MAC ATTACK: WEEK 2
Overall conference grade: D
If there were such a thing as an F+, the MAC would deserve it this week. A 14 team conference managed only 2 victories out of conference, that by Ohio over I-AA weakling VMI and Western Michigan over equally weak I-AA Tennessee Martin (Eastern Michigan beat Buffalo 37-34 in the only conference game of the week). Bowling Green headlines the upside of the week by staying close to Oklahoma, and Northern Illinois showed something by sticking with a Maryland team who wanted to kick their face in after last season. BallState also had a good game against highly touted BostonCollege. On the SIGNIFICANT downside this week were the humblings of 3 of the conference's elite or upstart teams by Big 10 competition (Miami soundly beaten by Michigan, Akron embarrassed by PennState, Toledo destroyed by Minnesota) and the inexplicable and inexcusable home loss by Marshall to lightly regarded TroyState 17-15. Central Florida, KentState, and Central Michigan were also thrashed by the Big 10, the Chippewas losing badly to Indiana no less, making the MAC a resounding 0-6 against the Big Ten, and 0-9 against the power conferences. The conference must regroup this week, as several key matchups may allow some redemption...or send the conference scurrying down towards Sun Belt levels (who were 1-0 against the MAC this week...yuck).
Team rankings:
1 (+2) Bowling Green (0-1): Solid showing in Norman, no small task. Could run away with the conference at this rate.
2 (+4) Northern Illinois (0-1): Excellent guts shown at Maryland in a valiant attempted comeback that just fell short. Could be right there with Bowling Green.
3 (-2) Toledo (0-1): Almost get the #3 ranking by default. Have a lot of work to do, but still have significant talent.
4 (0) Miami (0-1): Stuck with Michigan for a while, but turnovers killed them. If they cut those down, they can still be one of the better teams in the division.
5 (+4) BallState (0-1): One of the few teams who showed some grit last week. A chance to be a wild card and a spoiler.
6 (+2) Western Michigan (1-0): Pretty bad when you move up significant places for beating a I-AA team, but the comfortable win shows they could be a force in conference play. Stay tuned.
7 (-5) Marshall (0-1): Sloppy and showed no guts in a home loss to Troy. No adjustments to figure out the Troy defense, who owned them all game. Embarrassing substitution penalty at the end of the game sealed their doom. Need to improve exponentially to avoid being blown out in their next 2 road games, at OhioState and at Georgia.
8 (-3) Central Florida (0-1): Hard to ring them up too bad while playing at Wisconsin without their coach. Jury is still fully out.
9 (-2) Akron (0-1): Ugh...gave up 7 TDs in 7 possessions at PennState. Looks more like a one-horse freak show and less like a conference contender. No receivers or defense to speak of.
10 (-) Eastern Michigan (1-0): Nice win over Buffalo. Could be poised to move up several spots if they can sustain some momentum.
11 (+1) Ohio (1-0): A win over VMI shows virtually nothing, but if they got some kinks out of their new offense, they could move up quickly.
12 (-1) Central Michigan (0-1): Wow, a 31 point loss to Indiana? Need I say more?
13 (+1) Buffalo (0-1): Showed some character is sticking with EMU all game long. Deserve to be out of the basement, if only for a week. Possibly the biggest game in school history upcoming this week, as they entertain in-state rival Syracuse.
14 (-1) KentState (0-1): Team showed nothing in a laugher at Iowa. Cribbs is back this week, and they play I-AA Liberty, so the ship may at least level off, but they were clearly the worst team last week.
This week's games:
(note: upset alert is from 0-10, with 10 being "Red Alert" and 0 being "Here's your 400 grand for an ass-whuppin', thanks for coming"
Last week: 9-1 (SU), 5-4 (VL)
All games are on Saturday this week. The upset meter had a resounding debut, forshadowing Marshall's loss to Troy.
Miami (1-1) at Cincinnati (0-1)
Line: Miami -3
Upset alert: 8
Synopsis: Both teams come off humbling losses to Big Ten teams, but both showed some flashes of good things. This game may depend entirely on the turnovers, and it is difficult to predict which team will take care of the ball better or make that one ket defensive play. A classic tossup.
