MAC Bowl Picture

There are only 3 guaranteed MAC bowl spots, but most teams with 7 win get a game, so here are the 6 teams that have a chance for 7 wins:

IN

Temple (8 wins) - Plays Kent State next week and a possible MAC East championship game with Ohio the week after that.

Central Michigan (8 wins) - At Ball State next Wednesday, then hosts Northern Illinois the next week in a game that could decide the MAC West.

PROBABLY IN

Ohio (7 wins) - Controls it's own destiny for the MAC East title. Plays Northern Illinois next week, then at Temple.

Northern Illinois (7 wins) - Controls it's destiny for the MAC West title. Goes to Ohio next week, then travels to Central Michigan.

SOME WORK TO DO

Bowling Green (5 wins) - Hosts Akron next week then hosts Toledo the week after. Needs to win both games to get to 7 wins.

Kent State (5 wins) - Tough game at Temple next week followed by a home game against Buffalo. Also needs to win both games to get to 7 wins.


The big MAC game next week will be Northern Illinois at Ohio on Saturday November 21st. The winner still has a chance to play in the MAC Championship game. The loser will most likely make a bowl game, but the ultimate goal of a conference championship will have been denied.

Another close game, but also another loss

Ball State once again had a chance to win another football game, but could not convert on crucial possessions in the fourth quarter and lost to Northern Illinois 26-20. BSU took a 7-0 lead early on a 4 play, 79 yard drive all from the wildcat formation ending in a 5 yard TD run by Eric Williams. The next 9 minutes were a blur of husky red as NIU scored two touchdowns and BSU took a safety to end the first quarter with a 16-7 deficit. The Cardinals were able to muster two field goals by Ian McGarvey in the second quarter to go into halftime down 16-13. NIU came out firing in the third quarter, using the wind to their advantage for field position. The Huskies kicked a field goal and passed for a touchdown to make the score 26-13 at the end of three quarters. The fourth quarter was crazy as BSU had a 4th and 18 with 6 minutes left. Cards QB Tanner Justice was running for his life and threw the ball up for grabs and Dan Ifft came down with it to score the touchdown. BSU stopped NIU on their next possession and got the ball with 1:58 left and a chance to win the ball game. However, two incomplete passes, a 4-yard desperation scramble by Tanner Justice, and a short 4-yard pass on 4th and 6 were not enough to get the victory.

The BSU defense played well in the final three quarters only giving up 89 total yards, but the 16 points that NIU put up in that first quarter was too much of a deficit for the offense to overcome. The offense did not move the ball well from the middle of the 1st quarter to the middle of the 4th quarter. In those three quarters, the BSU offense ran 39 plays for 73 yards and scored 6 points.

We are a decent team as this is the 7th of our 9 losses that we have had the ball in the 4th quarter down 7 points or less. This is year 1 of 3 in our rebuilding phase. Give these guys a few more games and a few more reps and we will be bowling again befoer you know it.

BSU on ESPNU tonight

Ball State's football team travels to Northern Illinois for a MAC showdown on ESPNU tonight at 6pm. On paper, it looks like the Cardinals are going to get crushed. NIU is first or second in the MAC in offensive scoring, rushing offense, defensive scoring, total defense, and rushing defense. BSU is 4th in rushing offense, but 9th or worse in every other category. BSU is a 17-point underdog. If NIU wins this game, they will be 7-3 and still a contender in the MAC West.

The Washington Redskins are 4 point underdogs at home against Denver on Sunday. The injury bug has hit and that is not what this 2-6 team needs. Clinton Portis is "very, very doubtful" for Sunday's game, so Ladell Betts will probably get his first start in 3 years. Safety Chris Horton was put on IR due to toe surgery. Combine that with the loss of two offensive lineman (Samuels and Thomas) and our top receiver (Cooley), it doesn't look too good for the Skins for the rest of the year.

Bulldogs fight to the end, but come up short

The Brownsburg girls basketball team stayed within single-digits of a very tough Decatur Central team until the last two minutes of the game. DC led 32-29 at the half and 44-38 after three quarters before using a 25-15 4th quarter to win the game 69-53. The story of the game was at the free throw line. Brownsburg was 5 of 17 while DC was 24 of 33. Junior Erica Lesch led the Bulldogs with 17 points. Freshman Stefanie Mavunga scored 12 points in her first varsity outing, but was 0-6 from the line (amazingly, her brother had the same issues early in his career). Sophomore Lexus Murry led Decatur with 22 points as she was easily able to get around a BBurg defense that was just a step slow. Indiana State recruit Anna Munn was limited to 4 points in the first half as BBurg used a box-and-1 defense to slow her down. However, Munn was able to get free in the second half and ended up with 15 points. Brownsburg hosts defending champ Ben Davis on Saturday.

Ball State's football team travels to Northern Illinois tomorrow for a 6pm game that will be shown on ESPNU. BSU is a 17-point underdog and the over/under is 45. In other MAC games, Ohio beat Buffalo last night to give the Bobcats their 7th win of the season, which pretty much ensures that they will be able to go to a bowl game.

Is it basketball season yet? Why, yes it is!!!!

The girls high school basketball season starts tonight as the Brownsburg Bulldogs travel to Decatur Central. Brownsburg only lost one player from a team that was 4-17 last year. That could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how they all work together. I would think that the team could get to 10 wins this year, as they are in year 2 of a 3-year plan.

Ball State's football team goes on the road to Northern Illinois on Thursday night. The game is at 6pm on ESPNU. BSU is a 17-point underdog.

The Washington Redskins suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck! I know most of the offensive line is hurt, but even the backups should be able to give QB Jason Campbell some time to throw. He was sacked 5 times and hit 8 more times. Of course, a decent running game would help, but after Clinton Portis suffered a concussion in the 2nd quarter we had to rely on Ladell Betts and Rock Cartwright at running back. That won't win you many ball games. It doesn't get any easier as the Redskins next three games are against Denver, Dallas, and Philly.

The MAC bowl picture worsens

Western Michigan lost to Michigan State, which was expected, but Kent State losing to Akron put a dent in the Flashes chances at a bowl game. Kent State now has to beat MAC East leader Temple on the road and then beat Buffalo at home to get to 7 wins on the season. They have a bye next week so they do have some time to figure things out.

Drew Storen pitched in the Rising Stars game in the Arizona Fall League, but did not pitch well. He pitched in the bottom of the 8th and was given a 7-6 lead to protect. He gave up a lead-off single then threw a gopher ball to blow the save and the lead. He did retire the next three batters in order on a ground out and two strikeouts. His team failed to score in the 9th, so Storen was also saddled with the loss. It's only one game and he has been pitching very well as of late, so I hope he can put this behind him and keep on going.

The Redskins play the Falcons this afternoon and the Skins are 9 point underdogs. If they give up more than 17 points, they will not be able to win the game. We still have a chance at the division title, as we are three games behind with 9 games to play. Four of those 9 games are within the division.