Outlook:Okay, if we told you in the beginning of the season that after five weeks Michigan was below .500, ranks 78th in scoring defense nationally, is 93rd nationally in scoring offense, 110th in turnover margin, was coming off a 25-point loss at home and squeaked out a 10-point win earlier in the year over a struggling MAC squad, you would probably be feeling good about their opponent's chances to steal a win, but wait…on the other hand if we told you that Michigan's next opponent in the so-called Big House is coming in after getting blown out at home two weeks in a row, including a 35-16 wipeout at the hands of Florida International, is on a three-game losing streak, is ranked 110th in the nation in scoring defense, has allowed an average of 40.5 points in its four losses and that seemingly the only positive coming out of the program of late was a placekicker with a consecutive field goal streak -- that was just stopped -- well, you get the idea.

 

Outlook: Eastern Michigan is fresh off a 24-21 upset at Bowling Green last week heading into its final non-conference game of the season at Army. The Eagles used a multiple threat offensive attack against the Falcons that featured WR Tyler Jones rushing the ball for 60 yards, taking thirteen directs snaps from center while QB Andy Schmitt passed for 253 yards and one score -- to Jones. WR Jacory Stone has recorded game-highs in receiving in each of the Eagles' past four games while the rushing attack has slowed but is still averaging five yards per carry. EMU owns the MAC's top pass defense but is giving up an average of 184.3 yards per game on the ground, and an average of 234.3 yards rushing in its four losses…Army earned its first victory of the season last week, defeating Tulane 44-13. The Cadets are one of only a handful of teams still employing the triple option offense and are averaging 222 yards rushing per game, sixteenth best in the nation, but that is a very deceptive statistic as the Cadets rarely pass the ball, averaging 55.8 yards passing per game -- 119th in the nation. Army has also had issues holding on to the ball, having turned the ball over thirteen times already this season, including a four-turnover 22-3 loss to Akron earlier this season. Through their first four games, Army's opposition scored five special teams or defensive touchdowns. Shocking Fact: Eastern Michigan is still looking for its first-ever regular-season non-conference 1A road win. History keeps us from picking EMU but this is a game that the Eagles should be able to win, thus recording what would be a rather historic victory.

 
 

Television: FSN Ohio
Outlook:This is a meeting between two teams that have recorded zero wins combined this season against FBS competition with both Ohio and Kent State each recording their only wins of the season over FCS competition (Ohio def VMU 51-31; Kent State def Delaware State 24-3). Kent State's last FBS win came against Ohio last season. The Flashes hope to have RB Eugene Jarvis back in the lineup after missing the last three games with an ankle injury. Without Jarvis in the lineup the Flashes have had to rely heavily on not just the arm but the legs of QB Julian Edelman who is fourth in the MAC in rushing, picking up 91.5 yards per game in addition to passing for 167 yards per contest. Kent State ranks 11th in the MAC in scoring defense, allowing 31.2 points per game…The Bobcats are also having trouble keeping teams off the board and have given up an average of 36 points per game in conference play. Last week, in a 41-20 loss to Western Michigan, the Bobcats continued a troubling trend of special teams breakdowns and a penchant for penalties. The Bobcats have been flagged for 39 penalties and 383 yards in their first five games, including nearly 100 yards in penalties last week. The Bobcats defense has also surrendered a league-high 15 QB sacks while Ohio is last in the league as well with a league-high 17 giveaways. Kent State however is last in the league in turnover margin. Did we mention special teams? Combined these two are 8-17 in FG attempts. Somebody has to win this game, don't they?

