If you haven't noticed, a lot of teams ranked ahead of Kent State lost today. And with UCLA losing to Stanford, that means #16 through #21 lost this weekend. Boise State, ranked #22, did not play. So given that #23 Kent State won on Friday, it appears that the Flashes, along with Boise State, still have a shot at finishing in the top 16 and a chance at a BCS Bowl. As you know to qualify for a BCS Bowl, Kent State would have to either finish in the top 12 in the final BCS standings (which the Flashes won't be able to do) or in the top 16 in the final BCS standings and ahead of one of the BCS conference champions, which appears to be Louisville or Rutgers from the Big East. #20 Louisville (9-2, 4-2) dropped its second straight but still has a chance for a BCS bowl bid by beating first-place Rutgers (9-2, 5-1) on Thursday. Although #18 Rutgers (9-2, 5-1) has a good chance to defeat Louisville on Thursday for a Bowl Championship Series berth, the Scarlet Knights will go into the game with little momentum after the Pittsburgh Panthers dominated them at Heinz Field racing to a 21-0 halftime lead and coasting to a 27-6 win. But since Kent State soundly defeated Rutgers on October 27, the Flashes should be able to make the argument that they deserve to finish ahead of the Scarlet Knights if they win the MAC Championship. Thoughts?



This post was edited on 11/24 9:41 PM by nashvillegoldenflash

BCS Standings

Kent State is ranked #17 (see link).

BCS Standings - November 25, 2012

WHAT'S AHEAD: Kent State will play for its first Mid-American Conference title since 1972 when it faces Northern Illinois at Ford Field in Detroit on Friday. The Huskies have the edge in experience. Northern Illinois is in its third straight title game, but the Flashes haven't backed down from a challenge all season other than their loss to Kentucky in the second game of the season. Both teams are 11-1 overall, 8-0 in the league and are nationally ranked (see link for full report).

Kent St. Team Notes

The link below gives the current injury report on Northern Illinois.

INJURIES

Northern Illinois is favored by 6½ (see link).

Las Vegas Odds

The Flashes keep moving up in the AP Poll (see link).

The Associated Press Top 25 Poll

The Flashes still only lead the MAC in two categories but they continue to dominate opponents.

KSU Team Report

Bowling Green favored by 2 (see link).

Las Vegas Odds

Regardless if the Flashes defeat the Bobcats this Friday, Kent State is in the MAC Championship game. Since so many Flash fans have been waiting so long for this opportunity, I have created a countdown clock for this event (see link).

Countdown

Here is the KSU team report through week twelve (11/17). The Flashes are still leading the MAC in net punting and turnover margin (see link).

KSU Team Report

Flashes move up from #25 to #23. Northern Illinois is #24 (see link).

The Associated Press Top 25 Poll

See link.

Kent State in AP Top 25 poll

Here is a link for all the MAC Championship and Bowl Game information.

KENT STATE FOOTBALL MAC CHAMPIONSHIP & BOWL GAME

I love the way Coach Hazell shows emotion when he addresses his players. I honestly believe if the Flashes go all the way to the MAC Championship Game, it will because of high level of emotion from the coaches and the players. Some of you know I follow Tampa high school football. Below is a video of head coach Jason Stokes of Gaither High School giving an emotional pre-game talk prior to a district game vs. Tampa Bay Tech. The reason Coach Stokes is so emotional is because his team must win to make the playoffs. The speech must have worked because Gaither's team won 35-32 to capture the Class 7A-District 7 championship.

This post was edited on 11/14 7:32 AM by nashvillegoldenflash

Jason Stokes pre-game talk vs Tampa Bay Tech

Here are the Massey ratings of the MAC (see link).

Massey ratings

The Flashes are favored by 5 (see link).

Las Vegas Odds

Ranked from 17 to unranked.



AP Ballots

Notice how Bowling Green is leading the MAC in six categories (see link). The boys better be ready to play this Saturday at Bowling Green otherwise the Falcons will more than likely take advantage of turnovers and mistakes.

KSU - Team Report

Rutgers guy here. I just wanted to come over, and offer my apologies, regarding all the Polls and their inability to look past what league you play in. Kent State football should be rated in ALL Polls withing the top 25, and definently ahead of Rutgers, who is at 23, or 20 depending at what Poll you look at.

The thing that many writers and Poll voters seem to take into account is, yes the Conference you play in, but also the loss to Kentucky. Which is a horrible team out of the SEC. But, what they fail to note is that this was YOUR WTF game, and should have beaten them easily.

Keep up the great season. Hope for an awesome Bowl game, and maybe we will meet again.

The opening line has the Flashes favored by 19.

Las Vegas Odds

The Flashes are leading the MAC in net punting, kickoff returns, and turnover margin (see link).

NCAA statistics - KSU report

Rutgers is favored by 11.5 (see link).

Las Vegas Odds

Marc, what players are expected to visit KSU on October 20? This will be Homecoming and I expect a nice crowd on hand to watch the Flashes battle against the Western Michigan Broncos.

Western Michigan lost to Ball State in overtime 30-24 (see link). The Flashes defeated the Cardinals 45-43. This week's Homecoming Game against the Broncos should be a great one. Dix Stadium will be rocking for sure.

Go Flashes!!!

Western Michigan vs Ball State Football Highlights

Obviously these bowl projections seem to change week to week but the current cbssports.com bowl projections have Kent State playing Louisiana.-Monroe in the New Orleans Bowl (see link).

This post was edited on 10/22 5:24 AM by nashvillegoldenflash

Bowl Projections