Nick's Picks took it on the chin this weekend posting a paltry 3-4 record and falling 52-18 on the year. Some of the picks I understand...Western beating OU did not surprise me nor did BG beating Akron. What did surprise me is how badly they those teams. Western has clearly played a tougher non-conference schedule than the Bobcats but the beat down they put on OU in Athlens was very impressive. So was Falcons thumping of Akron, I did not see that coming.

As for UMass, they are the most disappointing MAC team to me this season as I expected so much more from them as long as their QB stayed helathy. Well, he is playing and they are losing...did not see a Kent State road win at all this weekend.

Last, and certainly least is Ball State's pathetic performance at home to a Georgia State that has all ready lost to I-AA Liberty and has been spanked in most of their games this season. A terrible loss for a program and a coach whom I have so much respect for and a real downer to the entire MAC.

After that rant...on with losses below


Nick's Pick: Toledo 45 - EMU 17
Actual: Toledo 63 - EMU 20
Initial Comment: Just when you count Eastern out they usually come back and play a terrific game in a contest you'd think would be a blow out. While Toledo has dominated the series (leads 31-11) EMU has had their moments in the past decade of putting a scare into UT when the Rockets were heavily favored. Toledo will win but there may be more of a struggle here than what Kent State put up last week for no other reason than EMU has a better offense than Kent.
Final thought: Toledo is pretty good...

Nick's Pick: Ohio 26 - Western 21
Actual: Western 49 - OU 14
Initial Comment: Western proved me wrong last week Bronco fans so you probably like this pick. OU is quickly proving to the be class of the MAC East and setting up for a very special season. OU has not won the MAC since 1968 and this year, should they stay healthy, may just be there best chance in nearly 50-seasons.
Final thought: This is the Western team that most of us thought we'd see this year...row that damn boat already

Nick's Pick: Central 34 - Buffalo 23
Actual: Central 51 - Buffalo 14
Initial comment: A bounce back game for the Chips at home while UB is coming off of a bye. UB put up 500-yards of offense against Bowling Green two weeks ago and ran 96 plays in the process. That won't happen against this CMU team who may look to running the ball more this weekend after their season-high rushing effort last week in Kalamazoo.
Final thought: Cooper Rush is a special player

Nick's Pick: NIU 45 - Miami 21
Actual: NIU 45 - Miami 12
Initial Comment: Freshman QB Billy Bahl began his baptism by fire last week at Ohio and should be more comfortable this week after seeing what DI-A football is all about. NIU has some work to do in order to build up a quality resume to receive one of the MACs better bowl bids later this year. NIU's offense may now be finding a grove.
Final thought: Nailed it almost exactly

Nick's Pick: Akron 38 - BGSU 34
Actual: BG 59 - Akron 10
Initial comment: A slight upset here as Akron has found their QB in Thomas Woodson. Look for the Zips to run...run...run and then run the ball more to keep BG's potent offense off the field. The Zips played very well and very physical at UL-Lafayette a few weeks ago and will bring that same type of game plan to the Doyt. Why isn't BG QB Matt Johnson receiving any sort of Heisman press? I know the MAC doesn't have much of a national following and many in the MAC News Media are pathetic at best with their local coverage...but this guy is putting up video game #s right now and someone should be taking notice.
Final thought: About as a wrong as a guy could be...I must of have been in Colorado smoking something really special to dream up what I had here

Nick's Pick: Ball State 42 - Georgia State 14
Actual: G-State 31 - Ball St 19
Initial comment: This is the type of game the Cardinals needed after playing Texas A&M, Toledo and NIU to date. G-State is not a good team and if the Cards win by anything less than three TDs it should be considered a bad game for them.
Final thought: I blame Ball State for my loss; my pick was right; they were just soooooo wrong

Nick's Pick: UMass 37 - Kent State 17
Actual: Kent St 15 - UMass 10
Final comment: The Kent State defense played extremely well and produced a safety

LOL

(10-18-2015 06:38 PM)Nick in Cleveland Wrote:  Nick's Picks took it on the chin this weekend posting a paltry 3-4 record and falling 52-18 on the year. Some of the picks I understand...Western beating OU did not surprise me nor did BG beating Akron. What did surprise me is how badly they those teams. Western has clearly played a tougher non-conference schedule than the Bobcats but the beat down they put on OU in Athlens was very impressive. So was Falcons thumping of Akron, I did not see that coming.

