MAC Games on TV this week

Hi let me first introduce myself, I'm currently a Junior at Northern Illinois University (NIU, not UNI!) and am currently a student of one of the best business schools in the country. No matter how much we suck (especially this year), I try and make every home NIU Huskie Football game (and some away ones too). I also have a cleverly named blog, Red and Black Attack following all aspects of Huskie sports. I love this crazy MAC conference and will try and follow our basketball team a lot more this season.

Before this week, the #4 Arizona State @ #5 Oregon game was only going to be shown on Fox Sports Northwest and Arizona. The MAC deals with the same regional problems, unless ESPN decides to pickup games of national interest. The other option for teams in the MAC conference is to show games during the week so that they can be picked up for a national audience. However, this is controversial, because it affects not only the attendance of the games being played, but the academic integrity of the players that may have to miss some classes to get ready for the games. MAC games next week during the week include CMU @ WMU on Tuesday and Ohio @ Akron on Wednesday, both of which will be on ESPN2

All times EST

Friday:

7:30 - Akron (3-5, 2-2) @ Bowling Green (4-4, 2-2) -7

Why you should watch: It will be interesting to see which team will bounce back from their losses the previous week in which Ohio beat Bowling Green 38-27 and Akron losing to Temple and Buffalo 2 straight weeks. It will be Akron's 2nd of 3 games in a 12 day span and this game is vital for them to win. Also, make sure to watch Senior DB John Mackey try to come back from an ACL in just one month for Akron. BGSU QB Tyler Sheehan should be back 100% from his shoulder injury ready to fire down the field. A loss by BGSU would eliminate the Falcons from the MAC Championship.


Saturday:

12:00 - Ball St. (5-4) @ Indiana (5-4) -6.5

Why you should watch: Both teams are hungry to become bowl-eligible for the first time since the 90's so watch out this game could go back and forth all day. Ball State is 0-40 against teams from BCS conferences, and is looking to get their first tomorrow. Indiana should be in a sour mood after getting blown out last week by Wisconsin 3-33. Last year Indiana squeeked by in a 24-23 victory.

3:00 - Buffalo (4-5, 4-1) @ Miami (OH) (4-5, 3-1) -7

Why you should watch: Well, ESPN 360 isn't exactly on real TV, but it's free to watch online and is of great quality. Also will be shown locally on the Ohio News Network (whatever that is...) GMoney already did a preview on this game right HERE on this site a few posts down.


And if you're rollin' in dough, these games will be available online via All-MACcess $8 PPV:

Friday
7:00 - Temple (3-5, 3-2) @ Ohio (4-5, 2-3) -7.5
Can Temple win its 4th straight game???

Saturday
7:00 - EMU (3-6, 2-2) @ Toledo (4-5, 2-3) -7.5
Which suddenly surging cellar dweller will put a positive note on their season?