 

Outlook:The MAC East is a combined 0-7 against the MAC West so far this season and if a contender from the East wants to be taken seriously in challenging for the MAC title this season, this would be a good place to start…Western Michigan though comes into this game as one of the hottest teams in the MAC, on a five-game winning streak following last week's 41-20 win over Ohio. Broncos' QB Tim Hiller is quickly becoming one of the top stories in the MAC this season, having passed for 19 touchdowns (2nd nationally) and topping the MAC by averaging 293.5 yards per game. But Hiller isn't the only Bronco topping the charts this season as RB Brandon West, last week's MAC Report Online Offensive Player of the Week, tops the league with 171.2 all-purpose yards per game (West is also third in the MAC in rushing, averaging 95.7 yards per game), while WR Jamarko Simmons tops the league, averaging 7.2 receptions per game. The Broncos defense has also been getting in on the act as well, topping the MAC with 10 sacks…Buffalo meanwhile is coming off a bye week after dropping a 27-25 decision at Central Michigan. The Bulls also can boast of some pretty impressive offensive firepower with QB Drew Willy pacing the MAC with an average of 309 yards passing per game in conference games this season while his favorite target, Naaman Roosevelt, is the only receiver in the MAC averaging more than 100 yards per game, accounting for 103.6 yards per contest. Bulls' RB James Starks is second in the MAC, averaging 97.5 yards rushing per game. Both teams have been fairly strong against the run with Buffalo owing the MAC's #2 rush defense, allowing 128.2 yards per game while Western Michigan ranks fourth (130.8). Buffalo's pass defense worries us a little more than WMU's in this contest but Hiller vs. Willy could be one of the best offensive matchups in the MAC this season. Better keep some extra fuses handy to handle the scoreboard overload.

 

Television: CSN Chicago
Outlook:The RedHawks are a team adrift searching desperately for a life-preserver before the season floats away. There is still time to recover obviously with only one conference game played thus far. While he is not stating what his plans are regarding the starting QB spot, the smart money says that head coach Shane Montgomery will make the move to redshirt freshman Clay Belton after Belton relieved Dan Raudabaugh in the second-half of Miami's 28-10 loss to Temple. Not that Belton fared much better, but Raudabaugh has simply not been the answer thus far for a Miami offense that ranks last in the MAC in scoring (17.4 ppg), last in rushing (80.4 ypg), 12th in total offense (320.6 ypg) and last in pass efficiency….Northern Illinois is fresh off an upset bid of Tennessee, falling just shy 13-9 on the road in Knoxville. The Huskies defense has allowed exactly one touchdown over its past three games and tops the MAC in scoring defense (15.2 ppg), rushing defense (108.8 ypg) and total defense (289.4 ypg). Offensively the Huskies have been doing it by committee at both QB and RB but that hasn’t necessarily slowed them down with NIU owning the MAC's #4 rushing offense, averaging 162 yards per game. True freshman Me'Co Brown tops the Huskies in rushing and all-purpose yards, pacing the ground attack. Redshirt freshman DeMarcus Grady is expected to get the nod this week as the starting signal-caller for the Huskies with Dan Nicholson ailing with a shoulder injury and Chandler Harnish, who returned to practice this week, still recovering from a mid-foot sprain. Grady has passed for 75 yards and rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns. This could be one of the fastest games this season…look for the defenses to settle matters and settle it in the Huskies' favor.

Prediction: Northern Illinois 20, Miami 12.

 

 

Outlook:This is another one of those crossover divisional games that could afford the MAC East an opportunity to make a statement in its quest to gain some respect but again it will be a tall order as the Owls come into Mt. Pleasant facing a team that has won twelve straight games over teams from the East. The Owls though do come in on a high-note following a convincing 28-10 win over Miami on the road that saw redshirt freshman QB Chester Stewart toss three touchdowns, including a pair of scoring strikes to WR Bruce Francis in the fourth quarter. Temple however has been struggling to put up points most of this season, averaging 17.7 points per game despite scoring 28 points in two of its last three contests. The Owls' QB situation remains a bit of a question mark as well with Stewart still hobbled by a foot/ankle injury that has limited him in practice the last two weeks while the team waits on the anticipated return of Adam DiMichele whose separated shoulder is expected to keep him out of action until Oct 21 against Ohio. In the interim little used junior QB Colin Clancy is listed behind Stewart on the depth chart…The Chippewas are coming off a bye week (thus marking the second straight week that Temple will be facing a team fresh off the bye) following a 27-25 win over Buffalo. QB Dan LeFevour leads the MAC averaging 317.8 yards in total offense and tops the team in rushing as well. The Chips have seen an upturn in their defensive fortunes, particularly in defending the run, holding their last two opponents (Purdue and Buffalo) to less than 100 yards rushing per game but the pass defense continues to be a concern, allowing a league-worst 277.2 yards passing per game. LB Nick Bellore has been a dominant force this season for the Chips' defense, averaging 10.4 tackles per game, second overall in the MAC...Special teams have been bright spots for both squads this season with Temple's Travis Shelton eighth in the nation, averaging 30.8 yards per kickoff return while CMU's Antonio Brown is sixth in punt returns, averaging 21.4 yards. The Owls are making strides every week but the Chips have too many offensive weapons at their disposal. Look for CMU to extend its MAC East winning streak to thirteen games.

