Due to time constraints this week at MAC Report Online due to moving our base of operations, below are the game notes on each contest courtesy of the MACs official weekly release followed by our prediction for each game.

 

We will back with a full weekly preview early next week after we settle into our new digs following our relocation. Thanks for your patience while we make this move.

 

GAME PREVIEWS

 

Friday, November 21

Buffalo (6-4, 4-2 MAC) at Bowling Green (5-5, 3-3 MAC) - 6:00 pm

Site: Doyt Perry Stadium

Series: Bowling Green leads 4-1

Outlook: Buffalo can secure a berth in the Marathon MAC Championship game with a win over BG ... the Falcons must win this game to stay in the division race ... the Falcons remain in contention for the East Division title and a berth in the leagues championship game after their 28-3 win at Ohio (Nov. 8) ... the last two games (Kent State, Ohio) the Falcons defense has held the opposition scoreless in the first half ... BGs defense allowed a season low 229 yards of total offense at Ohio and is led by DL Diyral Briggs (7 sacks, 10.5 tfl) ... Tyler Sheehan threw for two scores and was also on the receiving end of a 22-yard TD pass from Andrew Beam ... it was Sheehans third career TD via a reception ... BGs game vs. Buffalo is its final home contest for 2008 ... the Bulls are on a four-game winning streak, the programs longest since joining the FBS (I-A) level in 1999 ... UB has played three overtime games and six overtime periods this year, compiling a 2-1 OT record (W vs. Army and Akron; a L to Western Michigan) ... the Bulls are the first MAC team to ever play three overtime games in a single season ... the Bulls have averaged 35 ppg during their current winning streak and can offer the leagues top rusher in James Starks at 128.5 ypg ... QB Drew Willy has just four interceptions in 325 attempts this year, completing 206 passes for 2,348 yards and 18 TDs ... Naaman Roosevelt is second in the MAC in receptions (68) and receiving yards (954) ... UB leads the MAC in turnover ratio at +1.3 per game.

MAC Report Onlines Pick: Buffalo 27, Bowling Green 21.

Saturday, November 22 

Miami (2-8, 1-5 MAC) at Toledo (2-8, 1-5 MAC) - 7:00 pm

Site: Glass Bowl

Series: Miami leads 27-20-1 ... this is the first meeting since the 2004 MAC Championship game at Ford Field, a 35-27 Toledo victory.

Outlook: The Rockets return home for the final two games of the season and in the head coaching career for Tom Amstutz ... UT has dropped four consecutive games since beating Michigan on Oct. 11 ... the RedHawks have lost three straight since an Oct. 18, 27-20 win at Bowling Green ... Miamis Daniel Raudabaugh returned to the starting lineup last week in a loss to Ball State and completed 24-of-42 pass attempts for 254 yards ... in the process Raudabaugh became the sixth QB in school history to pass for over 4,000 career yards (4,277) ... he replaced Clay Belton (shoulder injury) who had started the previous three games ... Miamis Thomas Merriweather ranks seventh in the MAC in rushing (60.8 ypg) ... Toledos Aaron Opelt has completed 61.8 pct. of his pass attempts with just five interceptions in 330 attempts ... the Rockets are 0-4 at home this season (Fresno State, FIU, Ball State, Central Michigan) ... last week UT jumped to a 7-0 lead at Western Michigan before falling 27-17 ... WR Nick Moore (10 rec., 97 yards at WMU) and Stephen Williams (6 rec., 94 yards, 1 TD) both have 67 receptions this season, the third highest total among league players ...freshman Morgan Williams led the Rocket running attack with 83 yards at WMU.

MAC Report Onlines Pick: Toledo 24, Miami 17.

 

 Eastern Michigan (2-8, 1-5 MAC) at Temple (3-7, 2-4 MAC) - 1:00 pm

Site: Lincoln Financial Field

Series: Temple leads 3-0 ... this is the first meeting ever with Temple as a MAC member ... the Owls won the last meeting 49-40 in 2000.

Outlook:The Eagles dropped a Nov. 1 game at Western Michigan, 31-10, for its fourth consecutive loss and will be playing for the first time since that game (21 days) ... Andy Schmitt passed for 272 yards ... senior Terrence Blevins came into 2008 with no career TDs but has tallied 10 touchdowns on 556 rushing yards this season ... Jacory Stone has been a bright spot for the Eagles ... Stone currently ranks fourth in the MAC in receiving yards per game (69.5) ... senior LB Daniel Holtzclaw is the current all-time active career leader in tackles with 416 ... Temple is coming off a 41-38 loss at Kent State, the Owls fifth loss this season by six points or less ... Jason Harper had career-highs with 10 receptions for 209 yards and was five yards shy of the school record ... Harper, who was a tailback last fall, also grabbed his first two scoring passes of his career ... in his last two games, Adam DiMichele has completed 38-of-57 attempts for 622 yards, six TDs and just one interception ... Travis Shelton bolted for a 92-yard TD on a kickoff at KSU to extend his school record to 2,410 yards on kickoff returns ... Sheltons score also gave Temple a 24-21 lead after trailing 21-3 ... two Owls have personal streaks intact as C Alex Derenthal has started 45 consecutive games and WR Bruce Francis has a pass reception in 36 consecutive contests.

MAC Report Onlines Pick: Temple 26, Eastern Michigan 20.

 

Akron (5-5, 3-3 MAC) at Ohio (2-8, 1-5 MAC) - 3:30 pm

Site: Peden Stadium

Series: Akron leads 12-11-1. Akron won last year 48-37

Outlook:  The Bobcats dropped their third game in a row Nov. 8 vs. Bowling Green ... junior QB Brandon Jones played in relief of Boo Jackson in the second half and completed a career best seven pass attempts for 92 yards, also a career high ... Jackson had completed only 6-of-16 attempts for 96 yards and suffered two interceptions ... sophomore RB Vince Davidson also etched a career high with his 66 rushing yards ... the Bobcats failed to reach the end zone for the first time since Nov. 15, 2005, in a 27-3 loss at Akron ... the Zips are coming off a four-overtime 43-40 loss to Buffalo ... Akron must win to stay in the East Division race ... Dennis Kennedy scored a career-high four touchdowns while rushing for 142 yards on 26 attempts and gaining 121 yards on five receptions ... Kennedy is averaging 104.5 ypg rushing on the season and his 1,045 yards make him the 11th player in school history to reach 1,000 yards rushing in a season ... Kennedy has 754 yards and nine touchdowns in the last four games ... Akron will have to win on the road to become bowl eligible as the Zips close out the season at Ohio and at Temple (Nov. 28) ... QB Chris Jacquemain has thrown for 729 yards with seven TDs and just one interception the last three games.

MAC Report Onlines Pick: Akron 35, Ohio 24.