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Topic: MAC Championship Preview on ESPN
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OUbobcat9092
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OU9092
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OUbobcat9092
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Posted: 11/28/2011 1:22 PM
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7289054/ls...

Mid-American Conference
Who: Ohio (9-3, 6-2 MAC) vs. Northern Illinois (9-3, 7-1)

When; where: Friday, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2; Ford Field, Detroit.

What's at stake: The winner claims a MAC championship and a berth in the Jan. 8 GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Ala. The loser probably ends up in the Dec. 27 Little Caesar's Bowl in Detroit.

What to know: The Bobcats and Huskies' didn't play each other during the regular season, but they were the MAC's hottest teams at season's end. The Ohio Bobcats have won five games in a row since losing back-to-back games to Buffalo and Ball State in October. Ohio is led by dual-threat quarterback Tyler Tettleton, a sophomore from Norman, Okla., who has passed for 2,868 yards and 26 touchdowns while running for 576 yards and eight scores. The Huskies have won seven games in a row since losing 48-41 at Central Michigan on Oct. 1. Northern Illinois ranks No. 8 nationally in rushing (255.3 yards per game) and No. 11 in scoring (39.6 points).

Player to watch: Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish, a senior from Bluffton, Ind., is extremely dangerous throwing or running the ball. He has completed 63 percent of his passes for 2,692 yards with 23 touchdowns and four interceptions, while running for 1,351 yards and 11 scores. In the Huskies' 51-22 victory over Western Michigan on Oct. 15, Harnish ran for 229 yards and passed for 203. He ranks No. 7 nationally in total offense with 336.9 yards per game.

Prediction: Northern Illinois 49, Ohio 35
Bobcat36
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Posted: 11/28/2011 2:34 PM
49 - 35

That's cute...

Just another example of ESPN's reluctance to do an ounce of research other than basic Google searching...

When comparing game results of the 3 combined conference losses for these two teams (all of which were common opponents) this game reflects something much closer to the current spread (NIU -3).  NIU's scores against Ball State (41 - 38) and Buffalo (31 - 30) matches Ohio's exact point differentials in those two games.  Yes I get that they pulled out wins where we didn't but we were also missing a large chunk of D starters.  They also lost to Central (48 - 41) as compared to OUr win (43 - 28).  This game should be about as close to a pick 'em as you get.

Ohio could EASILY have run the Marshall score into the 60's and if you think this team isn't even more jacked up for the MACC than they were for that one, you haven't been paying attention.

What the summary also fails to acknowledge is that they are 94th in points against.  Ohio is a balanced football team that doesn't have to rely on any single unit.  Speaking of which, I love Mr. Weller in a dome and if we can pull off a game with no flags on punt / kick returns, the Bobcats can do some serious damage on Special Teams in this game.

GO OHIO!!!  
Last Edited: 11/28/2011 2:57:08 PM by Bobcat36
Deciduous Forest Cat
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Posted: 11/28/2011 3:44 PM
This could be a very close, evenly matched, hard-fought game and still end close to what ESPN predicts. In a game that is likely to have lots of scoring, two scores isn't that big a margin.
Bobcatzblitz
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Posted: 11/28/2011 3:47 PM
DEFENSE will WIN OR LOSE THIS GAME.
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