Prediction: Cincinnati 21, Miami 20
Marshall (0-1) at OhioState (1-0)
Line: OhioState -16.5
Upset alert: 1.5
Synopsis: Marshall had an inexplicable loss at home to TroyState, whereas OhioState comes off a comfortable but at times lackluster win over Cincinnati. The only way Marshall keeps this game close is if they come out with a monster-sized chip on their shoulder and play mean, but if the team couldn't figure out Troy State's defense, what in the world are they going to do with the Buckeyes?
Prediction: OhioState 28, Marshall 3
West Virginia (1-0) at Central Florida (0-1)
Line: West Virginia -20
Upset alert: 3
Synopsis: West Virginia had an easy time with East Carolina, whereas Central Florida was never really in their game with Wisconsin. The fact this game is in the friendly confines of the Citrus Bowl give Central Florida some hope, as does the return of coach George O'Leary. That 377 spot the WVU running back put up will certainly get their attention, and it is not evident that one of the league's weaker defensive fronts will fare much better.
Prediction: West Virginia 38, Central Florida 14
Middle Tennessee (0-0) at Akron (0-1)
Line: Akron -6.5
Upset alert: 3.5
Synopsis: The fighting Blue Raiders come in having their first game at Florida postponed...just as well. This team has fallen mightily from perennial favorite in the Sun Belt to the bottom of the conference, and it's happened fast. Akron comes off getting detonated at PennState, giving up 7 TDs in 7 possessions before the 3rd string entered the game. The One Man Gang used to be a professional wrestler...not it appears it's QB Charlie Frye. DOug Rader's insistence during the game that he is a Heisman candidate is a joke, but he is a great QB, and they'll need him to be in top form to bounce back...which they should.
Prediction: Akron 35, MTSU 24
Ohio (1-0) at Pitt (0-0)
Line: Pittsburgh -17.5
Upset alert: 3
Synopsis: OK, OK, so I put "Pitt" in there just to piss them off, but in all seriousness, it's hard to predict anything about the Panthers, as their first game was postponed in South Florida. Ohio is implementing a new offense, which they had the distinct advantage of a glorified scrimmage against I-AA VMI a week ago. This may help them get some points against the Panthers...but not enough to get the win.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 38, Ohio 21
Liberty at KentState (0-1)
Line: None
Upset alert: 4
Synopsis: Liberty comes to Dix stadium to take on the Golden Flashes, who showed nothing against Iowa. Still, Joshua Cribbs, a candidate for the "One Man Gang award" with Charlie Frye, returns, and just in time to get things going against a I-AA foe before travelling to vastly improved Rutgers. Kent State needs this game badly...and will get it.
Prediction: KentState 24, Liberty 16
Syracuse (0-1) at Buffalo (0-1)
Line: Buffalo -15.5
Upset alert: 10
Synopsis: This is undoubtedly the biggest game in Buffalo school history, as the Bulls get in-state rival Syracuse at home in University Stadium. How they got them to agree to this game I have no idea, because Syracuse is coming off a 51-0 demolition by Purdue, and if they are demoralized, they are in big trouble, because it will be obvious the Bulls want this game way more than Syracuse anyway. Time to see if coach Paul P. can get his guys to come out with any heart, because if Buffalo pulls off the upest, he can forget about finishing the season. All that said, Buffalo by 15.5? That’s either a misprint, or Syracuse is moving to I-AA soon.
Prediction: Syracuse 17, Buffalo 16
Toledo (0-1) at Kansas (1-0)
Line: Kansas -3
Upset alert: 9
Synopsis: Toledo was absolutely humiliated at Minnesota...end of story. Kansas comes off a defensively-impressive 21-3 win over a Tulsa team a lot of people were thinking would beat them. So, it's Kansas comfortably...right? Not so fast my freind...Tom Amstutz will not, and I mean not, have this team looking like this again, and Kansas' offense was completely inept against the Golden Hurricane. If Toledo can use what little they could take out of 21 points at Minnesota, they will win this game.
Prediction: Toledo 24, Kansas 16
SE Missouri State at Bowling Green (0-1)
Line: None
Upset alert: 0
Synopsis: Hail to Bowling Green. A great performance by Gregg Brandon's boys at Oklahoma have them seasoned already in week 2. Now they get I-AA SEMS to take it all out on. This game will not be close...ever.
