Conference football kicks off in full force Saturday in the Mid-American Conference, with five games that count toward the MAC Daddy November 30. Several games are on the slate that should come down to the final possession. Let’s flip the coin and tee up the ball, it’s time for full-on conference play!!! All games are on ESPN3.
My game of the week this week has Akron (1-3 1-1) hosting Miami (2-2 1-0). Akron entered the week as 6.5 point dogs, and go into the game with only 2 points. BowdenBall took FIU and Tennessee to the brink, beating the spread by 35 points. They also ran up 66 points on Morgan State, keeping the squad that scored 35 on Buffalo from the end zone. Miami comes into the game at 2-2, losing to Ohio State and Boise State, and beating Southern Illinois and UMass in their conference opener. Miami was picked for second in the East, but is far behind the likes of the top four in the MAC (Miami, NIU, Toledo, WMich) and possibly Ball State. They took on top 25 schools, but also escaped FCS convert UMass last week. They haven’t impressed me so far.
I’m calling the Game of the Week and the Upset of the Week right here in Akron, Ohio.
Another barn burner has Ball State (3-1 01-0) travelling to Kent State (2-1 1-0). Ball State has been the surprise of the MAC, beating Eastern Michigan, Indiana, and South Florida. Their one loss was to 12th ranked Clemson. Kent State comes in 2-1 beating Towson and Buffalo, losing to Kentucky. They have been sloppy, as anyone who watches SportCenter knows. I look for Cardinals RB Jawan Edwards to be the difference in this game, as Ball State gets a close win.
In a battle of the elite, Toledo (3-1 1-0) travels to Western Michigan (2-2 2-0). Toledo comes in with wins against Wyoming and Bowling Green . Their loss came at Arizona. They take on a Western Michigan squad that has wins over Eastern Michigan and UConn. They lost to Big Ten Illinois and Minnesota. Rocket Terrance Owens and Bronco Alex Carder lead aerial attacks that are among the tops in college football in what should be a close, high scoring MAC shootout. This game will help set the stage for the West Division. I’m taking the Broncos at home.
Central Michigan (2-1 1-0) visits Northern Illinois (3-1) in the West Division matchup. The Chippewas are another pleasant surprise, beating Iowa (who beat NIU). Their one loss was to Michigan State. But I still don’t think they’re ready to take on Northern Illinois in their house. Powered by QB Jordan Lynch (who’s also their leading rusher), the Huskies are still too powerful for CMU’s D. NIU wins at home.
Ohio’s friendly schedule takes them to Gillette Stadium this week to play UMass. This is the MAC’s version of David and Goliath, and David doesn’t have a slingshot. Welcome to the MAC, Minutemen.
Buffalo (1-2) heads to UConn after an embarrassing game against Kent State on national TV. UConn comes in at 2-2 after mopping up UMass and edging Maryland. The Huskies also gave Western Michigan all they could handle last week. QB Chandler Whitmer will have some fun on home turf this week. If you have the Big East Network, you can watch this massacre on your TV as well as on ESPN3.
And then there’s Bowling Green (1-3) hosting Rhode Island (FCS). The Falcons have had a rough couple of weeks, losing in Toledo and then getting blanked by VaTech. It’s not the start anybody expected, but the season is still young, maybe they can turn it around. And a home game against a 0-3 FCS school could be just the thing to set them straight. BGSU wins big.