Nick’s Picks – A Couple of Games on Tap
November 6th, 2008 by Nick Gerogosian
Illinois (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) at Western Michigan (7-2, 5-1 MAC)
Saturday, November 8, Noon
Illinois leads series 2-0
Television: ESPN Plus/ESPN GamePlan
The Broncos defeated Eastern Michigan last week 31-10 to get back into the win column … the Illini captured a 27-24 win over Iowa last week … two of UI’s four losses are to ranked teams (Missouri and Penn State) … QB talent Juice Williams has 403 plays of total offense, resulting in 2,441 passing yards and 19 TDs, and 509 rushing yards and five TDs … WMU counters with the MAC’s top passing yards leader in Tim Hiller … Hiller has 2,856 yards and 28 TDs with just five interceptions … the Broncos feature Brandon West and his 94.7 ypg in their running attack … the Broncos are 4-0 in home games while the Illini is 1-3 in road games with its lone victory coming in Ann Arbor …. WMU has seven wins for the third time in Bill Cubit’s four years as head coach and are one win shy of his best of eight victories in 2006 … the Illini’s Zook, a graduate of MAC member Miami and an all-MAC selection in 1975 at DB, took his 2007 squad to the Rose Bowl in his second year after inheriting a 2-10 squad … likewise, Cubit took the WMU program to a bowl game in his second season after taking over after a 1-10 season (International Bowl, 2006 season) … Hiller has a TD pass in 12 consecutive games and WR Jamarko Simmons has caught a pass in 26 consecutive games … Simmons tops the MAC in receptions (73) and receiving yards (830).
Nick’s Pick: Western Michigan 33 – Illinois 27
Comment: The MAC has a few wins over Big Ten teams this season and should be able to add one more to the mix this weekend at Detroit’s Ford Field. Western’s offense can hang with most BCS teams while Illinois has struggled of late. In a minor upset, look for the Broncos to beat the Illini in a thriller.
Bowling Green (4-5, 2-3 MAC) at Ohio (2-7, 1-4 MAC)
Wednesday, November 5, 2 p.m.
Bowling Green leads series 36-21-2
Television: None
The Falcons won their first home game of 2008 last week, jumping to a 28-0 lead en route to a 45-30 triumph over Kent State … the Bobcats played a Tuesday night (Oct. 28) versus Buffalo and suffered a 32-19 loss … the Bobcats had seven fumbles, losing four to the Bulls … Boo Jackson completed 20-of-29 pass attempts for 290 yards and two TDs and also led the team in rushing with 70 yards on nine carries for Ohio … BG signalcaller Tyler Sheehan also led his team in rushing with a career-high 109 yards on 14 carries, adding a TD … Sheehan also passed for two TDs and 159 yards, completing 16-of-23 attempts … the BG defense made two early interceptions to spark the 28-point halftime margin as P.J. Mahone and Jeret Sanderson came away with picks …. the Falcons will be looking to win back-to-back games for the first time this year and perhaps ignite a strong finish as they did in 2007, when a four-game winning streak to end the regular season vaulted them into the GMAC Bowl … Ohio is out to break a two-game losing streak..
Nick’s Pick: Ohio 33 – BGSU 31
Comment: Is there a bigger Jeckle-Hyde team in the MAC than the BG Falcons? This publication has done a dreadful job picking them this year so this should be welcome choice for the Falcon faithful. Ohio’s offense is scoring as are the Falcons, but something seems to be missing with this year’s BG squad. Just when you think they’ve turned the corner, they stumble. Just when you write them off, they win again. After clubbing Kent State last week, it’s BG’s turn to stumble this week.
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