We have much to do today. Seven men's basketball games and two women's games would usually be enough — but we are also burdened with having to kick off the 35-bowl season by playing in the first two. That's a lot of pressure. You know the reputation the MAC has to continually upkeep on being one of the most exciting, high-scoring, erratic brand of college football in the country. Temple and OHIO don't totally fit that bill, but I have every faith in each squad that they'll do their darnedest to make the games lovingly close and dramatic.
Kind of a goofy beginning to the entire bowl season, but of all the MAC teams it seems like Temple drew the best card. Unless you subscribe to the transitive theory: Wyoming beat BG, who beat Temple. And if you glance at SBN's preview you'll know that Wyoming is one of the statistically least-efficient teams in any bowl game this year. I know that Chris Coyer is going to play for them but if he re-aggravates that shoulder injury and suddenly Chester Stewart has to win a a big game ... it could be a win for the Fightin' Rectangulars.
Here's SBN's preview of the whole thing, and it's pretty heavy on the stats. As mentioned: this is a mere bonus game which can also help exorcise some wicked feelings of want and disappointment. Maybe I'm diminishing the importance of this. Another loss and it could be "Same ol' Bobcats."
Men's Basketball
2:00 p.m. — Duquesne at WMU
2:00 p.m. — Southern Illinois at NIU (MAC Sports Livestream)
4:00 p.m. — Florida A&M at Akron
4:30 p.m. — Belmont at Miami (MAC Sports Livestream)
7:00 p.m. — BGSU at #21 Michigan State (BTN)
7:00 p.m. — OHIO at Wright State
7:00 p.m. — Youngstown State at Toledo
Women's Basketball
2:00 p.m. — Cincinnati at Miami (MAC Sports Livestream)
7:00 p.m. — NIU at Indiana
So, yeah, huge game. Please chat along with us — personally I'll be at the Toledo-YSU game so don't expect much discussion from me after that.