 Photo: Jim Klapthor
The MAC East on the other hand remains unsettled but Miami continues to maintain frontrunner status.
The RedHawks (5-5, 3-1, 4-1) will claim a MAC East title, and a spot opposite Central Michigan in the MAC Championship Game, if they win their remaining two games against Akron on November 14 and at Ohio on November 24. With only one divisional loss and the tie-breaker edge on second-place Buffalo and third-place Bowling Green, the RedHawks would remain in the driver's seat even if they drop one of their remaining games providing Buffalo does not sweep its remaining divisional contests. If Miami drops both of their remaining games, the door is potentially opened to a myriad of possibilities nearly too numerous to ponder.
The Bulls (4-6, 3-1, 4-2) are still in the title hunt but must sweep their remaining two games including a pivotal contest against Bowling Green on November 17 and their season finale at Kent State, accompanied by a Miami loss, in order to have their ticket punched for an appearance in Detroit on December 1. The Bulls could advance also with a win over Bowling Green and two losses by Miami.
Bowling Green (5-4, 3-2, 3-2) still maintains an outside shot as well but with two divisional losses, including a loss to Miami, would need to defeat Buffalo just to stay alive. A loss to the Bulls would eliminate the Falcons from MAC East contention as would a victory by Miami in either of its remaining two games. Bowling Green finishes the season against crossover rival Toledo.
Central Michigan vs. Miami/Buffalo/Bowling Green
Looking ahead towards some potential MAC Championship Game matchups, here is a brief recap of the series histories between Central Michigan and the three leading contenders in the MAC East:
Miami holds an 11-9-1 edge in the all-time series over Central Michigan. The last time the Chippewas and RedHawks met was in 2005 with the Chippewas prevailing 38-37.
The Chippewas hold a 3-1 series edge against Buffalo with the Bulls prevailing 36-6 in 2004. The Chips defeated Buffalo last season, 55-28.
The third MAC East contender, Bowling Green, holds a 21-17 series edge on Central Michigan. CMU won last year's meeting, 31-14, which broke a five-game losing streak against the Falcons that dated back to 1996.
First Choice
This season the GMAC Bowl, to be played January 6, 2008, gets first choice of teams in the MAC for its bowl game but if Central Michigan shows up at the MAC Championship Game sporting no worse than a 7-5 mark, expect the Chips to make a return engagement to the Motor City Bowl (December 26) as Motor City Bowl organizers easily envision a sell-out for a game involving a Michigan MAC team and a representative from the Big Ten.
This season the Big Ten finally appears to have enough teams bowl eligible (even with two teams potentially making it to one of the BCS bowls) to fill their Motor City Bowl slot with Michigan State, Iowa, Indiana or Northwestern being one of the teams likely headed to Ford Field for the Motor City Bowl. Any of the four, but particularly Michigan State and Iowa, would be expected to travel well and contribute to strong ticket sales and could provide the first sell-out in Motor City Bowl history.
Last season Central Michigan was the first Michigan-based team to participate in the Motor City Bowl and the game set an all-time attendance mark of 54,113.
Potentially the GMAC Bowl would then be free to choose any other MAC team and is not obligated to necessarily take the MAC East champion when considering that the MAC East representative could very well end up with a sub .500 record, opeining the door for other MAC teams such as Ball State, Toledo or Bowling Green to grab a spot in the GMAC Bowl or the MAC's number three bowl option, the International Bowl, on January 5, 2008.
It should be an interesting couple of weeks while the teams sort themselves out. Until then, the speculation will continue.
MAC Bowl Roll:
Motor City Bowl (December 26) MAC #1 or # 2 vs. Big Ten # 7.
GMAC Bowl (January 6, 2008) MAC #1 or # 2 vs. Conference US A #2
International Bowl (January 5, 2008): MAC #3 vs. Big East #5.
Braunstein Named Groza Semifinalist
 Ohio placekicker, senior Michael Braunstein, has been named one of twenty semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award, presented annually by the Palm Beach County Sports Institute to the top placekicker in collegiate football.
Braunstein has connected on 19-22 field goal attempts this season and is a perfect 33-33 in PAT attempts. Braunstein set Ohio records this season for most field goals in a game (4), consecutive field goals made (12) and field goal attempts in a season.
The Lou Groza Award will be presented on December 6 after three finalists are named November 19.
MAC Players in Top Ten in NCAA Defensive Rankings
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Total Tackles
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4. Daniel Holtzclaw
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Eastern Michigan
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109
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7. Clayton Mullins
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Miami
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105
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9. Bryant Haines
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Ball State
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103
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Tackles For Loss
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6. Jason Jones
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Eastern Michigan
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16
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9. Larry English
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Northern Illinois
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14.5
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QB Sacks
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7. Larry English
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Northern Illinois
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9
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9. Trevor Scott
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Buffalo
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8
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Interceptions/Game
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4. P.J. Mahone
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Bowling Green
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.63
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5. Ryan Downard
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Eastern Michigan
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.60
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6. Josh Gordy
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Central Michigan
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.57
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Source: NCAA
GAME PREVIEWS
Friday, November 9
Bowling Green (5-4, 3-2 MAC) at Ohio (3-7, 2-3 MAC), 7:30 pm ET
Site: Rynearson Stadium
Series: Bowling Green leads 21-10-1 (Last meeting: Bowling Green, 24, Eastern Michigan 21 in 2006).