Prediction: BGSU 63, SEMS 7
Southern Illinois at Northern Illinois (0-1)
Line: None
Upset alert: 1
Synopsis: Hail to Northern Illinois. Another nice performance at Maryland, and this team has proven me wrong already. QB Josh Haldi was nicked up in the opener, but they won't need him...at all...for this game. The in-state aspect of this game makes it a bit interesting...but nothing else does. NIU in a laugher.
Prediction: Northern Illinois 49, SIU 18
Western Michigan (1-0) at Virginia Tech (0-1)
Line: Virginia Tech -24
Upset alert: 1.5
Synopsis: The Broncos rolled it up on I-AA Tennessee Martin, but to say this is a step up is a drastic understatement, considering VTU had the defending champs on the ropes in the fourth quarter. It is hard to envision a scenario where this game is close, let alone where WMU gets a win.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 38, WMU 13
BallState (0-1) at Purdue (1-0)
Line: Purdue -30
Upset alert: 0.5
Synopsis: BallState's reward for sticking with the Eagles last week? Travelling to West Lafayette, where the Boilers are fresh off a 51-0 hammering of Syracuse. If Syracuse got no points, BallState won't get many more, and if they gave up 51, well...
Prediction: Purdue 45, BallState 7
Central Michigan (0-1) at MichiganState (0-1)
Line: MichiganState -26
Upset alert: 2.5
Synopsis: Well, I said anything could happen last week...and Central Michigan got demolished 41-10 by a team with barely enough guys on scholarship. Now they face MichiganState, who should be a lot better than Indiana...despite not looking like it last week. I can't see the Spartans being anything but pissed off, and the Chippewas don't have anything to prevent the coming onslaught.
Prediction: MichiganState 42, Central Michigan 10
Eastern Michigan (1-0) at Florida (0-0)
Line: Florida -37.5
Upset alert: 0
Synopsis: Eastern had a nice win in week 1 over Buffalo, but that will mean nothing when they play Florida, whose first game was postponed due to the hurricane. Even if Florida is rusty and gives up a score or 2, EMU gave up 34 to Buffalo...end of story.
Prediction: Florida 55, EMU 17
Record (SU): 9-1
Record (VL): 5-4
Overall conference grade: D
If there were such a thing as an F+, the MAC would deserve it this week. A 14 team conference managed only 2 victories out of conference, that by Ohio over I-AA weakling VMI and Western Michigan over equally weak I-AA Tennessee Martin (Eastern Michigan beat Buffalo 37-34 in the only conference game of the week). Bowling Green headlines the upside of the week by staying close to Oklahoma, and Northern Illinois showed something by sticking with a Maryland team who wanted to kick their face in after last season. BallState also had a good game against highly touted BostonCollege. On the SIGNIFICANT downside this week were the humblings of 3 of the conference's elite or upstart teams by Big 10 competition (Miami soundly beaten by Michigan, Akron embarrassed by PennState, Toledo destroyed by Minnesota) and the inexplicable and inexcusable home loss by Marshall to lightly regarded TroyState 17-15. Central Florida, KentState, and Central Michigan were also thrashed by the Big 10, the Chippewas losing badly to Indiana no less, making the MAC a resounding 0-6 against the Big Ten, and 0-9 against the power conferences. The conference must regroup this week, as several key matchups may allow some redemption...or send the conference scurrying down towards Sun Belt levels (who were 1-0 against the MAC this week...yuck).
Team rankings:
1 (+2) Bowling Green (0-1): Solid showing in Norman, no small task. Could run away with the conference at this rate.
2 (+4) Northern Illinois (0-1): Excellent guts shown at Maryland in a valiant attempted comeback that just fell short. Could be right there with Bowling Green.
3 (-2) Toledo (0-1): Almost get the #3 ranking by default. Have a lot of work to do, but still have significant talent.
4 (0) Miami (0-1): Stuck with Michigan for a while, but turnovers killed them. If they cut those down, they can still be one of the better teams in the division.
5 (+4) BallState (0-1): One of the few teams who showed some grit last week. A chance to be a wild card and a spoiler.
6 (+2) Western Michigan (1-0): Pretty bad when you move up significant places for beating a I-AA team, but the comfortable win shows they could be a force in conference play. Stay tuned.
