Nick’s 2009 MAC Football Picks – Week #4 Recap
September 28th, 2009 by Nick Gerogosian
Buffalo at Temple
Nick’s Pick: Buffalo 21 – Temple 20
Actual Score: Temple 37 – Buffalo 13
Pre Game Comment: Tremendously difficult game to predict since Temple has more talent and a knack for losing close games, while UB has been very inconsistent this year without Starks and breaking in their new QB. Give the nod to the Bulls since they seem to have the Owls number.
Post Game Thoughts: This year it was Buffalo making the mistakes and Temple capitalizing as the Owls beat the Bulls for the first time in their four-year MAC history and for the first time overall since 1970. Elijah Joseph returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown and James Dixon scored on a 92-yard kickoff return for the Owls. UB had more total offense (380-293) but UB had five turnovers. Temple’s Bernard Pierce rushed for 116-yards while UB’s Zach Maynard passed for 281.
Akron at Central Michigan
Nick’s Pick: Central 44 – Akron 27
Actual Score: Central 48 – Akron 21
Pre Game Comment: The ‘Chips will roll in MAC play while Akron’s QB situation is a mess. The Zips do less with more than any other MAC team over the past three seasons.
Post Game Thoughts: This game went as expected; Central crushed a very suspect Akron team that will likely struggle for the remainder of the season. The ‘Chips put up 523-yards of total offense to just 196 for the Zips. Central rushed for 326-yards as a team and held the ball for more than 35-minutes. Dan LeFevour accounted for 337-total yards passing & rushing and was directly responsible for six TDs.
Idaho at Northern Illinois
Nick’s Pick: NIU 33 – Idaho 24
Actual Score: Idaho 34 – NIU 31
Pre Game Comment: NIU’s running game is solid but Idaho is much improved evident of their victory last week over San Diego State. The Vandals will push the Huskies to the brink before NIU wins at home.
Post Game Thoughts: What happened here? Yes the Vandals are much improved, but NIU playing at home one week removed from beating Purdue on the road should have certainly been a win for the MAC – right? Evidently not. After leading 34-16 early in the 4th period, the Huskies got back into the game and trailed by three with five minutes remaining. NIU would watch the Vandals run out the final 5:51 and never get the ball back. Idaho held the ball for over 34-minutes in this game and held a commanding 477-312 edge in total offense.
Toledo at Florida International
Nick’s Pick: FIU 28 – Toledo 20
Actual Score: Toledo 41 – FIU 31
Pre Game Comment: Last year the Rockets led 13-0 going into the 2nd quarter before the bottom fell out and turnovers killed Toledo in a 35-16 setback. FIU continues to improve under Coach Mario Cristabol. They played Rutgers tough on the road last week losing 23-15. Look for another Sun Belt victory over the MAC again even though this is clearly a game UT could and should win.
Post Game Thoughts: As we predicted, this is a game Toledo could and should win. Evidently they listened to us even though we predicted FUI. Aaron Opelt connected on 13 of his 14 passes and had a monster day passing for 343 yards and leading an offense to 566-yards of output. This was a much needed MAC win over the Sun Belt.
Hofstra at Western Michigan
Nick’s Pick: Western Michigan 55 – Hofstra 9
Actual Score: Western Michigan 24 – Hofstra 10
Pre Game Comment: The Broncos had a solid offense and playing at Waldo Stadium always pumps up Western. The Pride is 2-1 but they’ve beaten I-AA non-scholarship Stony Brook 17-10 and Bryant, a new football program altogether 40-24. They lost last week at Richmond 47-0, the defending I-AA national champ. That game is an indication of how ugly this game could get.
Post Game Thoughts: The Broncos were quite unimpressive with their 14-point win over a bad I-AA team that was crushed by I-AA Richmond the week before and struggled to beat a non-scholarship I-AA team earlier this month. Western put up 502-yards of offense but had three turnovers. Tim Hiller passed for 338 yards while Brandon West (pictured left, thanks Icon SMI) rushed for 159.
Boise State at Bowling Green
Nick’s Pick: Boise State 30 – BGSU 14
Actual Score: Boise State 49 – BGSU 14
Pre Game Comment: BG gets a once in a lifetime shot at hosting a Top-10 team. Let’s hope Boise State has some serious jet lag after winning 51-34 at Fresno State last week. The Broncos are so well coached and talented that it is hard to see them losing any regular season game this year. If they do, it’s either this game or next month when they travel to Tulsa.
Post Game Thoughts: The Falcons got an up-close and personal look at a real BCS busting team that is a legit top 10 and maybe top-5 team. Boise State used their excessive speed and skill as Boise State raced out to a 43-0 lead early in 3rd period and cruised from there. BSU had 529-yards of total offense to just 282 for BG.
Miami at Kent State
Nick’s Pick: Miami 24 – Kent State 13
Actual Score: Kent State 29 – Miami 19
Pre Game Comment: Miami found a QB in Zac Dysert as he leads the RedHawks into Dix Stadium. The Golden Flashes offense is pathetic right now so look for Miami to break out of the bottom and beat KSU, a program they have dominated through the years.
Post Game Thoughts: Miami outplayed Kent State but so many costly errors led to the Golden Flashes victory. Miami ran 91 plays to just 50 for KSU and had a commanding 552-250 edge in total offense but three lost fumbles, a blocked punt and two INTs directly led to the loss. Jacquise Terry rushed for 103 yards for Kent State.
Ohio at Tennessee
Nick’s Pick: Tennessee 27 – Ohio 10
Actual Score: Tennessee 34 – Ohio 23
Pre Game Comment: The ‘Vols lost an emotional game to Florida last week so here’s to hoping they are still thinking about that game and forget about the Bobcats. OU has the talent to spring an upset but until the offense shows more consistency you really can’t pick against a SEC team hosting the MAC.
Post Game Thoughts: This publication felt Ohio would put up a good fight and they certainly did. Midway through the 4th quarter the Bobcats trailed just 31-23. Overall OU had 340 yards of total offense while the ‘Vols had 399. Ohio’s Theo Scott passed for 319-yards.
Ball State at Auburn
Nick’s Pick: Auburn 56 – Ball State 7
Actual Score: Auburn 54 – Ball State 30
Pre Game Comment: After losses to North Texas, New Hampshire and Army, how ugly will this game get? I hope the press box keeps the game clock moving at a brisk pace.
Post Game Thoughts: Kudos to the Cardinals for showing they have a pulse. After three dreadful losses to teams the ‘Cards should have beaten, Ball State put up 30-points against a solid SEC team on the road. Auburn held a commanding 560-260 edge in total offense. Briggs Orsbon had seven catches for Ball State.
****Nick’s Picks went 5-4 this weekend and now stands at 29-17 YTD
Week #4 MAC Football Power Ranking:
1. Central Michigan
2. Ohio
3. NIU
4. Temple
5. Toledo
6. Western Michigan
7. BGSU
8. Buffalo
9. Kent State
10. Akron
11. Eastern Michigan
12. Ball State
13. Miami
Related posts:
- MAC Recap: Nick’s Picks
- 2009 Nick’s Picks for MAC Football – Week #5
- MAC Daddy: Nick’s Picks for Week 9, including the horrible football near Canton
- Weekly MAC Football Recap – November 1, 2009
- MAC News Notes and Previews – The MAC Daddy Nick’s Picks for Week 12
Tags: MAC
