MAC Notes: Straight to the Picks
October 2nd, 2008 by Nick Gerogosian
AC Matchups – Games for Saturday, October 4
Akron (2-3, 0-1 MAC) at Kent State (1-4, 0-1 MAC) – Noon
SITE: Dix Stadium (25,000/FieldTurf) – Kent, Ohio
TELEVISION: MAC TV Game of the Week/ESPN Plus (Michael Reghi, Doug Chapman)
SERIES RECORD: Akron leads 28-20-2 … the Zips have won three of the four last meetings, including 27-20 last year … KSU’s most recent win was in 2006, 37-15 at Dix Stadium … the rivalry is rooted in the yearly “Wagon Wheel” game, first played in 1946 … KSU leads in the Wagon Wheel series 19-17-2.
COACHES: UA-J.D. Brookhart (24-29, fifth season); KSU-Doug Martin (16-35, fifth season)
GAME NOTES:
The Golden Flashes are seeking their first win over an FBS team this year and are coming off a 41-20 loss at Ball State … KSU has been without its top rusher, Eugene Jarvis (69.0 ypg), the last two games (ankle) … Edelman averaged 95 ypg rushing the first two contests of 2008 before leaving after just five attempts for 17 yards against Delaware State … QB Julian Edelman has stepped in to rush for 206 yards and four TDs the last two games … the Golden Flashes continue to lead the MAC in rushing at 197.4 ypg … Akron dropped a 17-15 game to Cincinnati last week … the Zips defense will be challenged by KSU’s rushing game as Akron ranks last in the MAC in rushing defense (215.4 ypg allowed) … KSU ranks last in overall defense, allowing 429.2 ypg … the Zips defense had three linemen return to the field Saturday, two which had been out the entire season (senior Eric Lively and sophomore Deni Odofin) … James Harvey, who missed only the Ball State game, also is back … the Zips defense held UC to 20 points below its season average of 37 ppg … Zips QB Chris Jacquemain has thrown for at least 200 yards in all five games in 2008 and is averaging 95 more passing yards per game than he did in 2007.
Nick’s Pick: Akron 26 – Kent State 13
Comment: Akron has been a surprise this season and should have beaten Cincinnati last week if it was not for a lousy kicking game. Kent State is beat up right now with injuries to star-players on both sides of the ball. It would be very surprising to see Kent State win this game, although the final score may be closer than the prediction above.
Ohio (1-4, 0-1 MAC) at Western Michigan (4-1, 2-0 MAC) – 2:00
SITE: Waldo Stadium (30,200/FieldTurf) – Kalamazoo, Mich.
TELEVISION: None
SERIES RECORD: WMU leads 29-28-1 … Ohio’s last win came in 2006, 27-20 … the Broncos last beat the Bobcats in 2003, 39-32…
COACHES: Ohio-Frank Solich (20-22, fourth year at school; 78-41, 10th season overall); WMU-Bill Cubit (24-17, fourth season at school; 58-35-1, ninth season overall).
GAME NOTES:
The Broncos are on a four-game winning streak after surviving a 7-3 defensive battle at Temple last week … it was the lowest point total for WMU in a win since a similar 7-3 win over Akron in 1995 … the Bobcats are coming off a 51-31 win over VMI, their initial victory of 2008 that stopped a four-game losing streak … both team’s starting QBs had noteworthy performances last week … WMU’s Tim Hiller tossed for the games only score on a 30-yards pass to Juan Nunez late in the third quarter … Hiller, who completed 26-of-42 attempts for 252 yards, had 13 of his passes go for first downs as the Broncos running game was held to just 36 yards … the Bobcats Boo Jackson passed for 287 yards and two scores, completing 16-of-23 attempts … in his first three full games as a starter, Jackson has completed 60-of-96 attempts (.625 pct.) for 880 yards, 6 TDs and 2 interceptions … both defenses are strong as Ohio is second in the league in total defense (338.0 ypg allowed) and WMU is tied for the most sacks (10) … MAC Defensive Player of the Week Boston McCornell was awarded a helmet sticker from Graham Watson of ESPN.com for his 10 tackles, forced fumble and fumble recovery at Temple … Ohio LB Michael Brown also had an impact play with a nine-yard fumble return for a TD that tied the score at 24.
