CSNbbs

Well, just for fun, I like to see how close I can come to the truth. Here is my prediction of how things will develop this week:

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Liberty @ Akron

Ache-ron has been putting up the points this year...versus EMU. Liberty has the potential to make things difficult for the Zeros, but not this week. Akron gets its first win...Frye passes for 325 or better...

'Roos 38
Liberty 24 <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> __________________________________________________

Buffalo @ Marshall

Buffalo comes into town after a relatively promising performance against WMU. However, this game IS in Huntington. Buffalo stays close for a quarter, then MU puts on the air show after establishing the run. Marshall pulls away in the second. Byron throws for 400+.

HERD 45
Da Bulls 17 <img border="0" alt="[snore]" title="" src="graemlins/snore.gif" /> __________________________________________________

UCF @ WMU

This will be the MAC Game of the Week. UCF has had a week off to prepare for the Broncos. Both teams match up evenly overall, but give the edge to Western. UCF is still adjusting to conference play. WMU shuts down UCF's running game, and Schneider passes for 275+. Drach and Munson combine for the same. UCF will still be searching for a conference win, and it doesn't get easier for the Knights. The running game and the linebacking corp get it done for the Broncos in a nail-biter.

Western 28
UCF 27 <img border="0" alt="[crying]" title="" src="graemlins/crying.gif" /> <-------Khruschev __________________________________________________

NIU @ Miami

NIU is coming off a win vs. divisional foe Ball St. NIU has resembled a roller-coaster this year. Which team will show up? The one that nearly beat Wisconsin, or the one that lost to a 1-aa school? I'm going to say that a team somewhere in the middle will be there to take on the Redhawks. NIU keeps it close, but the Redhawks prevail as Big Ben throws 3 TD's.

Miami 31
NIU 17 <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="cool.gif" />
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EMU @ Ohio

The Battle of the Offenses...Can you REALLY play football without a defense? Well, we will soon find out. This has the potential to set all kinds of Knorring, er, scoring records, but won't since Knorr hasn't yet realized that the forward pass has been legalized for some time now. However, Ohio does have the "home field". Coin-flip says:

Bobpusses 35
BEagles 31 <img border="0" alt="[Puke]" title="" src="graemlins/puke.gif" />
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Ball State @ Toledo

Ball State is reeling after a loss to NIU last week. UT is coming off a bye week and is healed and rested. UT also wants to avenge last year's loss to Scrotum U. UT wins big:

UT 45
Ball St. 21 <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />
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Bowling Green @ Central Michigan

This game has the potential to be an "Upset Special" baby! CMU has put together a pretty good team this year, and BGSU has yet to be tested. This could happen in Mt. Pleasant. However, BGSU is just too much for the CHiPs.
The game should be closer than the score indicates:

Falcons 42
Chips 24 <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" />
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Obviously, I'm just an armchair analyst, but it's fun anyhow.
<img border="0" alt="[Cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/cheers.gif" />

The UT/Nutsack U game just got more interesting. Apparently, Talmadge Hill has been benched and a new QB will be getting the start this Saturday.

UCF does not have a good running game, but WMU's running game is worse still than UCF. I don't think either team will be able to run.

This game will be great and come down to turnovers and special teams. And as much as I'd like to believe UCF will win, our special teams have been especially bad this year.

'Tis true, WMU-UCF will be a matchup of good passing teams and bottom-dwelling rushing teams.

RUSHING RANKING:

UCF #107
WMU #113

PASSING RANKING:

UCF #12
WMU #16

WMU's Rushing totals over past 5 weeks:

Indiana State: 155
Michigan: 76
Purdue: 84
Va Tech: 35
Buffalo: 125

If WMU's offense plays Saturday like it did last week, UCF will win the game. We turned the ball over 5 times, and all of Buffalo's 17 points were a result of drives set up by the turnovers. What saved the day was our defense and special teams, which included a blocked punt, a punt return for a TD, and forcing three fumbles. If our offense holds onto the ball and capitalizes on opportunites in the redzone, then I'd say the Broncos win the game.

Unfortunately, the weather will be UCF-friendly, as the Weather Channel is predicting partly sunny skies with a high of 72. Although I remember living in Orlando for two years, and some of the natives would get the parkas out whenever the temperature dipped below 80. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> It's too bad the game wasn't played on Sunday, as they are predicting showers and a high of 58.

I think Akron wins their first game and EMU wins again.

I like the Hurons to beat up on the kitties. Something is seriously wrong at Ohio.

WMU rushing numbers may be skewed a bit, as running the ball vs the likes of VT, Mich and Purdue is not the same as rushing against MAC schools.

This week seems pretty easy to pick, with the exception of the NIU/Miami game (depending on which NIU team shows up), and maybe the BG/CMU game. Of course I'm hoping for a Miami win so they come in to H'ton with no conf. losses.

I think the Cent. Florida/W. Michigan game is the most interesting because of the difficulty in gauging each team at this point in the season.
Tough to get a handle on the Knights--first games of the season are not always indicative of anything, but they played Joe P tough. Ugly in the desert then neither team seemed to play really well in H-ton. Liberty tells us nothing. Who are they?
The Broncs have played a very tough sched OOC which makes their stats not very applicable to conf. play. I think they will run the ball much better than their avg. would indicate.
Very hard to tell how good these two teams are--probably better than their records would indicate. This should be a good barometer game for the rest the league to see what these teams bring to the MAC table this year--and a bad game for either to lose, too. Really hurts either chances of moving on. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="cool.gif" />

<small>[ October 09, 2002, 11:02 AM: Message edited by: axeme ]</small>

Oddball,
I don't think a change in QB is going to make a difference. Toledo is rested and I see them coming out firing this week.

I'm with you Carolina...I too hope Miami wins this game so they come to Huntington undefeated in the MAC.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Herd Fan 4-Life:
Oddball,
I don't think a change in QB is going to make a difference. Toledo is rested and I see them coming out firing this week.

I'm with you Carolina...I too hope Miami wins this game so they come to Huntington undefeated in the MAC.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I don't know. It could be uglier, Hill can be impressive at times...or he might be able to better exploit our defensive weaknesses. But, you could very well be right. Regardless, after a bye week, I'm ready for a game.

I have a guarantee this weekend:

KSU WILL NOT LOSE! <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" />