As for UMass, they are the most disappointing MAC team to me this season as I expected so much more from them as long as their QB stayed helathy. Well, he is playing and they are losing...did not see a Kent State road win at all this weekend.

Last, and certainly least is Ball State's pathetic performance at home to a Georgia State that has all ready lost to I-AA Liberty and has been spanked in most of their games this season. A terrible loss for a program and a coach whom I have so much respect for and a real downer to the entire MAC.

After that rant...on with losses below


Nick's Pick: Toledo 45 - EMU 17
Actual: Toledo 63 - EMU 20
Initial Comment: Just when you count Eastern out they usually come back and play a terrific game in a contest you'd think would be a blow out. While Toledo has dominated the series (leads 31-11) EMU has had their moments in the past decade of putting a scare into UT when the Rockets were heavily favored. Toledo will win but there may be more of a struggle here than what Kent State put up last week for no other reason than EMU has a better offense than Kent.
Final thought: Toledo is pretty good...

Nick's Pick: Ohio 26 - Western 21
Actual: Western 49 - OU 14
Initial Comment: Western proved me wrong last week Bronco fans so you probably like this pick. OU is quickly proving to the be class of the MAC East and setting up for a very special season. OU has not won the MAC since 1968 and this year, should they stay healthy, may just be there best chance in nearly 50-seasons.
Final thought: This is the Western team that most of us thought we'd see this year...row that damn boat already

Nick's Pick: Central 34 - Buffalo 23
Actual: Central 51 - Buffalo 14
Initial comment: A bounce back game for the Chips at home while UB is coming off of a bye. UB put up 500-yards of offense against Bowling Green two weeks ago and ran 96 plays in the process. That won't happen against this CMU team who may look to running the ball more this weekend after their season-high rushing effort last week in Kalamazoo.
Final thought: Cooper Rush is a special player

Nick's Pick: NIU 45 - Miami 21
Actual: NIU 45 - Miami 12
Initial Comment: Freshman QB Billy Bahl began his baptism by fire last week at Ohio and should be more comfortable this week after seeing what DI-A football is all about. NIU has some work to do in order to build up a quality resume to receive one of the MACs better bowl bids later this year. NIU's offense may now be finding a grove.
Final thought: Nailed it almost exactly

Nick's Pick: Akron 38 - BGSU 34
Actual: BG 59 - Akron 10
Initial comment: A slight upset here as Akron has found their QB in Thomas Woodson. Look for the Zips to run...run...run and then run the ball more to keep BG's potent offense off the field. The Zips played very well and very physical at UL-Lafayette a few weeks ago and will bring that same type of game plan to the Doyt. Why isn't BG QB Matt Johnson receiving any sort of Heisman press? I know the MAC doesn't have much of a national following and many in the MAC News Media are pathetic at best with their local coverage...but this guy is putting up video game #s right now and someone should be taking notice.
Final thought: About as a wrong as a guy could be...I must of have been in Colorado smoking something really special to dream up what I had here

Nick's Pick: Ball State 42 - Georgia State 14
Actual: G-State 31 - Ball St 19
Initial comment: This is the type of game the Cardinals needed after playing Texas A&M, Toledo and NIU to date. G-State is not a good team and if the Cards win by anything less than three TDs it should be considered a bad game for them.
Final thought: I blame Ball State for my loss; my pick was right; they were just soooooo wrong

Nick's Pick: UMass 37 - Kent State 17
Actual: Kent St 15 - UMass 10
Final comment: The Kent State defense played extremely well and produced a safety

Kent's a different team with Bollas starting.James and Bollas gives them a real chance to convert on 3rd down. Their Offense should only get better(notice to:BGSU, Buffalo, Ohio, CMU, and Akron).

If the offense does get better it will help the defense. That defense has played very well but eventually you get tired if the offense cannot stay on the field and it is demoralizing if you rarely back you up with scoring.