Ok, I did a little research and found the MAC plays 10 games against the B 10 in '03.
Here is the list....
Akron @ Wisconsin
BGSU @ Purdue, @ Ohio State
Buffalo @ Iowa
CMU @ Michigan
Kent @ Penn State
Miami @ Northwestern, @ Iowa
WMU @ Michigan St.
And the only MAC home game....Minnesota @ Ohio U.
Games I like the MAC teams winning are only a few...Miami over NW, WMU over Mich St & BGSU beating Purdue.
Games I think the MAC could score an upset...Miami over Iowa, Ohio U beating Minnesota, Akron surprising Wisky and BGSU over Ohio St (doesn't mean they will happen but hey, I gotta believe!!!!)
Games the MAC really has little chance...Buffalo @ Iowa, CMU @ Mich, Kent @PSU.
If all the planets line up just right, the MAC could post 4, 5 or dare I say 6 wins???
Of course with the solid B 10 officiating, well.......
Enough of this B 10 crap....GO MAC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
52 days, 20 hours and 33 min til kickoff!! GO BG!!
10 games...wow....
I think 4 (possibly 5) wins out of those 10 games wouldn't be out of the question.
Most of those should be pretty good showings, too - even if it IS a loss.
I think Miami can stick it to Iowa if they don't turn the ball over.
Fred Russell will be a load once again though for Iowa.
AkronObsessed Wrote:Fred Russell will be a load once again though for Iowa.
I have to agree with this one, although I think it's more about Iowa's offensive line. Iowa lost all but one starter off the offensive line, and they obviously lost a great QB. Still, their line will be big and strong, no doubt.
Iowa's offensive line was pushing us around last year early in the game. It seemed as if they could have just run the ball down our throats all day. Then, inexplicably, they started rolling Banks out and passing.
Our defensive line is not huge (especially in the two-deep at DE), so I think it will be really interesting to see how their new offensive line does against our defensive line of Burt (300 lb.), Rueff (276 lb.) or Glavin (269 lb.) at the tackles and Smith, Barz, and Rich (251 lb. - 264 lb.). After these guys, though, we get a little smallish.
I really think Miami will beat Iowa this year. I don't think Iowa will be near as good as they were last season and I expect Miami to be just as good if not better. Despite playing at Iowa this season, Miami does have a major boost going into that game.......after last season's game the Red Hawks know they can beat Iowa. That is a huge mental factor that IMO, will help Miami win the game.
CMU @ Michigan
Agree we have just a slight chance here. Our best known strength, our running game, will be countered by a pretty solid front seven. CMU's best advantages will be unknowns: a new DC and secondary coach mean changes in the defensive attack plan, and a likely new starter at QB is one more thing for Lloyd Carr to think about. In addition, DeBord is more than a little familiar with the schemes run in Ann Arbor.
Having said that, I would do the following:
1) Blitz the not-so-mobile John Navarre to help our suspect (or question mark, anyway) secondary. Michigan's running game was above-average but not a killer last season, so I'd just as soon play to defend the pass. Run-defense was our best suit, anyway.
2) Air it out early. Even a couple connections in the 10-20 yard department could force Michigan to play us honestly, assuming they follow the lead of most MAC teams and stack the line against us. With a new QB in the fold and the return of some speedy receivers (absent last season) to health, this would amount to darn near a surprise attack. :jet:
3) Be aggressive. No one expects us to win, so why not throw caution to the wind? Run a few gadget plays and go for those kick-blocks. :saber: If we start strong and are able to catch the Wolverines napping, we may just make a game of it. I don't normally like moral victories, but if Lloyd Carr is still in full coaching mode at halftime, I'll be fairly pleased. :bluethumb:
CMichFan Wrote:3) Be aggressive. No one expects us to win, so why not throw caution to the wind? Run a few gadget plays and go for those kick-blocks.
You had a special teams player last year (I believe his name was King) that was a terror when it came to blocking kicks. What is his name? Is he back again this year?
At first glance, it doesn't look good for the MAC.
