I'm watching this NIU - Akron game right now:

Their defensive line is very disruptive. I saw all four downed linemen in on a sack. Akron can barely get a throw off. Their quarterback (Jordan Lynch) is built like a linebacker. He's a very decisive and powerful runner. Their DB's have been glued to Akron's receivers. They have this junior safety Jimmie Ward who genuinely appears to be all over the field.

Granted, they've had the benefit of playing Buffalo and Akron the week following our games against them (I'd like to think we banged them up a bit). But they look like a very strong team.

I've been wondering whether MAC teams have been getting jacked for us and have huge a letdown the next week.  UMass lost by 38 at WMU the week after losing to us by 3, and Buffalo lost by 42 at NIU last week.  Granted, we haven't been playing our best, but I think MAC teams are ratcheting it up five or ten notches against us.

I believe it, Buffalo threw out a full bag of tricks against us.  That scares me about making it to the MACC.  If we can just make the MACC, then we can throw out our bag of tricks.  We will need that against NIU/Toledo... I am thinking it will be NIU.

Watching some of the 2nd half of NIU/'kron with the sound off, this is what I see:  NIU's offense is disciplined and well coached.  Seems to rely mostly on the run and I think we could stop that.  But their qb, a big guy, is surprisingly mobile.  Haven't seen enough to tell if he's a good passer.  They are a good team.

I have to give NIU their props.  They are the defending MAC champs who are absolutely blowing by teams that we're barely skating by.  Probably the best team in the MAC right now, or at least playing the best.  I know that NIU had to settle for field goals 8 out of 12 times against the Zips today, but all that tells me is that they should've beaten Akron by even more than the 30 points they did beat Akron by.  And they seem to be healthy.  If they stay healthy, they could very well be the class of the MAC.  Now Toledo should be a big hurdle for NIU (what a game that will be!!), but if they do, look out.

Caveat:  I would love to see what a 100% healthy Ohio team would do  against NIU; personally I think Ohio would crush them in getting revenge for last year's MACC.