2018 MAC Pick’em — Week 13
We end the regular season with the traditional Black Friday clustermess that features two big games in MAC East play
We did it! After nearly three months of football, we’ve finally come to the end of the road. The last games of the season for a good chunk of our MAC brethren. Senior Days and preparation for the long slumber that is the off-season.
But before that, we have to finish up, and after last week’s blood week, we have a doozy of a race in the Pick’em. I took a four point weekly lead into Saturday, when I received word that Kato Nelson would play. Rather than try to expand on that lead, I went and did this:
Welp. I still won, and I still hold the outright lead thanks to y’all picking Buffalo and making that the Game of the Week, but only by a point. This week will be fun.
On to Week 13, but first a quick announcement: Due to Akron playing its 12th game next week after the MAC Championship, I will be including the Zips’ game against South Carolina as a one point add-on to the 10 point Championship form. There will be no Game of the Week vote, this game will simply be worth one point.
Northern Illinois @ Western Michigan — After the Broncos fired Tim Dauost, Western Michigan’s defense might actually look better in this game. It might do that because NIU’s offense is pretty bad, but improvement is improvement. Still, I don’t see a true freshman beating this NIU defense in his fourth career game.
Ball State @ Miami — The RedHawks are fresh off back-to-back upsets against Ohio and NIU after hanging with Buffalo in the frigid white North. Ball State picked on a lame duck WMU team, and will not be taking home the Redbird Trophy this year. This should set-up an interesting Black Friday, starting with….
Buffalo @ Bowling Green — The Falcons have looked MUCH better the past two weeks, albeit against noted offensive stalwarts Central Michigan and Akron. Buffalo is fresh off an ass kicking at the hands of Ohio, leaving the door open to chaos. I don’t think Buffalo will lose, but if it does, and if Miami wins Tuesday, it’ll make…
Akron @ Ohio — …much more interesting. All of the Black Friday games kick-off at noon, so that sucks if you wanted to watch the MAC East race play out. However, this may prevent Ohio from trying to tank to avoid sending Miami to the MAC Championship. Ohio needs Miami and Buffalo to lose to make it to Detroit, while winning against a one-legged Kato Nelson. Ultimately, the Bobcats will miss out on the East Title due to two plays.
Central Michigan @ Toledo — CMU is coming off a bye, but should get that 11th loss by a mile.
Eastern Michigan @ Kent State — EMU should’ve won the West. Had Chad Ryland made his OT kick against NIU back in September, we’d be talking about WMU possibly leaving the door open for the Eagles. Alas, we are not.
Game of the Week — Buffalo @ Bowling Green — BG doesn’t look terrible, and Buffalo needs a win or else we descend into MAC East chaos. Yep, this is oddly the Game of the Week!