Here is how I see it for the MAC:
Akron @ Wisconsin
close loss Wisc wins 33-21
BGSU @ Purdue, @ Ohio State
Splits these games, wins over Purdue (35-28) and a close loss to OSU (27-17)
Buffalo @ Iowa
UB gets drilled at Iowa 56-10
CMU @ Michigan
Respecatble loss by CMU and DeBord plays former mentor = 41-20
Kent @ Penn State
PSU still smarting over loss to Toledo. KSU pays for that 58-13
Miami @ Northwestern, @ Iowa
Miami splits these games, 38-27 win over NU 35-31 loss to Iowa.
WMU @ Michigan St.
Broncos have a mild upset, beating MSU 27-23
MAC home game
Minnesota @ Ohio U.
OU has a huge surprise, making Minnesota to hate road trips to MAC stadiums = 30-28
MAC goes at least 2-8, my guess = 4-6.
Vandelay Wrote:Here is how I see it for the MAC:
Akron @ Wisconsin
close loss Wisc wins 33-21
BGSU @ Purdue, @ Ohio State
Splits these games, wins over Purdue (35-28) and a close loss to OSU (27-17)
Buffalo @ Iowa
UB gets drilled at Iowa 56-10
CMU @ Michigan
Respecatble loss by CMU and DeBord plays former mentor = 41-20
Kent @ Penn State
PSU still smarting over loss to Toledo. KSU pays for that 58-13
Miami @ Northwestern, @ Iowa
Miami splits these games, 38-27 win over NU 35-31 loss to Iowa.
WMU @ Michigan St.
Broncos have a mild upset, beating MSU 27-23
MAC home game
Minnesota @ Ohio U.
OU has a huge surprise, making Minnesota to hate road trips to MAC stadiums = 30-28
MAC goes at least 2-8, my guess = 4-6.
I'd take those results any day, Nick. I think the MAC will win at least 4 games....
BTW, can ya switch the Purdue and Ohio State scores?
I'd much rather have a win over OSU but know we'll have a bit better chance vs Purdue.
51 days, 3 hours and 6 min til kickoff!!!!
Herd Fan 4-Life Wrote:CMichFan Wrote:3) Be aggressive. No one expects us to win, so why not throw caution to the wind? Run a few gadget plays and go for those kick-blocks.
You had a special teams player last year (I believe his name was King) that was a terror when it came to blocking kicks. What is his name? Is he back again this year?
HF4L,
James King had EIGHT blocks in 2001 and added 2 more last yr! :eek:
He is back this yr....so beware, MAC teams!
One of those 8 blocks in 2001 was against Toledo.
Isn't he just a junior this fall?
rocketfootball Wrote:One of those 8 blocks in 2001 was against Toledo.
Isn't he just a junior this fall?
yeah I remember that game, Chester had something like five touchdowns
he tied the record at smelly shorts stadium
yep...2001 he was a freshman. I think he had something like 4 or 6 blocks already coming into the Toledo game, including 2 against Michigan State (or am I remembering wrong?)
I think he had 3 or 4 against MSU because it was a NCAA record.
Thank you Falconfreak90, I appreciate it!
James King
FalconFreak is correct! King:
--tied an NCAA record with four blocked punts at Michigan State in 2001, two of which were returned for TDs.
As a side note, I hear MSU's punter was nearly catatonic on the bench late in the game. :blueeek:
--set CMU and MAC (I believe?) records with eight total blocked kicks (seven punts and an XP) that season as a redshirt freshman.
--King was credited with two kick blocks last year, and a double-team of King helped former Brighton (MI) player Jimmy Reese get a blocked punt last season.
King has bulked up to 215 pounds and will be roaming CMU's secondary as the starting SS this season. He had four interceptions and two pass break-ups as the starting FS last season.
And...he's only a junior. :D
I think 5 games would be a good showing. If something happens like Miami over Iowa, then it could get the ball rolling to more.
Personally, I think Miami could win on any given day, but it will be real tough as first game of year on their field. If our defense could even play avg, then it should be a great game. I'm just not sure they'll be ready. If Iowa pushes us around on the run like last year, it could be very depressing.