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Truth be told, the MAC lacks a true "game of the week" in week 10, but this game does have the potential to impact the MAC East race. Ohio (6-3, 4-1) comes into this contest off of a huge 17-7 victory over Kent State last week. The win catapulted the Bobcats ahead of Kent for the MAC East lead, and Ohio can control their own destiny by winning out. Eastern Michigan (1-4, 1-7), despite their poor record could pose a hurdle for the Bobcats. In games against 2006 conference powers Central and Western Michigan, EMU took both squads deep into the game and pushed them to their limits. On paper, this game looks a lot like the games with Western and Central Michigan. Ohio is the clear favorite and has consistently proven they're the better team. Eastern Michigan's best weapons are WR Eric Deslauriers who is second only to Miami's Ryne Robinson in the MAC in receiving yards, and kicker Andrew Wellock. Wellock's made 13 of 16 field goals this season, and has consistently shown a strong accurate leg. I've said it before, but if the Eagles can keep the game close, Wellock definitely gives them a chance to win. One could make a strong case for Ohio has the MAC's most impressive team this season. Expected losses to Rutgers and Missouri aside, the Bobcats' lone blemish came in a 21-9 home loss at the hands of Bowling Green. That loss served as the turning point in Ohio's season as RB Kalvin McRae has found his groove and the Bobcats have rattled off four straight victories. McRae has scored at least one touchdown in each of Ohio's six victories and was held without a score in all three of their losses. They key to another Ohio victory seems to go without saying. Frank Solich is a smart coach. Following the loss to Bowling Green, the Bobcats focused on establishing McRae as the power back he's proven he can be. The results speak for themselves, and they have a steadily improving Ohio team looking at a date with either Central or Western Michigan in the MAC Championship game. Solich's boys will continue to go with what works and pound the ball with McRae. I expect Eastern Michigan to keep it close, but unless they can stop McRae, they won't pull the upset. Prediction: Ohio 21, Eastern Michigan 13 Ball State @ Michigan The Michigan Wolverines may have Mike Hart to thank for extending their undefeated season during Mario Manningham's absence. Without their deep ball threat, Michigan's offense has slowed down and gotten predictable again. The bad news for Ball State is that Manningham may play on Saturday. The worse news for Ball State is that whether Manningham suits up or not, Michigan QB Chad Henne should be able to pick and choose his receivers against the nation's worst pass defense. Don't expect Michigan to completely run away from Ball State, however. This could be one of those matchups that scares Michigan fans a bit because of Ball State's ability to throw the ball. While the Michigan defense is no slouch, their secondary does allow some yards (ranking 75th). The key factor in this game will be Michigan's front four against the Ball State pass protection. The Wolverines are fourth in the country in sacks and Ball State ranks 100th in keeping their quarterbacks on their feet. The Cardinals have yet to see a defense as aggressive as Michigan's, and it should show Saturday when Joey Lynch and Nate Davis are added to the list of quarterbacks who wince at the mention of LaMarr Woodley. Prediction: Michigan 38, Ball State 14 Central Michigan @ Temple Congratulations are in order for the Temple Owls football program. They've finally got something other than a goose egg in their win column after a 28-14 win over Bowling Green in week 9. Back-to-back wins don't seem likely, however, as the Owls run into a Central Michigan team with its sights set on a MAC West championship. The Chippewas (5-3, 5-0) have relied heavily on the play-making ability of freshman QB Dan LeFevour and will likely do so against Temple Saturday. LeFevour should have plenty of time to throw the ball and allow RB Ontario Sneed some daylight in the backfield. The Owls will struggle to keep CMU out of the end zone. Defensively, CMU senior DE Dan Bazuin may have a field day against a Temple offensive line that allows four sacks per game, and if Bazuin draws double teams, his defensive linemates may have open lanes to Temple QB Adam DiMichele. Unfortunately for the Owls, the good vibes take a turn south this weekend. Prediction: Central Michigan 37, Temple 6 Buffalo vs. Kent State All the progress the Kent State football program has made during the 2006 season took a giant hit last week in their 17-7 loss at home to Ohio. The loss couldn't have come at a worse time, as it dropped Kent behind Ohio in the race for the MAC East title. Suddenly, the upstart Golden Flashes (5-3, 4-1) find themselves in a position where they need to win out and pray for an Ohio loss in one of their final three games to win the MAC East. Fortunately for KSU and their fans, the chances of a let down loss are slim against a Buffalo (1-7, 0-5) squad that's lost seven straight decisions since their week 1 win over Temple. Kent will need to come out focused and get on top early in order to quickly eliminate Buffalo's thoughts of an upset. The Golden Flashes will likely turn toward QB Julian Edelman and RB Eugene Jarvis to rebound from last week's loss. This may be the truest test of Kent State's mettle this season. The old Flashes would almost certainly have gotten down on themselves, lost this game, and lost their season. Head coach Doug Martin has tried to change that attitude in the locker room and around campus. He's got a head strong QB leading the charge and the players seem to be drinking Martin's Kool-Aid. We'll see how good it tastes Saturday. Prediction: Kent State 38, Buffalo 10 Akron vs. Bowling Green This may be the MAC's closest game this week, but it's tough to call this game important. Both Akron and Bowling Green have put themselves in "maybe next year" positions. While Bowling Green (4-5, 3-2) is only technically one game out in the MAC East, it would take a load of help to pass Kent State and Ohio in the standings. Akron's season is over. Sitting at 3-5 and 1-3 in the MAC, their only hope is 2007. Both the Falcons and the Zips are coming off of disappointing losses in which they looked uninspired and at teams disinterested. Which team will come out fresh? Which team has more pride? That's really what this game will come down to. Falcons RB Chris Bulluck will look to bounce back from a crucial fumble against Temple at the goal line last week against a Zips run defense that seems to be headed in the wrong direction. Zips QB Luke Getsy, who's been sacked 24 times this season, will hope to have time to throw to receivers David Harvey and Jabari Arthur. I like Akron at home here, but nothing would surprise me with these two teams. Prediction: Akron 24, Bowling Green 17 Western Michigan vs. Miami This is a key game for the Western Michigan Broncos 6-2, 4-1). With MAC West leader Central Michigan in their sights next week, WMU needs this game to stay 1 behind the Chippewas. Miami has been surprisingly bad this season, mustering only one win against MAC doormat Buffalo. The Redhawks problem has been an inadequate running game. Mike Kokal and WR Ryne Robinson have had nice chemistry in the passing game, but the one dimensional offense has cost Miami down the stretch in close games. Four of Miami's eight losses this season have been by a touchdown or less, and the predictability of the offense shoulders a large part of the blame for that. Western Michigan boasts the MAC's best defensive unit and will force the already one-dimensional Redhawks into even more passing downs. Furthermore, the Broncos have shown the ability to win close games (3 wins by 7 or less). Miami will hope that Western Michigan is looking ahead to their bout with Central Michigan next week, but don't expect the Redhawks to catch WMU napping. The lack of a running game will once again cripple Miami's offensive effectiveness and Western Michigan's title chances stay in tact. Prediction: Western Michigan 27, Miami 10 This week's best bet: Ohio -3.5 @ Eastern Michigan ----- |
 
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