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MAC Rewind: Nick’s Picks first weak week
By Nick Gerogosian | December 3, 2008
Andy Schmitt, we hardly knew you.
After nearly a 78% accuracy for the first thirteen weeks to date, Nick’s Picks took it on the chin this past weekend going 2-5. Along the way, several MAC head coaches worked their last game on the sidelines for their schools.
Already known, Eastern Michigan’s Jeff Genyk and Toledo’s Tom Amstutz finished their careers with previously announced resignations/firings from earlier this month. EMU won their final game for their coach in a wild 56-52 affair over rival Central Michigan. Toledo on the other hand totally flopped at home against their arch-rival, Bowling Green and were drilled in the Glass Bowl by the Falcons 38-10 in a game that wasn’t even that close. Surprisingly, BGSU then fired their coach Gregg Brandon the day after. As expected, Miami’s Shane Montgomery was relieved of his duties after their third straight losing season.
On a positive note for the MAC, Ball State finished the season 12-0 and if they beat Buffalo in the MAC Championship on Friday Night Friday, they have a slim chance at receiving a BCS bid. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for the Cardinals.
To the games, including Andy Schmitt’s passing performance for the ages…Nick’s Pick: Ball State 33 - Western Michigan 27
Actual Score: Ball State 45 - Western Michigan 22
Pre Game Comment: It’s a true shame in college football that potential undefeated and quality teams like Ball State and Boise State can run the table and then sit back and watch pathetic champions from the ACC and Big East Conferences, with three-losses even, earn BCS games. Forget the playoff debate; let’s end this shame right now. Given the current system, Ball State looks to make it interesting as they could easily finish 13-0 this season. They face a huge obstacle in Western Michigan.
Post Game Comment: MiQuale Lewis ran for three touchdowns and set a school single-season record while Nate Davis threw for one score and ran for another and even the defense got into the end zone as #15 Ball State rolled clinching a spot in the Mid-American Conference championship game.
Nick’s Pick: NIU 26 - Navy 23
Actual Score: Navy - 16 - NIU 0
Pre Game Comment: With a win the Huskies could earn a bowl bid at 7-5 depending upon how this weekend develops. Navy is already set to play in the new Washington DC Bowl and still has a game against Army. The Huskies are playing very good football right now and are tough against the run, which is Navy’s whole offense. Look for NIU to win a thriller in DeKalb and then keep their fingers crossed for that bowl destination.
Post Game Comment: Quarterback Ricky Dobbs scored a touchdown and ran for 124 yards in his first start to lead Navy to a 16-0 victory over Northern Illinois on Tuesday night. Navy (7-4) scored on its first two possessions and held the ball for more than 17 minutes in the first half as they beat the Huskies (6-6) for the second straight year.
Nick’s Pick: Central Michigan 45 - Eastern Michigan 34
Actual Score: Eastern Michigan 56 - Central Michigan 52
Pre Game Comment: This will be Eastern Michigan coach Jeff Genyk’s last game. A good guy and a good coach who has certainly improved this program, he could never sustain momentum to get over the four-win hump in a season. Central is a solid program right now and has a real shot at finishing with 10 wins. Central will win in a shoot out.
Post Game Comment: EMU’s Andy Schmitt (above, thanks EMU) broke the NCAA record (all divisions) for completions and WR Tyler Jones tied the NCAA Division I record for receptions and Eastern Michigan upset Central Michigan in the regular-season finale for both teams on Friday. Eastern Michigan’s Jeff Genyk coached his last game Friday but his Eagles victory was one to remember as Schmitt’s 58 completions broke the NCAA record of 57, which was set by Jeremy Moses of Stephen F. Austin earlier this season. The Football Bowl Subdivision record of 55 was shared by Purdue’s Drew Brees in 1998 and Wake Forest’s Rusty LaRue in 1995. Schmitt attempted 80 passes and his 516 yards broke the Eastern Michigan school record, which he set last week in a 55-52 loss at Temple. Schmitt also threw five touchdown passes and ran for a TD. Jones’ 23 receptions tied the mark of UNLV’s Randy Gatewood, who set it in 1994. Jerry Rice of Mississippi Valley State holds the NCAA record of 24 catches in 1983. Jones had 170 yards.
Nick’s Pick: Ohio 30 - Miami 21
Actual Score: Ohio 41 - Miami 26
Pre Game Comment: It’s hard to understand the fall Miami has incurred over the past three seasons. A very solid program under Randy Walker and Terry Hoeppner, the RedHawks have fallen on hard times. Ohio is rebuilding this year but is the better team this season.
