MAC Today: The guest host edition

[note: Tim over at Hoops Junkie asked me to do a guest shot on MAC basketball coverage for the next week or so. Figured I'd simulcast over here. Should start posting some non-hoops related posts soon.]

I’ll start my fill-in for Tim with a split schedule this mid-week, with a couple games tonight and the other match-ups in the traditional Wednesday slot. It looks to be an interesting evening, with both games offering a 3 ½ line (for entertainment purposes only!), with Toledo and Akron drawing the favor of Las Vegas. Likely they won’t be that close (but it is the MAC…), and in one case I would question the favorite (at least based on recent performance). Here’s what’s on tap:

Akron (8-3, 2-0) @ Western Michigan (4-8, 1-1)

One would have to imagine that this would be a road lock for the ‘Roo. Akron's rolls into University Arena with an 8-3 start, their best in the 2000’s (what do you call this decade? The ’80’s or ‘90’s worked so well, but I got nothin’ for this decade), and they are rolling with a three-game win streak after a come from behind win at Ball State and a thumping of Toledo last week. Romeo Travis (15 ppg, 5.6 rpg) was “The Man” again last week, averaging 19 points and six rebounds in the two victories. The young Broncos have a 22 point pounding of a not-so-impressive BGSU squad to build off of, and will be looking for their first back-to-back victories of the season. Joe Reitz leads a balanced scoring attack for Steve Hawkins’ squad (13.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg), but it will likely not be enough against the talented Zips.

Audio: Akron (pay) or WMU (also pay), or keep up with the live stats via WMU’s website


Buffalo (11-2, 1-1) @ Toledo (7-4, 0-3)

Buffalo continues their 2-game road swing and looks to get back on track with a contest at Toledo’s Savage Hall, a venue that is very friendly to the home team (28-3 over the last 3 seasons, 6-1 this year) and very unfriendly to the Bulls. Buffalo has never won at Savage, but comes in facing a Toledo team that looked very lackluster in double-digit losses at Akron and Kent last week. Toledo is still looking for its first conference victory, but will likely find problems in facing a Bulls team that is likely energized after dropping an 84-82 overtime decision at Northern Illinois, only their second loss of the season. Junior Justin Ingram (14.5 ppg) leads three Rockets averaging double digits, while the Bulls offer an outstanding 44.7 3pt FG% and an impressive five players in double digits, lead by Calvin Cage (17.8) and Yassin Idbihi (14.5).

Audio: Toledo (pay) or Buffalo (also pay)