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There are national ranking implications on the line for a few of the MAC team on the line this week, including I-75 rivals Bowling Green and Toledo. However, the big story here is that B1G foe *THE* Ohio State Buckeyes, who will be welcoming the first of two of their MAC opponents when Northern Illinois comes marching in to The Horseshoe. That game and the Western Michigan gme next week will both have huge implications histroically; Ohio State is 30-1 all-time vs. the MAC, with their lone loss coming to Buchtel College (which is now Akron) in 1894. EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND NINETY-FOUR.
Ball State and Eastern Michigan will also be squaring off in the first Mid-American Conference matchup of the season, so there will be a MAC divisional leader at the end of the action tonight. Both teams are going very different directions, with the Cardinals trying to decide on a starting quarterback after being routed by Texas A&M, and the Eagles riding on the back of once-malighed quarterback Brogan Roback to a huge road victory. Be sure to tune into that game; last year's early conferece game between Kent State and Ohio came down to a game-winning field goal.
Here's the schedule of all the action for your Saturday.
| Time | Home | Away | TV/Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Akron (0-2) | Savannah State (0-1) | ESPN3 |
| 12:00 PM | Buffalo (1-1) | Florida Atlantic (0-2) | American Sports Network |
| 12:00 PM | Minnesota (1-1) | Kent State (1-1) | Big Ten Network |
| 12:30 PM | Syracuse (2-0) | Central Michigan (1-1) | ACC Regional Network/Fox Sports Network Detroit+ |
| 2:00 PM | Ohio (2-0) | Southeastern Louisiana (2-0) | ESPN3 |
| 3:00 PM | Massachusetts (0-1) | Temple (2-0) | ESPN3 |
| 3:00 PM | Eastern Michigan (1-1) | Ball State (1-1) | ESPN3 |
| 3:00 PM | Bowling Green (1-1) | Memphis (1-1) | American Sports Network |
| 3:30 PM | Miami (1-1) | Cincinnati (1-1) | ESPN3 |
| 3:30 PM | #1 Ohio State (2-0) | Northern Illinois (2-0) | ABC/ESPN2 (reverse mirror) |
| 7:00 PM | Western Michigan (1-1) | Murray State (1-1) | ESPN3 |
| 8:00 PM | Toledo (1-0) | Iowa State (1-1) | ESPN News |
Here's the Pick'em spreads for those games:
Minnesota (95.1%) over Kent State
Buffalo (63.7%) over FAU
Akron (92.2%) over Savannah State
Syracuse (70.6%) over CMU
Ohio (96.1%) over SE Louisiana
Temple (92.2%) over UMass
BGSU (85.3%) over Memphis in the Game of the Week
Ball State (60.8%) over EMU
Cincinnati (90.2%) over Miami
#1 Ohio State (89.2%) over NIU
WMU (92.2%) over Murray State
Toledo (90.2%) over Iowa State
Top 3 High Team selections: Western Michigan (24.5%), Bowling Green (19.6%), Toledo (15.7%)
Top 3 Low Team selections: Miami (26.5%), Kent State (24.5%), Northern Illinois (19.6%)
Remember: take a drink in the spirit of #MACtion, and don't be THAT guy in the comments.