Ten Mid-American Conference teams are playing games within the conference this week whilethe Ball State defense will again face a running quarterback Juice Williams when it plays Illinois.
Ball State (5-3) vs. Illinois (5-3)Three weeks ago Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour ran for 146 yards and a touchdown against Ball State. The Cardinals defense faces another quarterback with running potential Saturday. Illinois' Juice Williams is second on the team with 336 rushing yards this season. The Cardinals' defense is third worst in the MAC in rushing defense, allowing 214.9 yards per game.
Staff predictionsVinnie Lopes, Managing Editor: IllinoisKyle Shaner, Sports Editor: IllinoisMichelle Salmon, soccer coach: Ball State
Akron (3-4) vs. Buffalo (3-5)For the first time since joining the MAC in 1999, Buffalo is guaranteed winning-record conference play with a win against Akron Saturday. Despite losing to Syracuse University 20-12 in their last game, the Bulls enter Saturday with a two-game conference winning streak, which is the longest one in school history. Akron is coming off of a bye week and is averaging the fewest yards on offense in the MAC. On defense, the Zips are ranked third in the conference, allowing 398.4 yards per game.
Lopes: BuffaloShaner: AkronSalmon: Akron
Miami (4-4) vs. Vanderbilt (4-3)After holding the then-No. 6 University of South Carolina to a season-low 26 rushing yards in a 17-6 win last week, Vanderbilt will play host to Miami Saturday. The RedHawks rushed for a season-high 262 rushing yards in a win against Bowling Green Oct. 13. Currently Miami is averaging 142.8 rushing yards per game, fifth-best in the MAC. Prior to its loss last week to Temple, Miami was on a three-game winning streak and undefeated in conference play.
Lopes: VanderbiltShaner: VanderbiltSalmon: Vanderbilt
Northern Illinois (1-7) vs. Toledo (3-5)The MAC West's last place teams face off Saturday. Northern Illinois is last in the MAC West at 0-4 in the conference. The Huskies' one win of the season was a 42-35 victory against the University of Idaho from the football championship subdivision, formerly known as Division I-AA. Toledo has one win in the MAC and three overall.
Lopes: ToledoShaner: ToledoSalmon: Toledo
Central Michigan (4-4) vs. Kent State (3-5)The nation's second-leading rusher will take on the MAC's sixth-ranked rushing defense Saturday. Kent State running back Eugene Jarvis leads the MAC with 1,103 rushing yards this season. He is second in the nation in rushing behind Matt Forte from Tulane University. Central Michigan's defense allows 191 rushing yards per game.
Lopes: Central MichiganShaner: Central MichiganSalmon: Central Michigan
Ohio (3-5) vs. Bowling Green (4-3)Bowling Green quarterback Tyler Sheehan threw for at least 270 yards in the Falcons' first five games of the season. In the last two weeks the MAC's second-leading passer has not thrown for more than 184 yards. Both of the games were against MAC opponents. He threw for 184 yards against Kent State and 140 against Miami. Sheehan threw for 351 yards against MAC foe Temple earlier this year. Ohio is seventh in the MAC at stopping the pass as the Bobcats have allowed 219.2 passing yards per game this season. Overall Ohio has the MAC's third worst defense as it has allowed 434.5 yards per game this season as the Bobcats allow 215.2 rushing yards per game, second worst in the conference.
Lopes: Bowling GreenShaner: Bowling GreenSalmon: Bowling Green
Western Michigan (3-5) vs. Eastern Michigan (2-6)Since 1997 Eastern Michigan has won one game against Western Michigan. The Eagles enter the 2007 match up with a four-game losing streak, which includes a 26-14 loss to Northwestern University last week. In addition, on offense Eastern Michigan is averaging 299.6 yards per game, second-worst in the MAC and fourth-worst in the nation. Western Michigan is averaging 421.4 yards per game on offense, and wide receiver Jamarko Simmons leads the conference with 69 receptions and 806 receiving yards. Eastern Michigan's defense allows 230 passing yards per game, eighth best in the conference.
Lopes: Western MichiganShaner: Western MichiganSalmon: Western Michigan
Pick 'em standingsIt was a tie for the second time in the first three weeks of the Daily News' competition. Managing Editor Vinnie Lopes and Sports Editor Kyle Shaner tied the guest picker, women's basketball forward Lisa Rusche, at 6-2. With the tie, Lopes maintained his two game lead in the standings. Each week Lopes, Shaner and a guest picker from the newspaper staff or the Ball State Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will project the MAC games.
Overall standings:Vinnie Lopes: 16-7Kyle Shaner: 14-9Guests: 14-9
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