Television: ESPNU
Outlook: Bowling Green comes into Ypsilanti for its game against the Eagles following a 44-20 win over Akron. The Falcons need one more victory to reach bowl eligibility and are still mathematically alive in the battle for the MAC East divisional crown. Anthony Turner has emerged as a true triple-threat, leading the Falcons in rushing last week with 104 yards in addition to tossing a 33-yard TD pass and catching three passes for 16 yards. QB Tyler Sheehan is second in the MAC, averaging 268.9 yards passing per game for the MAC's top-rated passing offense. The Falcons also possess the MAC's second-best pass defense, limiting opposing offenses to 209.7 yards per game but that is likely due to the fact that teams have found plenty of success running the ball against Bowling Green which is allowing 218.9 yards rushing per game, 12th in the MAC. Eastern Michigan's rushing game meanwhile has found some life over the past two weeks, putting up 472 yards rushing over their past two games, led by Pierre Walker's 244 yards during that span. The Eagles are expected to have sophomore signal caller Andy Schmitt back as their starter after Schmitt relieved freshman Kyle McMahon in the second-half of last week's 52-28 loss to Toledo. Schmitt ranks sixth in the MAC in passing efficiency. The Eagles' defense was torched last week for 600 yards by the Rockets after shutting down Western Michigan a week earlier, limiting the Broncos to 199 yards of offense and no offensive points. This game features two of the MAC's top aerial thieves. Bowling Green's PJ Mahone has recorded five interceptions and is averaging 36.4 yards per return, including two touchdowns, while Eastern Michigan DB Ryan Downard tops the MAC with six interceptions. Bowling Green has won eight straight games against EMU with the Eagles last victory coming in 1989. The Falcons are still entertaining postseason aspirations while the Eagles have been eliminated from the MAC West race. Bowling Green has been wildly inconsistent this season, but should have plenty of incentive to come away with a road victory.
Prediction: Bowling Green 31, Eastern Michigan 20.
Saturday, November 10
Penn State (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten) at Temple (3-6, 3-3 MAC), Noon ET
Site: Lincoln Financial Field
Series: Penn State leads 32-3-1 (Last meeting: Penn State 47, Temple 0 in 2006).
Television: ESPNU
Outlook: Penn State visits "The Linc" having won four of its last five games, including a 26-19 win over Purdue last week. The Nittany Lions are led by QB Anthony Morelli who has put up over 2,000 yards passing this season, leading a balanced attack that is averaging 209 yards passing and 188 yards on the ground and will give the MAC's top-rated defense a stern test. The Owls are allowing a league-best 370.9 yards per game. The Owls struggled offensively though in last week's 23-7 loss at Ohio as QB Vaughn Charlton started his first game of the season in place of injured starter Adam DiMichele. Charlton can expect to be pressured by a Penn State defense that is fourth nationally in quarterback sacks. Temple's offense is averaging 316.3 yards per game, which is 12th in the conference. The Owls contest this week against Penn State will threaten the MAC home attendance mark of 61,500 set earlier this year when Northern Illinois hosted Iowa at Soldier Field. Facing one of the nation's best defenses and with a struggling offense, the Owls may be hard-pressed to keep this one from getting out of hand early.
Prediction: Penn State 49, Temple 7.
Kent State (3-6, 1-4 MAC) at Northern Illinois (1-8, 0-5 MAC), 4:00 pm ET
Site: Huskie Stadium
Series: Northern Illinois leads 13-7 (Last meeting: Northern Illinois 34, Kent State 3 in 2005).
Television: CSN Chicago
Outlook: Two of the MAC's most disappointing teams meet in DeKalb and enter on a combined nine-game losing streak with the Huskies losing their last five and Kent State on the short-end of their last four games. The game however will feature two of the MAC's best running backs. Kent State's Eugene Jarvis tops the MAC in rushing with an average of 139.1 yards per game and is on the verge of establishing a couple of Kent State records, needing 66 yards to break the school record for yards in a season while his next 100-yard effort would be his eighth on the season, tying the school record for most 100-yard rushing games in a season. Meanwhile Northern Illinois tailback Justin Anderson needs just two yards to reach 1,000 yards for the season and is averaging 110.9 yards per game. Kent State and Northern Illinois rank 12th and 13th respectively in the MAC in turnover margin and have combined for 46 turnovers this season. Kent State will have Giorgio Morgan under center as QB Julian Edelman has been lost for the season to injury. Kent State has allowed 29 sacks this season just one ahead of Temple's MAC-worst 30 sacks and will have to contend with the MAC's top sack master, Larry English. But the Huskies have their own issues at quarterback as Dan Nicholson has thrown nearly twice as many interceptions (12) as touchdowns (7) this season. The Huskies have had two weeks to recover from their 70-21 thrashing at Toledo while Kent State was competitive before falling to MAC West champion Central Michigan last week, 41-32 with QB Morgan showing promise going 18-28 for 247 yards and three touchdowns. Slight edge here to the Flashes. But very slight.
Prediction: Kent State 23, Northern Illinois 21.
On Tap
The schedule for the week ahead:
Tuesday, November 13
Toledo at Ball State, 7:30 pm ET
Wednesday, November 14
Akron at Miami, 7:30 pm ET
Friday, November 16
Eastern Michigan at Central Michigan, 7:00 pm ET
Saturday, November 10
Kent State at Temple, Noon ET
Bowling Green at Buffalo, 1:00 pm ET
Northern Illinois at Navy, 3:30 pm ET
Western Michigan at Iowa, 3:30 pm ET
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