7 (-5) Marshall (0-1): Sloppy and showed no guts in a home loss to Troy. No adjustments to figure out the Troy defense, who owned them all game. Embarrassing substitution penalty at the end of the game sealed their doom. Need to improve exponentially to avoid being blown out in their next 2 road games, at OhioState and at Georgia.
8 (-3) Central Florida (0-1): Hard to ring them up too bad while playing at Wisconsin without their coach. Jury is still fully out.
9 (-2) Akron (0-1): Ugh...gave up 7 TDs in 7 possessions at PennState. Looks more like a one-horse freak show and less like a conference contender. No receivers or defense to speak of.
10 (-) Eastern Michigan (1-0): Nice win over Buffalo. Could be poised to move up several spots if they can sustain some momentum.
11 (+1) Ohio (1-0): A win over VMI shows virtually nothing, but if they got some kinks out of their new offense, they could move up quickly.
12 (-1) Central Michigan (0-1): Wow, a 31 point loss to Indiana? Need I say more?
13 (+1) Buffalo (0-1): Showed some character is sticking with EMU all game long. Deserve to be out of the basement, if only for a week. Possibly the biggest game in school history upcoming this week, as they entertain in-state rival Syracuse.
14 (-1) KentState (0-1): Team showed nothing in a laugher at Iowa. Cribbs is back this week, and they play I-AA Liberty, so the ship may at least level off, but they were clearly the worst team last week.
This week's games:
(note: upset alert is from 0-10, with 10 being "Red Alert" and 0 being "Here's your 400 grand for an ass-whuppin', thanks for coming"
Last week: 9-1 (SU), 5-4 (VL)
All games are on Saturday this week. The upset meter had a resounding debut, forshadowing Marshall's loss to Troy.
Miami (1-1) at Cincinnati (0-1)
Line: Miami -3
Upset alert: 8
Synopsis: Both teams come off humbling losses to Big Ten teams, but both showed some flashes of good things. This game may depend entirely on the turnovers, and it is difficult to predict which team will take care of the ball better or make that one ket defensive play. A classic tossup.
Prediction: Cincinnati 21, Miami 20
Marshall (0-1) at OhioState (1-0)
Line: OhioState -16.5
Upset alert: 1.5
Synopsis: Marshall had an inexplicable loss at home to TroyState, whereas OhioState comes off a comfortable but at times lackluster win over Cincinnati. The only way Marshall keeps this game close is if they come out with a monster-sized chip on their shoulder and play mean, but if the team couldn't figure out Troy State's defense, what in the world are they going to do with the Buckeyes?
Prediction: OhioState 28, Marshall 3
West Virginia (1-0) at Central Florida (0-1)
Line: West Virginia -20
Upset alert: 3
Synopsis: West Virginia had an easy time with East Carolina, whereas Central Florida was never really in their game with Wisconsin. The fact this game is in the friendly confines of the Citrus Bowl give Central Florida some hope, as does the return of coach George O'Leary. That 377 spot the WVU running back put up will certainly get their attention, and it is not evident that one of the league's weaker defensive fronts will fare much better.
Prediction: West Virginia 38, Central Florida 14
Middle Tennessee (0-0) at Akron (0-1)
Line: Akron -6.5
Upset alert: 3.5
Synopsis: The fighting Blue Raiders come in having their first game at Florida postponed...just as well. This team has fallen mightily from perennial favorite in the Sun Belt to the bottom of the conference, and it's happened fast. Akron comes off getting detonated at PennState, giving up 7 TDs in 7 possessions before the 3rd string entered the game. The One Man Gang used to be a professional wrestler...not it appears it's QB Charlie Frye. DOug Rader's insistence during the game that he is a Heisman candidate is a joke, but he is a great QB, and they'll need him to be in top form to bounce back...which they should.
Prediction: Akron 35, MTSU 24
Ohio (1-0) at Pitt (0-0)
Line: Pittsburgh -17.5
Upset alert: 3
Synopsis: OK, OK, so I put "Pitt" in there just to piss them off, but in all seriousness, it's hard to predict anything about the Panthers, as their first game was postponed in South Florida. Ohio is implementing a new offense, which they had the distinct advantage of a glorified scrimmage against I-AA VMI a week ago. This may help them get some points against the Panthers...but not enough to get the win.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 38, Ohio 21
Liberty at KentState (0-1)
Line: None
Upset alert: 4
Synopsis: Liberty comes to Dix stadium to take on the Golden Flashes, who showed nothing against Iowa. Still, Joshua Cribbs, a candidate for the "One Man Gang award" with Charlie Frye, returns, and just in time to get things going against a I-AA foe before travelling to vastly improved Rutgers. Kent State needs this game badly...and will get it.
