turner Gill (12-21, third season); UA-J.D. Brookhart (26-30, fifth season).
GAME NOTES:
This is a showdown for first place in the East Division and a possible berth in the MAC Championship game … Akron has one title game appearance (winning in 2005), while Buffalo has never made it to the title game since joining the league in 1999 … a win by the Bulls will give the program its most in a season since going joining the FBS (I-A) in 1999 … UB is on a three-game winning streak after its 37-17 win over Miami (Tue., Nov. 4) … the Zips have won back-to-back games for the first time in 2008, most recently defeating Toledo 47-30 (Wed., Nov. 5) … the two of the league’s top RBs face off in Buffalo’s James Starks (league-leading 125.3 ypg; 487 yards, 7 TDs last 3 games) and Akron’s Dennis Kennedy (612 yards and 6 TDs last 3 games, 100.3 ypg for the season) … this is the last game in the history of the Rubber Bowl as the Zips next year will move into its on-campus stadium (InfoCision Stadium/Summa Field) … the Zips will have played 324 games in the Rubber Bowl since 1940 and are 191-122-10 all-time.
Nick’s Pick: Buffalo 33 - Akron 24
Comment: The Zips are plying their final game in the venerable Rubber Bowl but have yet to beat a team winning record this season. If UB beats the Zips this week and BGSU on November 21, the impossible will actually happen; the Bulls will win the MAC East and will be “bowling” for the first time in school history. UB is playing the best football of any east division team right now and should ride the wave to a victory.
MAC Matchups - Games for Saturday, November 15
Toledo (2-7, 1-4 MAC) at Western Michigan (8-2, 5-1 MAC) - Noon
SITE: Waldo Stadium (30,200/Field Turf) - Kalamazoo, Mich.
TELEVISION: FSN Ohio (Michael Reghi, Mike Pagel)
SERIES RECORD: Toledo leads 36-26 … the Broncos have won the last two meetings
COACHES: UT-Tom Amstutz (57-39, eighth season); WMU-Bill Cubit (28-18, fifth season at school; 62-36-1, ninth season overall).
GAME NOTES:
The Broncos defeated Illinois last week at Ford Field, 23-17, and have won their last five games played at Waldo Stadium … the Rockets, playing their first game after the announcement that head coach Tom Amstutz will be stepping down at the end of the season, dropped a 47-30 contest at Akron … both teams feature potentially high-scoring offenses … WMU is second in the league in scoring (30.9 ppg) … UT, while averaging only 22.2 ppg (9th in the MAC), is coming off its third highest point total this season (54 vs. Fresno State, 30 at Eastern Michigan) … WMU’s Jamarko Simmons had 11 receptions for 174 yards vs. the Illini … in that process he established a school record with his 240 career receptions (breaking the old mark of 238 held by Greg Jennings
(2002-05) and going over 1,000 yards (1,004) on the season … in addition, the Rockets defense will have to cover Juan Nunez (48 rec., 557 yards, 5 TDs) and Schneider Julien (51, 597, 4) … UT counters with a duo of receiving talent in Nick Moore (57, 580, 1) and Stephen Williams (61, 621, 7) … Rockets QB Aaron Opelt is coming off a season-high 277 yards passing and three TDs last week …WMU’s Tim Hiller leads the MAC in passing yards (3,157) and passing TDs (30) … Bronco RB Brandon West also established a school record last week, boosting his career all-purpose yards total to 5,194 … for WMU their eight wins is the sixth time in program history that has been accomplished and the second time in four years under Bill Cubit.
Nick’s Pick: Western Michigan 51 - Toledo 28
Comment: Western is looking for a nice bowl game to invite them with an 8-2 record which includes a victory over Illinois, the third straight season the Broncos have beaten a team from a BCS conference. Toledo is a mess right now and will likely implode early in the game this week again like they have most of the 2007 & 2008 seasons.
IDLE THIS WEEK
Eastern Michigan (2-8, 1-5 MAC) Next Game: Nov. 22 at Temple, 1:00
The Eagles dropped a Nov. 1 game at Western Michigan, 31-10, for its fourth consecutive loss …Andy Schmitt passed for 272 yards … senior Terrence Blevins came into 2008 with no career TDs but has tallied 10 touchdowns on 556 rushing yards this season … the Eagles will have had a 21-day break between games by the time they play at Temple on Nov. 22 … Jacory Stone has been a bright spot for the Eagles … Stone currently ranks fourth in the MAC in receiving yards per game (69.5) …senior LB Daniel Holtzclaw is the current all-time active career leader in tackles with 416.
Bowling Green (5-5, 3-3 MAC) Next Game: Nov. 21 vs. Buffalo, 6:00
The Falcons remain in contention for the East Division title and a berth in the league’s championship game after their 28-3 win at Ohio (Nov. 
… the last two games (Kent State, Ohio) the Falcons’ defense has held the opposition scoreless in the first half … BG’s defense allowed a season low 229 yards of total offense at Ohio … Tyler Sheehan threw for two scores and was also on the receiving end of a 22-yard TD pass from Andrew Beam … it was Sheehan’s third career TD via a reception …BG’s game vs. Buffalo is its final home contest for 2008.
Ohio (2-8, 1-5 MAC) Next Game: Nov. 22 vs. Akron
The Bobcats dropped their third game in a row Nov. 8 vs. Bowling Green … junior QB Brandon
Jones played in relief of Boo Jackson in the second half and completed a career best seven pass attempts for 92 yards, also a career high … Jackson had completed only 6-of-16 attempts for 96 yards and suffered two interceptions … sophomore RB Vince Davidson also etched a career high with his 66 rushing yards … the Bobcats failed to reach the end zone for the first time since Nov. 15, 2005, in a 27-3 loss at Akron.
Topics: College Football, MAC, Nick Gerogosian |
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