Pick the MAC, week 5!

[MarkL]

Again, my apologies for getting this posted late last week. If you're worried because you missed it and feel it might hurt your standings, keep in mind I give out two prizes at the end (small prizes of course!), one for most correct picks, one for highest winning percentage. And with the highest winning percentage, obviously if somebody plays one week and does ridiculously well and then quits playing, I won't award that person the winner. The highest winning percentage is there so if somebody misses a couple weeks but picks very, very well when picks are submitted in time, they don't get punished.

Here's the standings. And as always, if you think I botched your wins / losses, let me know, I'll review and fix it. After all, I'm only human ... and a software developer.

And Falconian - good mention on UMass. After you put them on as a bonus pick, I was thinking about adding them each week, but I decided against it. I think I can speak for the entire board when I saw that we don't know a ton about most of the teams they play. But next year when they're a conference team, yup we'll be picking for or against UMass every week.

kdog27 41 - 6
Lord_Byron 39 - 8
BGFalconfromCincy 39 - 8
camkru9701 39 - 8
Warthog 39 - 8
bgsufalcon24 38 - 9
1987alum 38 - 9
MarkL 38 - 9
falconfan1999 37 - 10
footballguy51 37 - 10
mjmorefield 37 - 10
FortWayneFalcon 32 - 15
daspollak 31 - 5
VDub26Falcon 28 - 7
bgdodgeball4 27 - 8
ham0331 21 - 3
svillefalcon 20 - 3
Oldballcoach61 19 - 5
SicSicalum 18 - 4
jpfalcon09 12 - 1
POLSENVSBGSU 10-2
Falconian 8 - 39

Considering this past week was nearly all non conference games, it was a tricky week. I guess when we as a group are having a tough time picking whether a team will in fact upset Big East and ACC teams, it's a sign that the conference is pointed in the right direction. Speaking of upsets ... holy crap Temple! And speaking of crap ... Big East refs!

And now the schedule. All 13 teams play, and we really begin the meat of the MAC schedule. This is where picks get more difficult fast. And, there's a couple body bag type games.

Saturday
Toledo at Temple, noon
Buffalo at Tennessee, 12:30
Akron at Eastern Michigan, 1:00
Cincinnati at Miami, 1:00
Kent State at Ohio, 2:00
Bowling Green at West Virginia, 3:30
Western Michigan at Connecticut, 3:30
Northern Illinois at Central Michigan, 3:30
Ball State at Oklahoma, 7:00

And .... my picks

Temple. After what Temple did last week, no way they lose this one. Toledo is a talented team and can certainly potentially win, but I just don't see it happening. 1-4 start for that teamp up north.
Tennessee. Body bag game.
Eastern Michigan. Eastern Michigan with a winning record after week 5? Yup, it can happen. Akron hasn't shown many signs of life yet this season. It wasn't until week three that they entered the red zone or scored a TD.
Cincinnati. Yeah, Miami's going to start 0-4, but they will get it going. After what Cincinnati did to NC State on national TV last Thursday, no way Miami hangs with the Bearcats past halftime.
Ohio. Everybody has been saying Kent is really bad. I haven't seen them play yet, but their results aren't too promising. Ohio wins comfortably and begins the race to beat Temple for the east title.
Bowling Green. I genuinely believe in this pick. WVU is a great team, but they are disappointed after their showing last week. They've got conference play looming and I believe we will catch them looking ahead. Our entire defense, anchored by our line, keep that offense in check, and a balanced offense led by Schilz and at least three tailbacks scores very efficiently. BG in the conference's signature win of the year.
Western Michigan. UConn is bad. However, their new QB is Johnny McEntee. If you haven't seen his YouTube video, look it up. Search Johnny Mac trick shot on youtube and you'll find it. Very entertaining vid.
Northern Illinois. No real question here. NIU has had problems on defense but they are the west team to beat, no question.
Oklahoma. Another body bag game. That being said, Ball State has been a very pleasant surprise. They won't keep it close in Norman, but they will gain respect and will open some eyes.

Good luck! And to our WVU fan ... feel free to join in the fun! We've had a few rotten apple type of opposing fans around here, but having a level headed, fun, and informed type of fan is great. Love to get your input on our conference games! Good luck everyone.

[mjmorefield]

Toledo
Tennessee
Eastern Mi
Cincinnati
Ohio
West. Virginny
Connecticut
Northern Illinois
Oklahoma

[VDub26Falcon]

Toledo at Temple - Temple is on a roll. Owls win.

Buffalo at Tennessee - Bulls go down in flames. Tennessee wins.

Akron at Eastern Michigan - Blimp crash. Seriously, I have no idea. I'll say EMU since they're at home.

Cincinnati at Miami - Miami has a lot of weaknesses. Cinci wins.

Kent State at Ohio - Two more bad teams playing a game that could go either way. I'll say Ohio based on the black uniforms.

Bowling Green at West Virginia - I want to pick BG here. I really, really do. So, you know what? I AM!!! BGSU by a point.

Western Michigan at Connecticut - Western could definitely win this game and I think it will tell us a lot about the Broncos. That being said, UConn wins.