 

 

Outlook:Did the media completely miss the boat in its preseason evaluation of these two squads? That’s a fair question after six games. The Falcons were the overwhelming preseason favorites in the MAC East but have played with the consistency of jell-o after opening the season with a win over Pitt but then dropping games at home to Minnesota and Eastern Michigan with a win at Wyoming sandwiched in between as the Falcons are undoubtedly the most inconsistent team in the MAC. Paradoxically, the Falcons are 0-2 at home and 2-1 on the road…Akron meanwhile was picked to finish dead-last in the MAC East yet currently the Zips find themselves perched atop the East (with Buffalo) after last week's 30-27 double OT win over the Golden Flashes. The Zips, like the Falcons, own a BCS win (over Syracuse) and nearly pulled the upset of Cincinnati before falling 17-15 at home and have also posted a non-conference win over Army in rather convincing fashion…So where are we going with all of this? It's our way of saying we have no idea who to pick and all the X and O analysis won't clear it up either. But if this game comes down to turnovers, the Zips could be the pick here, having forced a league-best 16 takeaways while the Falcons have turned it over ten times this season, but then again Akron QB Chris Jacquemain tossed three picks alone in the first half last week against Kent State and the Zips themselves have had their own issues with turnovers with 12 so far this season...aarrgggh!!!…Anybody remember the movie Scanners?

 

 

Outlook:How intimidating have the Cardinals been this season? Well, intimidating enough that Hilltoppers QB KJ Black has left the team rather than face Ball State. Okay, that's an overstatement and not completely accurate. Black, a redshirt sophomore, was told he was free to transfer by head coach David Elson after Black expressed frustration in being benched prior to WKU's 27-13 loss at 20th-ranked Virginia Tech. In the second half of last week's contest the Hilltoppers used RB Dexter Taylor by lining him up at QB with Taylor rushing for 96 yards while QB David Wolke passed for 49 yards. The Hilltoppers meanwhile will be playing only their second home game of the season, defeating Murray State 50-9 in their sole home contest this season. Among their losses this season is a 31-13 loss at Indiana. The Hilltoppers are averaging only 263.8 yards in offense per game while surrendering 346.7 yards per game and have given up an average of 35 points per game in their four losses and are still looking for their first win this season over a FBS squad, recording wins over FCS-members Murray State and Eastern Kentucky (37-13)…Ball State meanwhile will be the first-ever ranked opponent to invade Houchens Industries - L.T. Smith Stadium (whew!) after scoring the number 25 spot in this week's AP poll The Cardinals top the MAC in scoring, total offense and pass efficiency with RB MiQuale Lewis leading the way as the only RB in the MAC averaging better than 100 yards per game, rushing for an average of 133.7 yards per game, which is also good for eighth nationally. But the Cardinals are also making life difficult for opposing offenses and registered the MAC's first shutout last week in defeating Toledo 31-0. The Cardinals' pass defense has been downright stout this season, allowing only three touchdowns while recording nine interceptions and their 11 QB sacks ranks second in the MAC. Through the first six games the Cardinals have been the most complete squad in the MAC. The Hilltoppers played tough last week at Virginia Tech and won't rollover, but the Cards should come out of this one with their unbeaten streak intact.

 

The schedule for the week ahead:

 

Western Michigan at Central Michigan, Noon

Miami at Bowling Green, Noon

Akron at Eastern Michigan, 1:00 pm

Toledo at Northern Illinois, 3:00 pm

Army at Buffalo, 3:30 pm

 

Ohio at Temple, 8:00 pm (ESPN2)