All-Day Open Thread: Nine Nifty MAC Games

Horseshoes, catsup bottles, oil barons, and tornado relief. If you used these four motifs in a sentence, you just described the first Saturday of MAC football and may not have realized it.

Here is what we're watching all day. Drop in and comment if it feels right.

12 noon — Akron at Ohio State (ESPN)
I did all sorts of guest analysis on this game everywhere but here (The Buckeye Battle Cry, Eleven Warriors, Inside The Shoe). Seems like plenty of words for Akron.

12 noon — Miami at Missouri (Fox Sports Net) (Hustle Belt preview)

12:20 p.m. — Kent State at Alabama (SEC Network/ESPN3)
Unlimited bonus karma points to everyone involved in the KSU program who helped try to rebuild parts of devastated Tuscaloosa after the tornadoes hit. The least that the Tide can do to repay the favor is to stop the offensive once they get to 35.

3:30 p.m. — WMU at Michigan (ABC/ESPN2) (Hustle Belt preview)

6:00 p.m. — Buffalo vs. Pittsburgh at Heinz Field (ESPN3)
This is a pro stadium, therefore we'll defer to those head-to-head numbers: The Buffalo Bills' last win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh was the 1993 AFC divisional championships, coming out victorious 24-3. We will not see this score as a final. But if Chazz Anderson will give the Bulls hope that this year may not be another rebuilder, maybe signs will be seen in the Large Catsup Container.

7:00 p.m. — Howard at EMU (MAC Sports stream) (Hustle Belt preview)

7:00 p.m. — Indiana vs. Ball State at Lucas Oil Stadium (ESPN3) (Hustle Belt preview)

7:00 p.m. — Army at NIU (ESPN3) (Hustle Belt preview)

8:00 p.m. — OHIO at New Mexico State (ESPN3)
The new-look Bobcats are playing farther away from the region than anyone else. Well, that's a fine way to keep tabs on them. NMSU is coming off a 2-10 season and picked to finish last in the WAC this year; this oughta be a victory for the Bobcats if they know what's good for them.

Later tonight we'll wrap up everything that happened, and continue until death.