Post Game Comment: OU’s Boo Jackson passed for three touchdowns and Chris Garrett ran for two as Ohio beat Miami of Ohio 41-26 on Friday, piling up 516 yards of total offense. Garrett rushed 23 times for 222 yards, and Jackson was 15-of-20 for 190 yards for Ohio (4-8, 3-5 Mid-American Conference.) Jackson had touchdown passes of 3 and 2 yards, but also connected with Taylor Price for a 51-yard score. Dan Raudabaugh was 26-of-41 for 258 yards and a touchdown for Miami (2-10, 1-7) while Andre Bratton had 100 yards on 17 carries.
Nick’s Pick: Akron 27 - Temple 21
Actual Score: Temple 27 - Akron 6
Pre Game Comment: The winner of this game will be the #2 ranked team in east division if BG loses at Toledo Friday. That’s how far behind the MAC East is from the West division right now. Akron has the better offense to pull out a close game.
Post Game Comment: Temple’s Adam DiMichele and senior running back Marcellous Grigsby rushed for two touchdowns each as Temple snapped a 6-6 tie with three scores in the final 7:59 for a 27-6 victory over Akron on Friday. DiMichele completed 15 of 30 passes for 220 yards and had 50 yards on the ground while Grigsby recorded his first two career touchdowns for Temple (5-7, 4-4 Mid-American Conference). The Owls won their final two games and racked up their most wins since a 7-4 season in 1990. Zips RB Dennis Kennedy rushed for 153 yards on 25 carries for his sixth consecutive game of at least 100 yards on the ground for Akron (5-7, 3-5), which dropped its final three games after winning five of its first nine. Kennedy finished with 1,321 yards, third on the school’s all-time list for a single season
Nick’s Pick: Buffalo 37 - Kent State 21
Actual Score: Kent State 24 - Buffalo 21
Pre Game Comment: Five weeks ago we stated Buffalo would not lose again this regular season, finish 8-4 and win the east division. A win over hard-luck Kent State will prove us right. This will likely be the last “home” game for UB coach Turner Gill as he has become one of the hottest coaching prospects in the nation.
Post Game Comment: Julian Edleman’s 25-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Simpson with 5:57 left gave Kent State a 24-21 win over Mid-American Conference East champion Buffalo Friday. Edleman, who also ran for 167 yards while completing 13 of 23 attempts for 114 yards, drove Kent State (4-8, 3-5 MAC) 80 yards and capped the drive by lofting the game-winning completion to Simpson, his only catch of the day. Earlier, Buffalo’s (7-5, 5-3 MAC) Drew Willy teamed up with Naaman Roosevelt for a go-ahead 23-yard score with 9:11 left and a 21-17 lead. Kent’s Derek Burrell dashed Buffalo’s hopes for a game-winning touchdown when he forced Brett Hamlin to fumble at the 1-yard line. Eugene Jarvis ran for 150 yards and scored two touchdowns. The Golden Flashes had 426 yards of total offense, rushing for 312 yards. Roosevelt had 8 receptions for 124 yards. James Starks ran for 136 yards on 24 carries with one touchdown.
Nick’s Pick: Toledo 42 - BGSU 31
Actual Score: BGSU 38 - Toledo 10
Pre Game Comment: Two weeks ago this publication would have picked the Falcons to win by two or three touchdowns but after last week’s home meltdown at Doyt-Perry, BGSU has to be kicking themselves of what might-have-been. A 7-5 season, a MACC berth and bowl game were all lost when the Bulls blew a 20-point 4th quarter lead and lost in OT. It took the Toledo coaching staff eleven weeks to finally figure out that RB Morgan Williams is the best offensive weapon on the team. They will ride his skills two weeks in a row for a rivalry victory and send coach Tom Amstutz away with a smile.
Post Game Comment: Tyler Sheehan threw three touchdown passes as Bowling Green easily beat Toledo 38-10 Friday, spoiling coach Tom Amstutz’s last game with the Rockets. Willie Geter ran for 160 yards for the Falcons (6-6, 4-4 Mid-American), including a 70-yard touchdown run in the third that made it 31-3. Sheehan was 20 of 33 for 241 yards and an interception while leading an offensive attack that piled up 534 yards. He had a 17-yard TD pass to Tyrone Pronty in the first quarter, a 33-yard touchdown pass to Jermiah Kelley in the third and a six-yard score to Corey Partridge in the fourth. Toledo (3-9, 2-6) didn’t get a touchdown until midway through the fourth, when quarterback Aaron Opelt ran in from two yards out. Morgan Williams had 153 yards, including a 65-yard run, but the Rockets couldn’t do much else when they had the ball, gaining just 196 offensive yards.
After going just 2-5 this week, Nick’s Picks finishes the MAC’s regular season 76-28 (73%). Visit Nick on his home turf at Vandelay Sports.
Topics: College Football, MAC, Nick Gerogosian |
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