Nick’s Pick: Western Michigan 30 – Ohio 28
Comment: This should be the most entertaining MAC game of the day. Ohio has the talent and the passing game to win but all season long untimely mistakes have killed them and all four of the their losses could have been victories. We see another gut-wrenching road loss as the Broncos will pull off some late-game heroics to squeeze out the “W.”
Temple (1-4, 0-2 MAC) at Miami (1-3, 0-0 MAC) – 3:30
SITE: Yager Stadium (24,286/FieldTurf) – Oxford, Ohio
TELEVISION: ONN/ESPN Game Plan
SERIES RECORD: Tied 1-1 … Temple won last year 24-17 in Philadelphia … the RedHawks were victorious in 2005, 41-14.
COACHES: TU-Al Golden (6-23, third season); Shane Montgomery (16-24, fourth season).
GAME NOTES:
The Owls have three of their losses by a combined nine points, including a 7-3 defeat from Western Michigan last week … in five of 10 conference games dating back to last year, the final margin has been seven points or less and the Owls are 3-2 in those games … Miami was idle last week and most recently played Sept. 20 in a 45-20 loss at Cincinnati … this is the RedHawks first conference game of 2008 … Miami was 4-0 in MAC home games in 2007 … last week the Owls started five freshmen, all of them on offense – QB Chester Stewart, RT Steve Caputo, LG Wayne Tribue, LT Pat Boyle and RB Joe Jones … it was Stewart’s first-ever collegiate start … senior C Alex Derenthal made his 40th consecutive start last week and senior WR Bruce Francis has a streak of 31 consecutive games with a pass reception … the RedHawks feature a veteran QB in Daniel Raudabaugh, in his second year as a starter … last year Raudabaugh set a career-high with 314 passing yards in the loss to Temple … Temple ranks second in the MAC in scoring defense (20.2 ppg allowed) and Miami is third in total defense (340.5 ppg allowed) … Miami’s Clayton Mullins leads the MAC in tackles for a loss with 6 for minus 27 yards.
Nick’s Pick: Miami 14 – Temple 10
Comment: This is a battle between two of the most anemic offenses in the country. First team with 250-total yards will win. We believe it will be Miami.
Eastern Michigan (1-4, 0-2 MAC) at Bowling Green (2-2, 0-0 MAC) – 4:00
SITE: Doyt Perry Stadium (24,000/FieldTurf) – Bowling Green, Ohio
TELEVISION: None
SERIES RECORD: BGSU leads 23-10-1 … the Falcons have won eight of the last nine meetings, including a 39-32 decision in 2007 … the Eagles last won 24-21 in 2006 … the visiting team in this series has won the last two games.
COACHES: EMU-Jeff Genyk (14-37, fifth season); BGSU-Gregg Brandon (40-26, sixth season).
GAME NOTES:
The Eagles are on a four-game losing streak after a 37-0 home loss to Northern Illinois … the Falcons snapped a two-game losing streak and won their second road game of 2008 with a 45-16 victory at Wyoming … the Eagles have suffered injuries to both starting QBs, first Andy Schmitt at Michigan State, and Kyle McMahon vs. Northern Illinois … Schmitt came off the bench last week vs. the Huskies and completed 21-of-37 pass attempts for 140 yards … the Eagles were held to 119 rushing yards last week but still are averaging a MAC second best 192.8 ypg … EMU head coach Jeff Genyk is a graduate of BGSU … the Falcons have played three of their first four games on the road and begin a stretch of eight consecutive conference games where they are home one week and away the next … BG’s 45 points at Wyoming was more than No. 14 BYU scored (44) vs. the Cowboys the week before … Tyler Sheehan did not throw an interception last week, completing 22-of-35 attempts for a season-high 287 yards … the Falcons are averaging just 99 yards rushing per game … leading rusher Chris Bullock is averaging 48.5 ypg … Cory Partridge has a team-leading 17 receptions and is nine shy of 150 for his career.
Nick’s Pick: BGSU 34 – EMU 14
Comment: At the beginning of the season this publication thought that the Eagles may win this game after BG won by just seven points a year ago. Sadly for Eastern, their season has quickly spiraled out of control and the Falcons are coming off of a very impressive road win at Wyoming by demolishing the Cowboys.
