MAC Weekly Re-Cap
October 5th, 2009 by Nick Gerogosian
The MAC failed to win a non-conference game this weekend as Kent State lost at Baylor while Miami lost at home to 10th ranked Cincinnati. Both of these teams played better than expected and Kent State actually generated more total offense than the Baylor Bears did in Waco, TX. On the MAC front, you could easily make an argument that there two “games of the week.” Ball State scored a touchdown and ran the “Boise State Statue of Liberty Play” for a two-point conversion to take a 30-29 lead with 42-seconds remaining. Toledo responded by throwing a 51-yard TD strike with 27-seconds left in a one-play drive to steal a road win. Meanwhile at Doyt-Perry Field in Bowling Green, the Falcons fought until the end but came up 14-yards short as Ohio held on for a dramatic 44-37 victory. Below is how the entire league did this past weekend with stat highlights and looking back at Nick’s Picks going 7-0.Toledo at Ball State
Pre Game Comment: Historically, Toledo has had the better team in this divisional rivalry and yet would lose to the Cardinals especially in Muncie. Case and point this year; Toledo has the more experienced team and certainly has been playing better, but will the ghosts of seasons past come and haunt UT once again at BSU? We believe the new Toledo coaching staff will get it done and avenge last year’s 31-0 ‘Cardinal beat-down’ at the Glass Bowl.
Post Game Facts: Toledo put 479-yards of total offense to 310 for Ball State but the Rockets committed three costly turnovers. Aaron Opelt threw for 422-yards with Stephen Williams having a monster game; ten catches for 231 yards and two TDs. True freshman Eric Page had 11 catches for 152-yards and a TD. Briggs Orsbon had ten catches for 88-yards and a TD for the ‘Cards.
Nick’s Pick: Toledo 37 – Ball State 28
Actual Score: Toledo 37 – Ball State 30
Temple at Eastern Michigan
Pre Game Comment: Losing Schmitt is huge for EMU but at least Eastern had two weeks to break in a new QB for this contest. While the Eagles are playing very hard for the new coaching staff, Temple’s defense is very good and can score points as well. Look for the Owls to get to the .500 mark.
Post Game Facts: Bernard Pierce rushed for 180 yards and two TDs leading Temple to a road MAC win. Temple led 21-0 early in the second quarter and was never really threatened. Temple had more total offense (365-280) than EMU. Kyle McMahon is the new QB for the Eagles and threw for 230-yards.
Nick’s Pick: Temple 30 – Eastern 21
Actual Score: Temple 24 – Eastern 12
Cincinnati at Miami (O)
Pre Game Comment: What was once a terrific non-conference annual rivalry has become a one-sided massacre over the past three seasons. Since 2006 the Bearcats have won by 14, 37 and 25 points. Zac Dysert gives Miami hope to score some points but Cincy’s offensive show will light up the Yager Stadium scoreboard.
Post Game Facts: Miami trailed 23-13 and in the second half recovered an onside kick to make this game very interesting. Instead of coming within one score of the Bearcats, Cincy made the plays and eventually scored two 4th quarter TDs to pull away. Zac Dysert threw for 286-yards and one TD as Miami put up 316-yards of offense but only 30 of that came on the ground.
Nick’s Pick: Cincinnati 48 – Miami 17
Actual Score: Cincinnati 37 – Miami 13
Western Michigan at NIU
Pre Game Comment: Huskies had a bad home loss to Idaho last week and Coach Kill will be on this team all week to turn it around on Saturday. Western has been less than impressive all season after being considered by every major publication to be the primary contender to Central Michigan this year. Look for another close game Saturday but this time it will be NIU’s turn to win the close game.
Post Game Facts: After losing at home to Idaho last week, NIU put together a “feel-good again” performance and dominated their divisional rival. The Huskies held the pall for nearly 37-minutes limiting the Broncos to just over 23-minutes. Western’s Tim Hiller threw three INTs while Chad Spann & Me’co Brown combined to rush for 220-yards on 37-carries with Spann scoring three TDs.
Nick’s Pick: NIU 27 – Western 23
Actual Score: NIU 38 – Western 3
Central Michigan at Buffalo
Pre Game Comment: Most publications listed this game as the likely MAC Championship this December but turnovers are killing Buffalo as they break in a new starting QB and RB. Central is the best team in the MAC right now and will look like a champion this weekend at UB.
Post Game Facts: Central held off a very pesky Buffalo team at UB. The Bulls held a slight 433-412 advantage in total offense led by Ike Nduka’s 172-yard rushing performance. Dan LeFevour accounted for 366-yards rushing and passing, throwing two TDs.
Nick’s Pick: Central 38 – Buffalo 23
Actual Score: Central 20 – Buffalo 13
Ohio at BGSU
Pre Game Comment: Without a doubt, this is the hardest game to pick this week evident by the score above. Every time this publication gives up on the Falcon football program they rebound and win a big game. Ohio has certainly played more consistent football to date but BGSU has played a much more difficult schedule and lost two games they should have won. Flip your coin here; and for us, it came up Bobcats.
Post Game Facts: In a terrific shootout between two long-time MAC rivals, Ohio held off BG as the Falcons drove down to the Ohio 14 yard line before turning the ball over on downs with 1:15 to play in the game. Ohio’s Chris Garrett rushed 16 times for 120 yards while QB Theo Scott rushed just four times for 82 yards; Scott also threw for 203. Tyler Sheehan had a terrific game throwing for 390 yards, two TDs and running in another. BG held advantages in first downs (26-13), time of possession (34-26 minutes), total plays ran (86-54) and total offense 474-419.
Nick’s Pick: Ohio 26 – BGSU 24
Actual Score: Ohio 44 – BGSU 37
Kent State at Baylor
Pre Game Comment: The Baylor Bears were a laughing stock BCS program not long ago but very quickly under Coach Art Briles this program has shot up the ranks of the very difficult Big 12 Conference. While KSU has the defense to keep this game close for a while, the offense is dreadful and the Bears will slowly suffocate the life away of Kent State
Post Game Facts: KSU put up more offense than the host Bears (424-374) but could not overcome ten penalties and three turnovers. Jacquise Terry rushed for 109-yards on 12 carries with a one TD; averaging 9.1 yards per carry.
Nick’s Pick: Baylor 44 – Kent State 14
Actual Score Baylor 31 – Kent State 15
***Nick’s Picks went 7-0 this weekend raising our record to 36-17 YTD.
Week #5 MAC Football Power Ranking:
1. Central Michigan
2. Ohio
3. NIU
4. Temple
5. Toledo
6. BGSU
7. Buffalo
8. Kent State
9. Western Michigan
10. Akron
11. Ball State
12. Eastern Michigan
13. Miami
Related posts:
- MAC Weekly Re-Cap (November 15, 2009)
- MAC Weekly Re-Cap
- MAC Weekly Re-Cap (November 22, 2009)
- MAC Weekly Re-Cap: Week #7
- Weekly MAC Football Recap – November 1, 2009
Tags: MAC, Nicks Picks
