Throughout the 2008 college football season, co-sports editors Vinnie Lopes, Kyle Shaner and guest will pick the winners involving MAC teams. This week's guest is Kyle Bentle, managing editor of Ball Bearings.
Akron at Kent StateNoon Saturday, ESPN360.com
Two schools located 12 miles apart will battle for the Wagon Wheel Trophy this Saturday. Akron has won nine of the last 11 meetings against Kent State and leads the all-time series 28-20-2. However, the Golden Flashes have won 12 of the 19 games played in Kent, Ohio, and lead the series 19-17-1 since the Wagon Wheel Trophy was created. The Zips are in current possession of the Wagon Wheel after a 27-20 win last year. They scored 17 unanswered points in the second half and intercepted a pass in the endzone to hold off the Flashes.
Lopes: Akron Shaner: AkronBentle: Akron
Ohio at W. Michigan2 p.m. Saturday
The conference's second best passing offense will go up against the second-best passing defense in the Mid-American Conference.Western Michigan enters the weekend averaging 276 passing yards per game - 9.4 yards per game less than Ball State. Ohio's defense is allowing 162.4 passing yards per game, and beat the Virginia Military Institute last week for its first win.Ohio's defense gave up a season-high 436 yards in that game.The Broncos are on a four-game winning streak, including a 7-3 win against Temple last week. In the win, quarterback Tim Hiller was 26-of-42 for 252 yards. Lopes: Ohio Shaner: Western MichiganBentle: Western Michigan
Temple at Miami3:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPN360.com
Last year Temple beat Miami for its third consecutive conference win, the first time the Owls had accomplished the feat since 1967 in the Middle Atlantic Conference. The Owls will look for their first conference win of the season in their first ever trip to Oxford, Ohio, this week. Miami and Temple, which have the two worst scoring offenses in the Mid-American Conference, are 1-1 all-time against one another. Temple has lost its last four games of this season. Miami lost last week against Cincinnati after winning the previous week.
Lopes: Miami Shaner: MiamiBentle: Miami
E. Michigan at Bowling Green4 p.m. Saturday
Eastern Michigan will travel to Bowling Green attempting to do something in that city it hasn't done in 20 years: win.The last time the Eagles won a road game against the Falcons was in 1988. In the previous nine games between the two teams, Bowling Green has won eight times.Eastern Michigan has lost its last four games.Bowling Green ended its two-game losing streak with a 45-16 win against Wyoming in its last game. In the win, quarterback Tyler Sheehan had a season-high 287 passing yards.
Lopes: Bowling Green Shaner: Bowling GreenBentle: Bowling Green
Northern Illinois at Tennessee7 p.m. Saturday ESPN360.com
After starting the season ranked No. 18 by the Associated Press, Tennessee has fallen to the point of not receiving any votes in the most recent poll. The Volunteers are coming off back-to-back losses to ranked teams, then-No. 4 Florida and then-No. 15 Auburn. Northern Illinois is coming off a pair of wins, although they came against 0-4 Indiana State and 1-4 Eastern Michigan. The only time Tennessee played a team in the Mid-American Conference, the Volunteers won 52-9 against Akron in 1989. The Huskies are 1-8 all-time against SEC schools, with a 19-16 upset victory against No. 21 Alabama in 2003.Northern Illinois has lost its last nine games against schools from BCS conferences.
Lopes: Tennessee Shaner: TennesseeBentle: Northern Illinois
Ball State at Toledo7 p.m. Saturday
For the second consecutive season Ball State will play Toledo with a chance to become bowl eligible The Cardinals defeated the Rockets in November last season for its sixth win and reached a bowl game for the first time in 11 years.If Ball State wins Saturday it would be the quickest team to become bowl eligible in the program's history.Ball State has won its first five games, and is the only undefeated team in the Mid-American Conference. In addition, beating Toledo would mark Ball State's best start since 1965.Toledo has lost two consecutive home games, including a 35-16 loss to Floridia International last week.This is the first time since 2005 the two teams will not have their game televised on ESPN2. In the 2005 game, Toledo defeated Ball State 34-14.
Lopes: Ball State Shaner: Ball StateBentle: Ball State
StandingsVinnie Lopes: 45-5Kyle Shaner: 41-9Guest: 39-11
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