Throughout the college football season, co-sports editors Vinnie Lopes and Kyle Shaner and a guest picker will pick the winners of Mid-American Conference football games. Lopes was 11-1 last week and leads the competition with a 20-2 record. Both Shaner and last week's guest picker, Ball State University history professor Anthony Edmonds, went 9-3 on the week. Shaner and the guest picker are 17-5 and three games behind Lopes after two weeks. This week's guest picker is former Ball State Daily News sports editor and sports columnist Will O'Hargan.
Ball State (2-0) at Akron (1-1)1 p.m. SaturdayWhile Akron's mascot, Zippy, won the Capital One Mascot Challenge last year with a perfect record, the Zips' football team did not have the same success as Akron won four games last year. Ball State's football team is off to the same start as Zippy last year at 2-0. Ball State receiver Dante Love leads the nation with 556 all-purpose yards and is second in the nation in receiving yards with 336. Akron has the third-best pass defense in the MAC, allowing 105 yards a game.Lopes: Ball StateShaner: Ball StateO'Hargan: Ball State
Temple (1-1) at Buffalo (1-1)Noon Saturday ESPN Gameplan/ESPN360.comThe first touchdown in Temple's game last week against Connecticut game in overtime as the Huskies got into the end zone and beat the Owls 12-9. Prior to the score, the game was limited to five field goals, including three by Temple. Buffalo's games have not been as low scoring, as both of the Bulls' first two games have seen more than 40 points scored. Temple does have the ability to score though, as evidenced by its 35 points against Army in week one.Lopes: BuffaloShaner: BuffaloO'Hargan: Temple
Toledo (0-1) at Eastern Michigan (1-1)Noon SaturdayFor the third consecutive year Toledo began the season with a loss in its season opener. Each of the past two seasons, the first loss was followed by a second loss in the next game, with both of the latter losses coming by 21 points at the hands of MAC opponents. The Eagles will try to keep the Rockets' streak alive and break one of their own. If Eastern Michigan wins, it would be the first time it won two of its first three games since 1995.Lopes: Eastern MichiganShaner: ToledoO'Hargan: Eastern Michigan
Central Michigan (1-1) at Ohio (0-2)2 p.m. SaturdayWhile Central Michigan was pounded by No. 2 Georgia last week, Ohio held its own against one of the nation's other top teams. The Bobcats led then-No. 3 Ohio State with less than 20 minutes to play Saturday but eventually lost 26-14. The defending MAC champ Chippewas will look to rebound this week against the Bobcats and push their winning streak against teams from the state of Ohio to 13. Ohio is looking to avoid its first 0-3 start since 2002.Lopes: Central MichiganShaner: Central MichiganO'Hargan: Ohio
Delaware State (1-0) at Kent State (0-2)2 p.m. SaturdayKent State will look to knock off Delaware State for the second consecutive year Saturday, when the Hornets visit the Buckeye State on Saturday. Last year the Golden Flashes won the teams' inaugural meeting 38-7. Delaware State's points came on a one-yard touchdown run with 35 seconds remaining in the game. The Golden Flashes did not let up though in the final minute as they returned the ensuing kickoff for a 95-yard touchdown.Lopes: Kent StateShaner: Kent StateO'Hargan: Kent State
Charleston Southern (0-2) at Miami (0-2)3 p.m. SaturdayThe last time Miami started a season 0-2, it lost the first six games of the season. The RedHawks will look to avoid the same they suffered in 2006 with a game against football championship subdivision team Charleston Southern, which is also winless this season. The Buccaneers have already lost to the nation's other Miami, the Hurricanes, with a 52-7 loss to begin the season. Charleston Southern is 0-5 all-time against football bowl subdivision teams, losing each game by at least 36 points.Lopes: MiamiShaner: MiamiO'Hargan: Miami
Western Michigan (1-1) at Idaho (1-1)5 p.m. SaturdayAfter week one losses, both Western Michigan and Idaho enter their matchup Saturday with momentum after winning last week. Western Michigan is coming off a three-point win against Northern Illinois while Idaho recovered from a 70-0 loss to Nebraska with a 42-27 win against Idaho State. Idaho enters the game with one of the most sluggish offenses in the nation, averaging 271 yards per game. Western Michigan has the MAC's worst defense allowing 461 yards a game.Lopes: Western MichiganShaner: Western MichiganO'Hargan: Western Michigan
Bowling Green (1-1) at Boise State (1-0)8 p.m. ESPN Gameplan/ESPN360.comBowling Green started out the season strong with a 27-17 win against then-No. 25 Pittsburgh but then hit a bump in the road with a 42-17 loss against Minnesota, which won one game last year. Boise State won 10 games last year and is two years removed from an undefeated season and a win in the Fiesta Bowl. The Broncos are second in the nation with 593 offensive yards a game. Bowling Green has the eighth-best defense in the MAC, allowing an average of 395 yards a game this season.Lopes: Boise StateShaner: Bowling GreenO'Hargan: Boise State
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
