MAC Player Notes:

RB Dwayne Priest rolls up some big stats this past weekend (Icon SMI)

• EMU’s Dwayne Priest scored all three Eastern Michigan touchdowns and rushed for a career-high 192 yards on 35 carries in a 21-17 win at Buffalo
  

• Ohio RB Vince Davidson had an extremely impressive game against Temple’s stingy defensive front in Ohio’s 31-23 win in Philadelphia. The Dayton, N.J. native piled up 100 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries (6.2 per carry)

• Northern Illinois QB Chandler Harnish completed 15-of-22 passing for 247 yards and two touchdowns in a 59-21 win at Ball State; Harnish added 21 yards on the ground on eight carries Read the rest of this entry →

Bowling Green (2-8, 1-5 MAC) at Toledo (6-4, 5-1 MAC)
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 • 8:00 pm ET • Toledo, Ohio • Glass Bowl (26,248)
ESPN2; Series: Bowling Green leads 39-31-4
Notes:
The Falcons have 28 takeaways this season and rank third in the MAC in turnover differential (+3)…QB Matt Schilz is tied for 15th in the nation with 22.5 completions per game…WR Kamar Jorden ranks fourth in the country in receptions per game (8.0), 12th in receiving yards per game (92.0) and 13th in total receiving yards (920).  Toledo hosts their final two regular season games (Bowling Green, Central Michigan)…WR Eric Page ranks eighth in the nation in receptions per game (7.3), 21st in total receiving yards (843) and 23rd in receiving yards per game (84.3 ypg)…Page also ranks 16th in the nation in kickoff return average (27.5).
Nick’s Pick:        Toledo 38 – BGSU 23
Comment:        The Rockets are to avenge the beatings that the Falcons have put on them over the past few seasons.

For the rest of the MAC and Player Notes, Read the rest of this entry →

Ohio (7-3, 5-1 MAC) at Temple (8-2, 5-1 MAC)

Tuesday, November 16, 2010 • 8:00 pm ET • Philadelphia, Pa. • Lincoln Financial Field (68,532) ESPN2
Series: Ohio leads 2-1

Ohio plays the final two games on the road (at Temple, at Kent State)…Bobcats are 5-1 in Athens and 2-2 on the road…Ohio ranks tied for 15th in the nation in red zone offense (89.0%), but QB Phil Bates will replace concussed starter Boo Jackson…DB Julian Posey ranks tied for 18th in the country with 11 passes defended…Bobcats rank 16th in the nation in rush defense (115.9 ypg).

Temple hosts Ohio and then travel to Miami to finish the regular season…DT Muhammad Wilkerson ranks tied for 14th in the nation with 8.5 sacks…Owls rank tied for tenth in the nation in scoring defense (17.5 ppg), 18th in total defense (312.2 ypg), tied for 20th in red zone defense (74.0%) and 21st in rush defense (121.7 ypg).

Nick’s Pick:        Temple 27 – Ohio 17

Comment:        Easily the best MAC game of the week with divisional title and bowl bid on the line.  Look for the Owls to avenge last years thumping in Athens.

Toledo (6-3, 5-0 MAC) at Northern Illinois (7-2, 5-0 MAC)

Rocket Man, burning things we'll never know rooting for Toledo to take the MAC West lead (Icon SMI)

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 • 7:00 pm ET • DeKalb, Ill. • Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium (24,000); ESPN2
Series: Toledo leads 29-8

Toledo WR Eric Page ranks tied for eighth in the nation with 7.33 receptions per game and 21st with 86.22 receiving yards per game…Linebackers Archie Donald ranks 22nd in the nation in total tackles (88) and Dan Molls ranks 23rd (87)…Lead the MAC with a +9 turnover differential…Rockets rank 22nd in the nation in rush defense (116.3 ypg).  Northern Illinois ranks 11th in the nation in rushing offense (243.33 ypg) and RB Chad Spann ranks 12th in the country in rushing (111.1 ypg)…Huskies rank sixth in the nation in third down percentage on offense (51.64%), eighth in time of possession (32:52) and tied for 16th in scoring defense (18.67 ppg).

Nick’s Pick:        NIU 27 – Toledo 23
Comment:        The Rockets have been a pain in NIU’s side winning 14 of the last 16 contests between these two divisional rivals.  As Toledo’s defense has vastly improved from last year and they are playing better on the road than at home, give the nod to the Huskies but don’t be surprised if UT makes it 15 of the last 17. Read the rest of this entry →

Get ready for lots of weekday MAC games for the rest of the season!

• Northern Illinois and Toledo battle for the West Division lead on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 7 pm ET on ESPN2. Both the Huskies and Rockets are tied for first place in the West with 5-0 conference records.
• Ohio and Temple remain tied for first place in the East Division with 5-1 records. Ohio defeated Buffalo, 34-17, to improve to 7-3 overall, 5-1 in the MAC, while Temple defeated Kent State, 28-10, and improved to 8-2 on the year, 5-1 in the MAC.
• Four more games are on national television this week. Toledo at Northern Illinois on Tue., Nov. 9 at 7 pm (EPSN2); Miami at Bowling Green on Wed., Nov. 10 at 8 pm (ESPN2); Ball State at Buffalo on Fri., Nov. 12 at 6 pm (ESPNU); and Central Michigan at Navy on Sat., Nov. 13 at 3:30 pm (CBS College Sports). Read the rest of this entry →