Nick’s Picks went 4-2 last week and now stand at 59-17 on the season…
Central Michigan (2-6, 1-3 MAC) at Akron (1-6, 0-3 MAC)
Saturday, October 29, 2011 • Noon ET • Akron, Ohio • InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field (27,881); ESPN Plus • ESPN Game Plan • ESPN3; Series: Central Michigan leads 13-9-1 Nick’s Pick: Central 36 – Akron 24
Comment: Time is running out for Akron to win a MAC game this year and this may be the last chance outside of their annual pillow fight with Kent State. Central can score points while Akron cannot and neither team can defend as each gives up around 34-35 points per contest. Central is dead last in the MAC in turnover ratio which is Akron’s saving grace this week. Assuming the sticky jell is working for the Chips look for Central to get win #3. Read the rest of this entry →
Temple (5-2, 3-1 MAC) at Bowling Green (3-4, 1-2 MAC)
Saturday, October 22, 2011 • 3:30 pm ET • Bowling Green, Ohio • Doyt L. Perry Stadium (24,000)
BCSN • ESPN3
Series: Bowling Green leads 7-4 Nick’s Pick: Temple 33 – BGSU 21
Comment: Toledo showed last week that you beat the Falcons by running the ball and Temple runs the ball very well with Bernard Pierce averaging nearly 260-yards per game on the ground, tops in the MAC.
Northern Illinois (4-3, 2-1 MAC) at Buffalo (2-5, 1-2 MAC)
Saturday, October 22, 2011 • Noon ET • Buffalo, N.Y. • UB Stadium (29,013)
ESPN Plus • ESPN Game Plan • ESPN3
Series: Northern Illinois leads 6-1 Nick’s Pick: Northern 42 – Buffalo 17
Comment: UB is getting a very hot Huskie club coming to town just one week after the Bull’s dreadful performance in Philadelphia. NIU put up nearly 700 yards of offense last week and are priming up for their upcoming battle with Toledo for the MAC west title.
Western Michigan (4-2, 2-0 MAC) at Northern Illinois (3-3, 1-1 MAC)
Alex Carder strikes a Heisman Trophy pose, except he has a pesky defender draped on him (Icon SMI)
Saturday, October 15, 2011 • 3:30 pm ET • DeKalb, Ill. • Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium (24,000); Comcast SportsNet Chicago • ESPN Game Plan • ESPN3; Series: Western Michigan leads 23-13 Nick’s Pick: Western 33 – Northern 31
Comment: While in most years the BG/Toledo game would be the game of the week, we believe this contest is the MAC’s best game. NIU has the league’s top offense scoring 37-points per game under the leadership of Chandler Harnish, while giving up a whopping 35; Western is scoring 32-points per game with fantasy gods Alex Carder and Jordan White while giving up 22. Don’t be surprised if the team with the ball last wins…expect a close game with major divisional title and bowl bid ramifications on the line.
Toledo (3-3, 2-0 MAC) at Bowling Green (3-3, 1-1 MAC)
Saturday, October 15, 2011 • Noon ET • Bowling Green, Ohio • Doyt L. Perry Stadium (24,000); ESPN Plus • ESPN Game Plan • ESPN3; Series: Bowling Green leads 39-32-4 Nick’s Pick: Toledo 37 – BGSU 20
Comment: Both teams can score points as the Rockets average 36-points per game while BG puts up 30. Defensively their numbers are similar with UT giving 25-points per game against some very heavy competition (Boise State & Syracuse) while BG is giving up 29. The difference may very well be turnovers as the Rockets are #1 in the MAC in turnover ratio while BG is last. Look for Toledo to win with their two-headed QB system for their second in a row in this very heated backyard Ohio rivalry. Read the rest of this entry →
Rocky the Rocket could have identified the missed PAT thru that shield. (Icon SMI)
Toledo (1-3, 0-0 MAC) at Temple (3-1, 1-0 MAC)
Saturday, October 1, 2011 • Noon ET • Philadelphia, Pa. • Lincoln Financial Field (68,532); ESPN Plus/ESPN Game Plan/ESPN3; Series: Toledo leads 6-3
Nick’s Pick: Temple 24 – Toledo 20
Comment: The hard-luck Rockets will take it on the chin one more time before winning seven straight and finishing the 2011 season 8-4. Toledo’s QB Austin Dantin started at Syracuse and completed a season-high 22-of-32 passes for 258 yards and one TD…Dantin has now thrown a TD pass in each game this season. Toledo’s Eric Page had a season high 13 receptions and career high 158 receiving yards in a controversial 33-30 OT loss at Syracuse. Temple ranks among the nation’s Top 25 in nine defense categories, including four Top 10 stats: Temple is No. 1 in scoring defense (7.75), No. 2 in kickoff returns (35.00), No. 4 in sacks (3.75), and No. 9 in pass efficiency defense (96.09). RB Bernard Pierce gashed Maryland for five TDs, a school and MAC record.
MAC Notes full of players ranking in Top Ten offensive statistics nationally:
Ladies and gentlemen, your current NCAA leader in fantasy points, Northern Illinois QB Chandler Harnish.
Bowling Green WR Eugene Cooper set career highs in all stats with a 6-134-T4 in a 58-14 win over Morgan State.
Toledo WR Junior wide receiver Eric Page caught 12 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns.
Temple running back Bernard Pierce rushed for 150 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, leading Temple to a 41-3 win at Akron.
Kansas’ scored a TD with nine-seconds remaining to give the Jayhawks a 45-42 victory over the NIU Huskies; QB Chandler Harnish (2011 leader in fantasy points) threw for two scores and ran for a career-best three at Kansas. He completed 27-of-33 passes for 315 yards and ran for 89 yards on 11 carries to total 404 yards of total offense, the sixth-highest single game total in Northern Illinois history.
