Predicting MACtion in Week 13 | College Football Picks
TJ Inman
Host · Writer
Buffalo at Eastern Michigan (-1.5) - Wednesday at 7:01
The third week of MACtion closes with the 4-2 (6-4 overall) Buffalo Bulls traveling to take on the Eastern Michigan Eagles. Chris Creighton’s squad has struggled mightily in the past few weeks and enters this game on a three-game losing streak. That includes a dreadful loss to Akron, a one-point defeat to Toledo, and a blowout loss at Ohio. They are back home but still struggling to find a consistent winning formula. Buffalo is just 2-3 at home, but CJ Ogbonna will be the best player for either side, and the Eagles do not have the offensive firepower to keep up with Buffalo. The Bulls win outright.
Prediction: Buffalo 35 - Eastern Michigan - 27
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Akron (-10.5) at Kent State - Tuesday at 7:00
Without question, this is one of the worst games of the 2024 college football season. The Akron Zips are 2-8 and have been outscored by 57 points in six conference games. They are traveling to Kent State, and the Golden Flashes are 0-10 with an aggregate score in league games of 102 to 243. Someone has to win, and the Zips have at least been competitive in the past few weeks. The Zips are favored, but it’s not by enough. Kent State gets blown out repeatedly and does not appear to have any answers. Akron wins this one going away.
Prediction: Akron 31 - Kent State 14
Western Michigan (-6.5) at Central Michigan - Tuesday at 7:30
The Central Michigan Chippewas are only 3-7 and just 1-5 in the MAC. They are hosting the Western Michigan Broncos, and after a solid start to league play, the Broncos have lost two in a row to slide to 4-2. Western Michigan’s offense is struggling, and offensive coordinator Walt Bell is not the guy I’d want to try to figure out the answers to. Central Michigan has a chance to pull off the upset, but the smart play is to take the Chippewas at +6.5. Fire Up Chips!
Prediction: Western Michigan 24 - Central Michigan 21
Northern Illinois at Miami (OH) (-2.5) - Tuesday at 8:00
One of two marquee MACtion matchups this week has the Northern Illinois Huskies traveling to Oxford to play the Miami (OH) RedHawks. NIU has won two games in a row, rebounding to 3-3 in the MAC. The RedHawks are 5-1 and locked in a three-way tie with Ohio and Bowling Green for first place in the league. Northern Illinois has been playing better, but this number is still inflated because of their win over Notre Dame. Miami has been terrific recently, with five straight wins in league play, and they are 4-1 at home this season. The number is too short, and I’d grab the RedHawks to cover.
Prediction: Miami (OH) 30 - NIU 21
Ohio at Toledo (-2.5) - Wednesday at 7:00
This week's second big matchup leads Wednesday night’s action as the Ohio Bobcats take on Toledo. The Bobcats are 5-1 in the MAC with a 7-3 record overall, and they have the conference’s best defense, allowing only 91 points in six games. Toledo has been a bit disappointing, but two straight wins have them sitting at 4-2 and with an excellent opportunity to vault back into the race for the MAC Championship Game. This is a very even game, but the Ohio defense is the best unit for either side. Toledo will have difficulty consistently moving the ball, and they lack difference-makers on offense. Take the Bobcats to improve to 6-1 and eliminate Toledo from the league title chase.
Prediction: Ohio 21 - Toledo 17
Buffalo at Eastern Michigan (-1.5) - Wednesday at 7:01
The third week of MACtion closes with the 4-2 (6-4 overall) Buffalo Bulls traveling to take on the Eastern Michigan Eagles. Chris Creighton’s squad has struggled mightily in the past few weeks and enters this game on a three-game losing streak. That includes a dreadful loss to Akron, a one-point defeat to Toledo, and a blowout loss at Ohio. They are back home but still struggling to find a consistent winning formula. Buffalo is just 2-3 at home, but CJ Ogbonna will be the best player for either side, and the Eagles do not have the offensive firepower to keep up with Buffalo. The Bulls win outright.
Prediction: Buffalo 35 - Eastern Michigan - 27
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Akron (-10.5) at Kent State - Tuesday at 7:00
Without question, this is one of the worst games of the 2024 college football season. The Akron Zips are 2-8 and have been outscored by 57 points in six conference games. They are traveling to Kent State, and the Golden Flashes are 0-10 with an aggregate score in league games of 102 to 243. Someone has to win, and the Zips have at least been competitive in the past few weeks. The Zips are favored, but it’s not by enough. Kent State gets blown out repeatedly and does not appear to have any answers. Akron wins this one going away.
Prediction: Akron 31 - Kent State 14
