MAC Weekly Re-Cap (September 20, 2009)
September 21st, 2009 by Nick Gerogosian
The MAC had another sub-par performance this weekend posting a 3-8 non-conference record. Close losses to Army, Marshall and UCF continued a disturbing trend for MAC teams of late; play non-BCS teams, touch and lose close contests that should be won. On a positive note, Northern Illinois beat Purdue on the road; their first victory over a Big Ten team since 1988 after nineteen straight losses over the past two decades. Ohio defeated I-AA Cal Poly to avoid another loss to a member from the FCS division.
Huskies Hot in West Lafayette
Here are some quality talking points for NIU after beating Purdue;
- NIU claimed its first win over a BCS conference team since 2003, when the Huskies defeated Iowa State, Alabama and Maryland
- Coach Jerry Kill won his second straight game over a Big Ten team in the state of Indiana; in 2006 as the coach of Southern Illinois; Kill’s Saluki team defeated Indiana
- Chad Spann scored two TDs giving him seven for the season
- NIU put up 454 yards of total offense, their largest output since 2007
Ho-Hum in NE Ohio
Entering this weekend there was excitement in NE Ohio as three different MAC teams ‘hosted’ teams from a BCS conference, something that has never been done. Amid the initial hoopla, all three MAC teams totally tanked and not only went 0-3 in these games, but were collectively outscored 110-35. Nice.
- Toledo’s 38-0 loss could have been even higher. From the opening kickoff until the end of the game, the team lacked intensity, proper preparation or imagination. In fact, the team played scared much of the afternoon and was clearly intimidated. With only three first downs in the first half and nine for the game, OSU could have won 63-0 if they wanted. OSU held the ball for 37-minutes to just 23 for UT.
- OK, so Akron kicks their starting QB off the team (for how long, is yet to be determined) and the backup tosses four INTs. Worst yet, only 18K fans showed up in a beautiful new stadium as Akron was hosting a team from the Big Ten for the first time – ever. Perhaps Akron fans put on their Ohio State gear and drove up to Cleveland Stadium to root for the Buckeyes.
- Kent State hosted a team from a BCS conference for only the second time in the last thirty-five years and drew a whopping 15K as they finalized the trifecta of putrid MAC football. Perhaps KSU fans dressed in scarlet and gray were partying in downtown Cleveland still celebrating the Buckeyes annihilation of the Rockets?
Temple at Penn State
Nick’s Pick: Penn State 34 – Temple 10
Actual Score: Penn State 31 – Temple 6
Pre Game 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 year’s contest will be much more respectable.
Post Game Thoughts: Evan Royster (pictured left, thanks Icon SMI) led PSU 134-yards rushing and a TD as Penn State continued their domination over Temple. The Owls did do much better as predicted than last year’s game but were outclassed by the nation’s #5 team. PSU had more first downs (23-11) and total net yards (359-251) than Temple.
NIU at Purdue
Nick’s Pick: Purdue 28 – NIU 21
Actual Score: NIU 28 – Purdue 21
Pre Game 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.
Post Game Thoughts: Well, we got the score right, just not the right team. Kudos to the Huskies for a quality victory at Purdue. Anyone who does not believe that Coach Kill is one of the top non-BCS coaches in the business doesn’t know college football very well. Me’co Brown ran for 150 yards for NIU’s first victory against a Big Ten school since 1988. The Huskies outgained the Boilermakers 454 yards to 335 and kept the ball for 41:40.
Ball State at Army
Nick’s Pick: Army 22 – Ball State 10
Actual Score: Army 24 – Ball State 17
Pre Game 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.
Post Game Thoughts: Army’s Donovan Travis came up with two pivotal picks in the fourth quarter including one for the deciding TD. The Cardinals failed to take advantage of a cream-puff non-conference schedule to date and fell to 0-3 instead of being 3-0 as they visit Auburn next week. One encouraging note, Ball State played their best game to date putting up 375 yards of total offense to just 265 for the Black Knights. BSU QBs threw a combined four INTs in this contest.
EMU at Michigan
Nick’s Pick: Michigan 44 – EMU 21
Actual Score: Michigan 45 – EMU 17
Pre Game 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 last week.
Post Game Thoughts: EMU trailed just 24-17 at the half. The Eagles tied it twice in the first half, including at 10 early in the second quarter, before Michigan outscored them 35-7. Eastern QB Andy Schmitt hurt his right knee in the fourth quarter after he was 13 of 22 for 97 yards and scored on a run.