Ball State (5-0, 2-0 MAC) at Toledo (1-3, 1-0 MAC) – 7:00
SITE: Glass Bowl (26,248/NeXturf) – Toledo, Ohio
TELEVISION: None
SERIES RECORD: Tied 16-16-1 … the Cardinals have won the last two meetings, 41-20 last year in Muncie, and 20-17 in 2006 at the Glass Bowl … UT last won 34-14 in 2005 in Muncie … the series has been continuous since the first meeting in 1975.
COACHES: BSU-Brady Hoke (27-37, sixth season); UT-Tom Amstutz (56-35, ninth season).
GAME NOTES:
The winner of this game will keep its perfect MAC record intact … the Rockets have dropped back-to-back home games to Fresno State (55-54, double OT) and FIU (35-16) … UT is 41-8 in the Glass Bowl since 2000 and 35-8 under Tom Amstutz … Ball State has won seven regular season games in a row dating back to last year and its last three regular season road games dating back to 2007 … UT allowed three rushing TDs to FIU in the third quarter to see its 16-14 halftime lead disappear … the Rockets contributed four turnovers to its demise … UT will welcome back RB DaJuane Collins (120.0 ypg) who missed the FIU game … freshman Morgan Williams stepped in and rushed for 98 yards on 25 carries a week after he had 143 yards on 23 carries vs. Fresno State … the Cardinals feature the MAC’s most potent offense , leading the league in scoring offense (41.4 ppg), passing offense (285.4 ypg), total offense (470.4 ypg), passing efficiency (170.8), third down conversion (.585 pct.) and fewest penalties (28.6 ypg) … the Cardinals defense can’t be overlooked as it ranks second in the MAC in scoring (20.2 ppg allowed), first in pass efficiency defense (101.6 with a league-high 8 interceptions) and sacks (10) … Sean Baker has a league-leading four interceptions and B.J. Hill a MAC-best 23.3 punt return average … QB Nate Davis has a league high pass efficiency rating (172.0) and completion percentage (.709) with 11 TDs and just three interceptions … MiQuale Lewis tops all MAC rushers with his 129.0 ypg average.
Nick’s Pick: Ball State 48 – Toledo 24
Comment: Two programs going in totally opposite directions. Ball State has a chance for a really special season while Toledo has become a MAC bottom-feeder. If the Rockets give an effort and make the mistakes this week like they did last week against lowly FIU, this game could get really ugly really quick.
Northern Illinois (2-2, 1-1 MAC) at Tennessee (1-3, 0-2 SEC) – 7:00
SITE: Neyland Stadium (102,038/Artificial Turf) – Knoxville, Tenn.
TELEVISION: None.
SERIES RECORD: First meeting.
COACHES: NIU-Jerry Kill (2-2, first season at school; 106-59, 15th season overall); UT-Phil Fulmer (94-32, 17th season.).
GAME NOTES:
The Vols are coming off back-to-back losses to ranked teams, 14-12 vs. No. 15 Auburn last week and 30-6 to No. 4 Florida the week prior … NIU is on a two-game winning streak after a 37-0 shutout at Eastern Michigan … the Huskies have equaled their win total from last year and captured consecutive victories for the first time since Nov. 17 (CMU) and Nov. 24 (EMU) in 2006 … true freshman Meco Brown had his first career 100-yard game with 111 yards on 17 carries … NIU ranks fourth in the MAC in rushing (183.5 ypg) but does not have an individual in the top 10 rushing leaders … Brown ranks 11th at 52.8 ypg, just two yards off the top ten chart … Vols QB Jonathan Crompton has completed 64-of-123 attempts for 658 yards but just two TDs in four games … the Vols have scored just 18 points the last two games after posting 59 points their first two games (UCLA and UAB) … the Huskies have allowed 3 points the last two games (EMU and Indiana State) after giving up 60 points their first two games (Minnesota and Western Michigan) … NIU has a four-point loss (31-27 at Minnesota) and three-point loss (29-26 at Western Michigan) … UT has a two-point loss (14-12 at Auburn) and a three-point overtime loss (27-24 at UCLA).
Nick’s Pick: Tennessee 23 – NIU 19
Comment: It’s not very often that a MAC team has a chance to beat a top-tier SEC team and perhaps the Vols are not a top-tier SEC team this season. But the last time a MAC team beat a SEC team with the tradition of Tennessee was NIU in 2003 knocking off Alabama. The Huskies have a real shot to win this game, but this publication is picking the home team in a close contest.
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