Last week was the return of glorious weeknight #MACtion (thank the football gods. However, most of the games really lacked and sort of excitement. Toledo blew out the Golden Flashes, though Kent surprisingly found life after an injury to Colin Reardon. Bowling Green put away Akron with the force of a thousand falcon claws, and Ohio added gasoline to the Buffalo dumpster fire. The one close matchup was Northern Illinois and Ball State, but the Cards left a Cameron Stingly-sized hole on the center of their defense in the second half. allowing the Huskies to pull away.
This week, you should mark Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday on your calendars, as #MACtion returns in full force.
Date/Time Home Away Where To Find It
Tuesday 11/11, 8 p.m.
Buffalo (3-6)
Akron (4-5)
ESPNU
Tuesday 11/11, 8 p.m.
Northern Illinois (7-2)
Toledo (6-3)
ESPN2
Wednesday 11/12, 8 p.m.
UMass (2-7)
Ball State (4-6)
ESPNU
Wednesday 11/12, 8 p.m.
Bowling Green (6-3)
Kent State (1-8)
ESPN2
Saturday 11/15, 1 p.m.
Central Michigan (6-4)
Miami (2-8)
ESPN3
Saturday 11/15, 1 p.m.
Western Michigan (6-3)
Eastern Michigan (2-7)
ESPN3
Last week was a mess for my picks. I went 1-2, bringing my record to 16-5. (Damn you, Kyle Pohl and Cameron Stingly!)
Two teams going the same direction, needing help in the form of a sound beating of another just-as-hapless team to reclaim their seasons. Akron seems to be most likely to be able to reclaim a .500 season, seeing as Buffalo needs to win out their remaining three games in order to even be bowl-eligible. Neither team played really well the first time they appeared on weeknight #MACtion as Akron gifted Bowling Green a win with multiple turnovers and Buffalo rolled over and played dead against the Ohio Bobcats. Something's got to give, and Buffalo's heart will after two extremely flat performances the last two weeks. Akron by a score.
Massachusetts Minutemen vs. Ball State Cardinals
#MACtion blesses the grounds of McGuirk Stadium for the first time as the Minutemen take on the Cardinals in a match that may turn the fortune of the MAC West race. Ball State really needed a win vs. Northern Illinois, But if all State can claim a victory over the Minutemen, then they are right back into the race for the division lead, especially if Northern Illinois or Toledo slips, which is more than likely considering that both teams play one another. Under the leadership of Jack Milas, the Cards have come alive on offense and can now balance between him and Jawan Edwards, their star running back. The Minutemen under Blake Frohnaphel and Jean Sifrin have been great on offense, but only adequate on defense, which usually doesn't result in good things happening. Ball State spoils UMass' weeknight #MACtion debut.
Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Toledo Rockets
This game will decide how the MAC West is won, so of course it's going to be decided on a Wednesday night because #MACtion. In all seriousness, the winner of this game is very much in the front seat for a trip to Detroit. These teams have two very different offenses, with Toledo primarily airing it out, while Northern Illinois likes to run the ball. Toledo is down to a third string quarterback, true freshman Michael Julian, and a second string center after an injury to all-MAC center Greg Mancz. It will be interesting to see of they can hold it all together to make a run at the championship, or if the Huskies can pounce on the wounded Rockets. I will bank on that happening, as NIU wins to create havoc in the MAC West.