Throughout the 2008 college football season, Co-Sports editors Vinnie Lopes, Kyle Shaner and a guest will pick the winners of games involving MAC teams. This week's guest for the second consecutive week is Will O'Hargan, former Daily News sports editor and sports columnist.
Temple at No. 16 Penn StateNoon Saturday, Big Ten Network
Sixty-seven years after last beating Penn State, Temple will get another attempt this weekend.
Temple has lost its last two games on the last play of the game. Against Buffalo last week, the Owls lost 30-28 when the Bulls scored a 35-yard passing touchdown as time expired.
Penn State has won its first three games by at least 30 points, including a 55-13 win against Syracuse last week.Last season Penn State defeated Temple 31-0 in Philadelphia. The Nittany Lions are 33-3-1 all-time against the Owls.
Lopes: Penn State Shaner: Penn State O'Hargan: Penn State
Ohio at NorthwesternNoon Saturday, Big Ten Network
Ohio will look to avoid doing something it has not accomplished in six years: start a season 0-4.
The Bobcats have lost their first three games by a combined 16 points with losses to Wyoming, No. 13 Ohio State and Central Michigan.
Ohio is 1-2 all-time against Northwestern and its only win was a 14-12 victory in 1973.
Northwestern has won its first three non-conference games this season, including a 33-7 win against Southern Illinois last week. In addition, running back Tyrell Sutton is averaging 5.8 yards per career.
Lopes: NorthwesternShaner: Northwestern O'Hargan: Northwestern
Central Michigan at PurdueNoon Saturday, Big Ten Network
For the third time in 12 months Central Michigan and Purdue will play each other.The Boilermakers won both games last season, including the 2007 Motor City Bowl.Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour has the second most passing yards in the MAC with 828. In the two games against Purdue last season, LeFevour averaged 278 passing yards.
Purdue enters this game after a 31-28 overtime loss to Oregon. Quarterback Curtis Painter, who had 546 passing yards against Central Michigan in the Motor City Bowl, has totaled 493 passing yards this season.
Lopes: Central Michigan Shaner: Purdue O'Hargan: Purdue
Eastern Michigan at Maryland1 p.m. Saturday, ESPN360.com
Eastern Michigan will travel half-way across the country to play a team that has outscored them a combined 132-19 in three previous meetings.
This is the first time Eastern Michigan and Maryland have played since 2003.Following a win in their season opener, the Eagles have lost their last two games, including a 41-17 loss to Toledo last week. In that loss, Eastern Michigan was held to a season-low 265 total offensive yards.In the last two weeks, Maryland lost to Tennessee Tech and then beat then-No. 23 California.
Lopes: Maryland Shaner: Maryland O'Hargan: Maryland
Akron at Army1 p.m. Saturday, ESPN Classic
After dropping its conference opener to Ball State, Akron will try for its second win against Army.
This will be the second time this season Akron has traveled to New York for a game. The Zips defeated Syracuse for their only win of the season.
Army leads the all-time series 3-1, but Akron's only win occurred last season at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Army is coming off of a bye week, after it lost to New Hampshire 28-10 Sept. 6. Army also lost its season opener to Temple, and will play two more MAC teams later this season.
Lopes: Akron Shaner: Akron O'Hargan: Akron
Buffalo at No. 5 Missouri2 p.m. Saturday
After winning last week as time expired on a Drew Willy Hail Mary pass, Buffalo will now face one of the nation's best offenses.In its first games, Missouri is leading the nation averaging 57.7 points per game. Also, quarterback Chase Daniel has 10 touchdown passes and 973 passing yards in those three wins.
For the first time since becoming a Football Bowl Subdivision team in 1999, Buffalo has won two of its first three games. In those games Buffalo's defense has allowed 335.7 yards per game, fourth-best in the MAC.
Lopes: Missouri Shaner: MissouriO'Hargan: Missouri
Indiana State at Northern Illinois3 p.m. Saturday, ESPN360.com
One team will get its first win of the season Saturday as 0-2 Indiana State travels to play 0-2 Northern Illinois.
Indiana State has not won a game since Oct. 21, 2006, when it beat Missouri State 28-22 for its one win of the season. The win is the Sycamores' lone win since 2004.
Northern Illinois has lost nine of its last 10 games. In addition, Indiana State lost to Eastern Michigan in the season opener. Although Indiana State leads the all-time series 5-4, Northern Illinois is 4-1 at home against Indiana State.
Lopes: Northern Illinois Shaner: Northern Illinois O'Hargan: Northern Illinois
Ball State at Indiana7 p.m. Saturday, Big Ten Network
In 42 attempts, the Ball State football team has never beat a team from a BCS conference. The Cardinals will look to get their first win against one of the BCS schools Saturday when they travel to Bloomington to play Indiana.
Two years ago Ball State had a 23-7 lead on the Hoosiers entering the fourth quarter but lost 24-23.
Kellen Lewis came off the bench, threw for 228 yards and ran for 88 more in the 2006 win. Last year he threw for 354 and also ran for 52.
Lopes: Ball State Shaner: Ball State O'Hargan: Ball Sate
Kent State at Louisiana- Lafayette7 p.m. Saturday
One week ago, both Kent State and Louisiana-Lafayette were ranked in ESPN.com's Bottom 10. Kent State was ranked No. 10 and Louisiana-Lafayette was paired with Louisiana-Monroe at No. 7.
This week neither team was featured in the poll for the nation's worst teams as Kent State beat Delaware State 24-3 last week and Louisiana-Lafayette narrowly lost to No. 24 Illinois 20-17. Saturday's game will be the first on Louisiana-Lafayette's new field turf, which was installed this summer.
Lopes: Louisiana-LafayetteShaner: Kent State O'Hargan: Louisiana-Lafayette
Tennessee Tech at Western Michigan7 p.m. Saturday
After leading Western Michigan to a 51-28 win at Idaho last week, quarterback Tim Hiller won the MAC West offensive player of the week award.
Tennessee Tech has the second worst pass defense in the Ohio Valley Conference, allowing 213 yards a game. Western Michigan and Tennessee Tech have never played, but the Broncos lost to OVC team Eastern Illinois in 1996. Tennessee Tech lost to MAC team Northern Illinois 42-3 in 2005.
Lopes: Western Michigan Shaner: Western Michigan O'Hargan: Western Michigan
Miami at Cincinnati7:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPN360.com
Miami and Cincinnati will battle for the Victory Bell in the teams' 113th meeting Saturday.
Miami leads the all-time series 59-46-7 between the schools, which are located 35 miles apart in southwest Ohio. The rivalry is the longest-lasting college football rivalry west of the Allegheny Mountains and the fifth-longest overall in the nation.
Cincinnati has won the past two match ups and three of the past four, including a 47-10 victory last year.
Lopes: Cincinnati Shaner: Cincinnati O'Hargan: Cincinnati
No. 25 Fresno State at Toledo8:15 p.m. Saturday, ESPNU
For the first time in four years Toledo will play host to a team rated in the top 25 in the nation.
The last time the Rockets had a home game against a ranked team was Nov. 23, 2004, when Toledo beat No. 24 Bowling Green 49-41. The Rockets outscored the Falcons 42-14 in the second half of that game.
Fresno State received its national ranking after beating Rutgers to begin the season. After a loss to No. 10 Wisconsin last week, the Bulldogs fell from No. 21 to No. 25 in the nation.
Lopes: Fresno State Shaner: Fresno State O'Hargan: Fresno State
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