Prediction: KentState 24, Liberty 16
Syracuse (0-1) at Buffalo (0-1)
Line: Buffalo -15.5
Upset alert: 10
Synopsis: This is undoubtedly the biggest game in Buffalo school history, as the Bulls get in-state rival Syracuse at home in University Stadium. How they got them to agree to this game I have no idea, because Syracuse is coming off a 51-0 demolition by Purdue, and if they are demoralized, they are in big trouble, because it will be obvious the Bulls want this game way more than Syracuse anyway. Time to see if coach Paul P. can get his guys to come out with any heart, because if Buffalo pulls off the upest, he can forget about finishing the season. All that said, Buffalo by 15.5? That’s either a misprint, or Syracuse is moving to I-AA soon.
Prediction: Syracuse 17, Buffalo 16
Toledo (0-1) at Kansas (1-0)
Line: Kansas -3
Upset alert: 9
Synopsis: Toledo was absolutely humiliated at Minnesota...end of story. Kansas comes off a defensively-impressive 21-3 win over a Tulsa team a lot of people were thinking would beat them. So, it's Kansas comfortably...right? Not so fast my freind...Tom Amstutz will not, and I mean not, have this team looking like this again, and Kansas' offense was completely inept against the Golden Hurricane. If Toledo can use what little they could take out of 21 points at Minnesota, they will win this game.
Prediction: Toledo 24, Kansas 16
SE Missouri State at Bowling Green (0-1)
Line: None
Upset alert: 0
Synopsis: Hail to Bowling Green. A great performance by Gregg Brandon's boys at Oklahoma have them seasoned already in week 2. Now they get I-AA SEMS to take it all out on. This game will not be close...ever.
Prediction: BGSU 63, SEMS 7
Southern Illinois at Northern Illinois (0-1)
Line: None
Upset alert: 1
Synopsis: Hail to Northern Illinois. Another nice performance at Maryland, and this team has proven me wrong already. QB Josh Haldi was nicked up in the opener, but they won't need him...at all...for this game. The in-state aspect of this game makes it a bit interesting...but nothing else does. NIU in a laugher.
Prediction: Northern Illinois 49, SIU 18
Western Michigan (1-0) at Virginia Tech (0-1)
Line: Virginia Tech -24
Upset alert: 1.5
Synopsis: The Broncos rolled it up on I-AA Tennessee Martin, but to say this is a step up is a drastic understatement, considering VTU had the defending champs on the ropes in the fourth quarter. It is hard to envision a scenario where this game is close, let alone where WMU gets a win.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 38, WMU 13
BallState (0-1) at Purdue (1-0)
Line: Purdue -30
Upset alert: 0.5
Synopsis: BallState's reward for sticking with the Eagles last week? Travelling to West Lafayette, where the Boilers are fresh off a 51-0 hammering of Syracuse. If Syracuse got no points, BallState won't get many more, and if they gave up 51, well...
Prediction: Purdue 45, BallState 7
Central Michigan (0-1) at MichiganState (0-1)
Line: MichiganState -26
Upset alert: 2.5
Synopsis: Well, I said anything could happen last week...and Central Michigan got demolished 41-10 by a team with barely enough guys on scholarship. Now they face MichiganState, who should be a lot better than Indiana...despite not looking like it last week. I can't see the Spartans being anything but pissed off, and the Chippewas don't have anything to prevent the coming onslaught.
Prediction: MichiganState 42, Central Michigan 10
Eastern Michigan (1-0) at Florida (0-0)
Line: Florida -37.5
Upset alert: 0
Synopsis: Eastern had a nice win in week 1 over Buffalo, but that will mean nothing when they play Florida, whose first game was postponed due to the hurricane. Even if Florida is rusty and gives up a score or 2, EMU gave up 34 to Buffalo...end of story.
Prediction: Florida 55, EMU 17
Record (SU): 9-1
Record (VL): 5-4
