Nick’s Picks takes a 54-13 year-to-date record into Oct 19’s game; according to the MAC website all seven games are on TV this weekend. Do you remember in the late 1990s where we were lucky to have a dozen MAC games on TV for the entire season, and that included local TV and bowl games? Certainly the MAC has come a long way under the past two commissioners and I for one am happy about that result. Below are my picks this week…as always, read and comment, it’s a good break in the day.

This Week’s Game:
1. Navy at Toledo 12:00 PM ESPNews
2. Akron at Miami (Ohio) 1:00 PM ESPN3
3. Ohio at Eastern Michigan 1:00 PM ESPN3
4. Ball State at Western Michigan 2:00 PM ESPN3
5. Kent State at South Alabama 3:00 PM ESPN3
6. Northern Illinois at Central Michigan 3:00 PM ESPN3
7. UMass at Buffalo 3:30 PM Time Warner Cable SportsChannel/ESPN3


Toledo 34 – Navy 30
The Rockets have had two weeks to get healthy for this game and to prepare for their option offense, should be a very entertaining and close game

Akron 28 – Miami 20
The Zips play to the level of their competition and I am a little “iffy” on this pick; the RedHawks may actually show a pulse here at home under interim coach Mike Bath; picking the Zips is never easy

Ohio 42 – Eastern 20
The Bobcats still control their own destiny to win the MAC East and should have no problem against the Eagles who look to have packed it in once again

Ball St 44 – Western 17
The Broncos are a mess right now and the Cards are having a splendid season, they will not have a misstep here

Kent St 23 – South Alabama 21
I cringe at this game since KSU should win by an easy margin but after playing Ball State so well they will likely lay an egg and either win or lose a heartbreaker – I’ll go with the win

NIU 38 – Central 30
Give a shout out to the Chips for playing well again when many (including myself) had written them off; this will not be an easy game for the Huskies as they are now a marked team once again due to their national ranking and their recent league dominance

Buffalo 27 – UMass 16
Don’ look now but the Bulls are on their way to becoming bowl-eligible really soon

Akron's combined opponents this season are 32-10 if I'm not mistaken. Either they blow us out now that they're playing a bad team, or they lay an egg and we eke out a victory. With a full week of practice available, hopefully Bath can create some magic so that we can win this one. Otherwise, I'm looking at our schedule and seeing 0-12.

Akron is improving, they just can't get over that hump where they turn their competitiveness into wins.

I'm excited about the opportunity of picking up a couple of extra non-conference wins this week to help NIU or Ball State in their quest to bust the BCS.

The MAC could definitely use it, IMO.

You've gone against CMU the last 2 weeks....and we've won! Keep up the good work

CMU probably wins Saturday, they always have the Huskies' number in Mt Pleasant

(10-16-2013 03:29 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  I'm excited about the opportunity of picking up a couple of extra non-conference wins this week to help NIU or Ball State in their quest to bust the BCS.

The MAC could definitely use it, IMO.

I don't think you can (or should) lose to North Texas and bust the BCS.

(10-17-2013 12:32 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  CMU probably wins Saturday, they always have the Huskies' number in Mt Pleasant

I really wouldn't worry about it, CMU can self-destruct in a finger-snap.

(10-16-2013 02:38 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote:  NIU 38 – Central 30
Give a shout out to the Chips for playing well again when many (including myself) had written them off; this will not be an easy game for the Huskies as they are now a marked team once again due to their national ranking and their recent league dominance

We will not be that close. I think we're getting better - but not that much better. I'm looking for us to come out uninjured. We can get bowl eligible - but I think the other three wins come in our last three games. This one'll hurt.

Nick’s Picks went 6-1 taking his year to date record to 60-14. As I stated in my prediction for the Kent State/South Alabama game, “I cringe at this game since KSU should win by an easy margin but after playing Ball State so well they will likely lay an egg.”

My “cringe” came true as this was my only loser of the weekend although Toledo did everything they could to lose the game as they had a 10-point lead midway through the 4th period. Some very questionable coaching decisions nearly cost the Rockets the game. Below are the results and like most weeks several scores were spot on.


Nick’s Pick: Toledo 34 – Navy 30
Actual: Toledo 45 – Navy 44 (2OT)
Slow start, big finish, and now “rivalry week” with BG.

Nick’s Pick: Akron 28 – Miami 20
Actual: Akron 24 – Miami 17
Went as predicted

Nick’s Pick: Ohio 42 – Eastern 20
Actual: Ohio 56 – Eastern 28
Went as predicted

Nick’s Pick: Ball St 44 – Western 17
Actual: Ball St 38 – Western 17
Went as predicted

Nick’s Pick: Kent St 23 – South Alabama 21
Actual: South Alabama 38 – Kent St 21
Yuk – see above

Nick’s Pick: NIU 38 – Central 30
Actual: NIU 38 – Central 17
Northern pulled away in the 2nd half

Nick’s Pick: Buffalo 27 – UMass 16
Actual: Buffalo 32 – UMass 3
I continue to state that Buffalo is the team that will seriously challenge BG for the MAC East title…not Ohio

(10-20-2013 06:57 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote:  I continue to state that Buffalo is the team that will seriously challenge BG for the MAC East title…not Ohio

I think both will. There's parity in the MAC-E.