Ohio State at Toledo (Cleveland)
Nick’s Pick: Ohio State 42 – Toledo 30
Actual Score: Ohio State 38 – Toledo 0
Pre Game 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.
Post Game Thoughts: I attended this game and from a Toledo point of view it was a disgusting performance. The defense actually played decent considering how long they were on the field but special teams and the offense were lousy. Very vanilla play calling, few if any adjustments throughout the game, and receivers who continued to the drop the ball left and right. Yuk.
Alcorn State at Central Michigan
Nick’s Pick: Central 55 – Alcorn St 14
Actual Score: Central 48 – Alcorn St. 0
Pre Game Comment: The ‘Chips are “fired up” after last week’s win over the Spartans and will crush the Braves in Central’s home opener.
Post Game Thoughts: A total domination as expected. Alcorn State produced just 136-yards of total offense and seven first downs. Carl Volney had 101-yards for Central.
Indiana at Akron
Nick’s Pick: Akron 28 – Indiana 27
Actual Score: Indiana 38 – Akron 21
Pre Game 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.
Post Game Thoughts: This pick was made before the announcement that Akron’s starting QB would be suspended for the game. If we would have had that knowledge beforehand, the Hoosiers would have been out pick. Still, IU continues their domination over MAC teams as Ben Chappell (pictured left, thanks Icon SMI) threw two touchdown passes and Ray Fisher returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a score. Sophomore QB Matt Rodgers struggled moving the ball for the Zips and threw four INTs.
Iowa State at Kent State
Nick’s Pick: Iowa State 27 – Kent St 16
Actual Score: Iowa State 34 – Kent St. 14
Pre Game 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.
Post Game Thoughts: This game went the way we saw it. ISU’s ran for two touchdowns and threw for another, helping the Cyclones break its 17-game road losing streak. The victory was the Iowa State’s first road win since 2005. True freshman Spenser Keith threw for 260-yards and two TDs in his first start as KSU began playing without star RB Eugene Jarvis, who is out for the season with an injury.
Miami at Western Michigan
Nick’s Pick: Western 35 – Miami 14
Actual Score: Western 48 – Miami 26
Pre Game 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.
Post Game Thoughts: As predicted, Miami did finally score some points this year. It didn’t happen until the 3rd quarter, but they finally found the end zone. The RedHawks actually held advantaged in first downs (27-23) and total offense (421-370) but five turnovers did them in. MU’s Daniel Raudabaugh threw for 288-yards and Zac Dysert threw for 74 in the loss. Western’s Tim Hiller took advantage of his opportunities throwing three TDs while Brandon West rushed for 91 yards and two TDs.
Cal Poly at Ohio
Nick’s Pick: Ohio 30 – Cal Poly 21
Actual Score: Ohio 28 – Cal Poly 10
Pre Game Comment: This game is not a slam dunk for the Bobcats as Cal Poly is a very good I-AA (FCS) team that lost by a point at Wisconsin last season. Look for Ohio to win but this game will be much closer than expected.
Post Game Thoughts: Ohio’s Theo Scott threw for 236-yards and the Bobcats scored a defensive TD in relatively easy victory.
BGSU at Marshall
Nick’s Pick: BGSU 37 – Marshall 23
Actual Score: Marshall 17 – BGSU 10
Pre Game Comment: The Falcons missed a tremendous opportunity last week at Missouri when they lost a 14-point 3rd quarter lead and lost by a touchdown. Still, 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.”
Post Game Thoughts: QB Tyler Sheehan threw for 385 yards but the Falcons had absolutely no running game producing just 10-yards on 20 carries. That lack of a rushing game hurt BG in the “red zone” as Marshall scored all 17 points in the second half and held off BG’s final attempt to put the game into OT inside their 20 yard line in the final seconds. Darius Marshall had a monster game for the Thundering Herd rushing for 200-yards on just 23 carries.
Buffalo at UCF
Nick’s Pick: Buffalo 27 – UCF 23
Actual Score: UCF – 23 – Buffalo 17
Pre Game 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.
Post Game Thoughts: UB had two 4th quarter opportunities but failed to generate any points when they trailed 20-17 during the middle of the final period. UCF rallied from a 17-7 deficit.
Nick’s Picks went 8-4 this weekend and now stands at 24-13 YTD
MAC Football Ranking after Week #3
1. Central Michigan
2. NIU
3. Buffalo
4. Western Michigan
5. Ohio
6. BGSU
7. Akron
8. Toledo
9. Temple
10. Eastern Michigan
11. Ball St.
12. Kent St
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
- MAC Weekly Re-Cap: Week #7
Tags: MAC