Northern Illinois at Central Michigan - Trap game for the Huskies. They have got to be ready for this one no matter what Central has looked like. NIU wins.

Ball State at Oklahoma - I'm pretty sure Oklahoma has already won this game. Sooners in a blowout.

[BGFalconfromCincy]

Temple
Tennessee
Eastern Michigan
Cincinnati
Ohio
West Virginia
Western Michigan
Northern Illinois
Oklahoma

[bgsufalcon24]

Week 5 picks:

Saturday
Toledo at Temple - Temple - hard to go against the owls after their demolition of Maryland. Toledo hangs tough but drops it late...again.
Buffalo at Tennessee, 12:30 - Tennessee - Da Bulls have regressed to their pre-Turner Gill ways. Volunteers big.
Akron at Eastern Michigan, 1:00 - Akron - This game could set college football back 20 years. Zips make one less gaffe and win it.
Cincinnati at Miami, 1:00 - Cincinnati - Miami's had a tough luck kind of year, and it continues here as the Bearcats win but have to struggle a bit to do it.
Kent State at Ohio, 2:00 - Ohio - Kent has shown their ineptitude thus far, Ohio to bounce back from loss at Rutgers.
Bowling Green at West Virginia, 3:30 - West Virginia - BG will hang tough, but the Mountaineers will get it done in the end.
Western Michigan at Connecticut, 3:30 - Western Michigan - The Broncos came real close last week, I think they get it done this time.
Northern Illinois at Central Michigan, 3:30 - Northern Illinois - No contest, the Huskies lay waste to the Chips at Kelly/Shorts.
Ball State at Oklahoma, 7:00 - Oklahoma - Bad move by Ball State's AD, Cardinals get decimated in Norman, a loss that could turn their season upside down

[FortWayneFalcon]

Temple
Tennessee
Eastern Michigan
Cincinnati
Ohio
Bowling Green
Connecticut
Northern Illinois
Oklahoma

[Falconian]

Toledo
Buffalo
Akron
Miami
Kent State
BGSU
UConn
CMU
Ball State

[Bassdrummin]

BG wins. That's my only pick.

[falconfan1999]

Toledo at Temple, noon - Temple will win
Buffalo at Tennessee, 12:30 The Vols will do whatever they want against Buffalo
Akron at Eastern Michigan, 1:00 EMU!!!!!
Cincinnati at Miami, 1:00 The Thugcats take down MiAUDI
Kent State at Ohio, 2:00 Once again, Kent State is terrible! Ohio wins big
Bowling Green at West Virginia, 3:30 I hate to pick against BG, but I think WVU is too much for our young Falcons, this year. WVU wins
Western Michigan at Connecticut, 3:30 Connecticut will win, WMU won't travel well
Northern Illinois at Central Michigan, 3:30 NIU might score 60 against Central
Ball State at Oklahoma, 7:00 Oklahoma will win by about 20


and even though I hate Toledo, they did get hosed by the refs in that game!

[svillefalcon]

Toledo at Temple, noon
Temple

Buffalo at Tennessee, 12:30
Tennessee

Akron at Eastern Michigan, 1:00
EMU

Cincinnati at Miami, 1:00
Cinci

Kent State at Ohio, 2:00
OU

Bowling Green at West Virginia, 3:30
BGSU!

Western Michigan at Connecticut, 3:30
WMU

Northern Illinois at Central Michigan, 3:30
NIU

Ball State at Oklahoma, 7:00
Boomer Sooner

[1987alum]

Toledo at Temple - Owls win, but not as big as some folks think.

Buffalo at Tennessee - Over by halftime.

Akron at Eastern Michigan - This is close to a toss-up, but I think the Hurons (sic) get it done at home.

Cincinnati at Miami - I was never sold on Miami this year.

Kent State at Ohio - Ohio is not a juggernaut, but Frank the Tank will get it done at home.

Bowling Green at West Virginia - Maybe when more of these kids are juniors and seniors, they'll win these games. Not yet, though.

Western Michigan at Connecticut - If Western brings its "A" game, it has a real shot, but I'm not yet sold on the Broncos.

Northern Illinois at Central Michigan - NIU has flashed some weaknesses, but boy did Central look awful last week. Not the Chips we're used to seeing.

Ball State at Oklahoma - Sooners will play kids who aren't even on the three-deep depth chart.

[daspollak]

Toledo
Tennessee
EMU
Cinci
OU
WVU- Be happy if I am wrong.
UConn- The Big East still sucks.
NIU
OU- BSU is tempting if it was Boise State.

[kdog27]

Temple
Tennessee
Eastern Michigan
Cincinnati
Ohio
West Virginia
Connecticut
Northern Illinois
Oklahoma

[Lord_Byron]

Who's good, who's bad, who knows?

Temple
Tennessee
Eastern Michigan
Cincinnati
Ohio
West Virginia
WMU
Northern Illinois
Oklahoma

[Warthog]

Temple
Tennessee
Eastern Michigan
Cincinnati
Ohio
West Virginia
UCONN
Northern Illinois
Oklahoma