RE: 2026 Week 8 Prediction Thread
Alright, bold=game winner; underline=winner of the spread
UMass vs UConn -14.5
*If UMass's starting QB plays, and has his injured ways about him fine now + one of their decent receivers, this could go UMass's way. It's not like UConn is a power conference team or a shown fit team to be in the top G5 conferences by talent -- but if UMass did bounce back some for Friday's game, they could make this close, and definitely beat the spread. But it is in UConn tho, so the game obviously err's on the side of UConn.
UMass 17, UConn 28
Western Michigan vs Toledo -3
*WMU been up and down this year in their offensive performance lately; on great octane against KSU, and up-and-down within game against their FCS opponent (but still good high stats) and @CMU -- and sub-par during said game against Boise St and @Buffalo. But their D is good thru most games (although their prevent-defense may not be the best every time; but can also be good). They'll need that VS @Toledo. Toledo's More up-and-down than WMU within game and potentially between games -- as they operated like a different team vs Buffalo at home, as this High powered offense struggled to score their only points in the later minutes of the 4th Q. They had one Horrible half against @MSU to kick the season off, then turned it up soundly 2nd half to take a 1 pt lead in 4th Q but gave up a TD, missed a FG, then gave up a FG. However, this is one of the Few BIG games of the MAC, so you have to count on Toledo being sound and on-target, functionally. Toledo won't score as many points as they can (ignoring FCS & OT - 20, 42, 41, 39, 8, 34) -- as WMU has a good D and will having Toledo's talents being read well. Look for WMU to have some moments within the game making it tied or slight lead, but Toledo ends up running with it.
Western Michigan 21, Toledo 28
Akron vs Kent State -3
*Kent State's been a bit depressed, having their D open up to WMU's O which at the time wasn't seen as a big offense despite talent on their team, and gave up over 30 points. Then KSU's offense scored nothing against @South Florida -- but now they smell win-meat in Akron on the road to their place. Their last home game was Close against Ohio (but granted, Ohio was kinda banged up/adjusting, but still, it's Ohio). And at home they solidly beat BSU by 13, being their only FBS home opponents. Akron has 5 straight losses + their only win was a [solid] win against mundane/typical FCS opponent. They "only" lost by 20 against @Miami, and played EMU at home very close, down to 2 points. But they got destroyed by @CMU 41-17, and also whipped just as big by UNLV at home. Now they're on the road, and see this as winnable, but not by much. Maybe if it was at home for them, it'd be more doable worth saying something about.
Akron 17, Kent State 24
Miami vs Central Michigan -3
*CMU's game can be good sometimes, but don't take their rivalry game at home against WMU as signs of how strong they can rebound, to that extent and be. Miami has their injury issues, so this Should be a close game. Miami seems to have scored Little since the 2nd half of the game against @Cinci -- but last week showed some Offensive prowess by scoring 34 against Akron at home. But, it was Akron & it was at home. But a good direction sign. They'll need it against CMU who wants to make up for their game vs WMU at home last week. CMU's running game is great, but that's about it. Although they have more talent on O than what scoreboards will say, it's them operating on that front that they're newly putting things together on. Look for Miami to be down and up in the game score, but having a consistently small arm against CMU.
Miami 24, Central Michigan 20
Sacramento State vs Ball State -14.5
*Sac State, jumping into FBS wildly with lots of $$ before being an established rank team in FCS in which it's normally done (sans a conference like CUSA panicking due to a ton of teams leaving swiftly) -- joined the MAC and the MAC has beaten them very well. Granted, their first game @EMU put the fighting Emoos on their heels a bit, but that wasn't how things showed the rest of the way, sans Sac State's FCS opponent who was an easy team within the FCS. Ball State surprised people by going to OT, and also winning said game @BGSU by unnecessarily going for 2 to win it. BSU has an offense, albeit sub-par in the G5, but it can be there. This is only their 2nd game at home vs FBS, and the 1st was against Toledo, with BSU scoring 24 and only losing by 2 TDs. However, Sac State getting adjusted to this will say they're here, they're not queer, and they can play in the midwest. Ball State will respond by saying 'Good, because you know our nickname.'
Sacramento State 17, Ball State 28
Bowling Green vs Buffalo -3
*BGSU started off horribly with losing to an FCS team, Tarleton who was seen as a tough FCS and all, but at home -- then after getting harshly taken advantage of by @Nebraska and @Iowa State, they had a Close game at home, losing 14-6 to South Florida who some picked as top G5, and then upsetting @Miami, solidly whipping Sac State, and then Tarleton being total #1 in FCS. However, they lost in OT at home against Ball State, which was surprising. With their tail between their legs at 2-5, they go to Buffalo who Almost beat WMU. Buffalo struggled to beat an FCS team who's decent/competitive as a team in FCS, to open their season up. They then got wailed by @FIU, then put up No fight against @Penn State. They then barely beat a not-so-tough (nor super easy) FCS team at home again, then lost to WMU going for it inside the 5 on 4 downs to end the game. They then shocked @Toledo, then solidly but not impressively beat UMass at home by a TD. This game could go either way. No shocker if BGSU wins this. They may. But I'm going with Buffalo, being at home, and BGSU still over losing to Ball State by going for 2 in OT.
Bowling Green 21, Buffalo 24
Eastern Michigan vs Ohio -11.5
*The fighting Emoos lost to Toledo wanting to make a statement after their very surprising loss to Buffalo at home the week before. They were strongly Stomped 1st half but then made it unembarassing losing by only 20 due to making their 2nd half better. Now EMU goes on the road to Ohio, who's arguably the Best team in the MAC. Ohio got key injuries early on in their 1st game, pushing Nebraska for much of it, even with a lead in the 1st half and a close one ending 1st half. But with injuries they beat Jax State and lost @South Alabama, both close games... including their game after, barely beating @Kent State at the height of their injuries, 13-10. But then, game on. They whipped CMU at home 31-14, then whipped Sac State 48-7. Ohio may not be as strong as one may think, and may be challenged by EMU pretty well -- but my default assumption is that Ohio, even if not in Prime mode, is not in a 'Bad' mode either, and will get thru this game decently in the 4th Q.
Eastern Michigan 20, Ohio 33
|
