2018 MAC Pick’em — MAC Championship Week
The road to Detroit has ended (mostly) with Buffalo and NIU making it to Detroit. Now it’s time to buckle up and nail this 10-point game.
It’s that time of the year again. The MAC’s two best* teams meet up in Detroit to decide who will be this year’s conference champion in football, as Buffalo and NIU have earned their way to the Motor City with division titles. The Bulls come in with a dynamic offense, and an impressive 10–2 record while the Huskies come in 7–5 having packed it in the past two weeks after clinching the division early. Unstoppable force or immovable object? Lets find out.
But first, Week 13 was mostly chalk. Outside of a WMU win over that “I wish I wasn’t playing a meaningless game in Kalamazoo on a Tuesday night” NIU team, no real surprises came out of the week. That said, we had three perfect weeks, so congrats to Tallmidget57, Nick McCarthy, and Zia.
Full weekly breakdown here. The Cumulative figures haven’t changed much, but I extended my lead to three points last week thanks to Miami. Go Hawks, enjoy your winter vacation.
On to this week, remember that there are two games to pick, but only one is worth the mother lode of 10 points. Let’s get to it.
Buffalo vs Northern Illinois (57 total points)— Usually I wait to make my pick, but since I’m leading, I figure I might as well set the example and go Buffalo here. The Bulls clearly have the better offense, with a stable of backs to complement the Tyree Jackson/Anthony Johnson connection, and some solid secondary receiving options as well. Buffalo also features a not terrible defense, anchored by Khalil Hodge and Baby Mack (LaDarius).
Meanwhile, NIU has been here before. A lot, actually. But this is not the same NIU team that used to run roughshod across the West. This team has a fierce defense, but a lame duck offense that has been bailed out by said defense numerous times. The Huskies might not be here if not for three forced turnovers against Ohio or 10 straight three-and-outs forced against EMU (or a Chad Ryland missed FG in OT). The defense does its job, but now it must face a primed and ready missile attack.
I’m going with the Bulls as the more complete team to bring home their 2nd MAC Championship.
Akron @ South Carolina — BONUS TIME! This is Akron’s make-up game for the Nebraska debacle, and uhhh, yeah. This game isn’t really for anything other than a payday. The Cocks have already clinched bowl eligibility, and should make a bowl easily due to playing in the SEC and having good geography. Akron is 4–7, will not be making a bowl, and could be firing Terry Bowden just a year after making the MAC Championship with him at the helm (if rumors are to believed to be true). Go Cocks, get me a bonus point.
