If there was one thing we learned watching college football Tuesday night, it is that the MAC East division is now officially a two-team race to Detroit. Buffalo (7-2, 5-0 MAC) and Bowling Green (6-4, 4-1 MAC) picked up some blowout victories Tuesday night, which means the Bulls and Falcons will be set-up for a collision course in the regular season finale if they can get through the next few weeks unscathed.
Bowling Green cruised by Miami Ohio to become eligible for the postseason for a second straight season. Bowling Green recorded a 45-3 victory that was every bit as dominating as the score would indicate. Quarterback Matt Johnson threw three touchdowns and passed for 252 yards and Travis Greene led all players with 112 rushing yards.
Buffalo used their strong running game to take care of Ohio, 30-3. Buffalo’s Branden Oliver rushed for 249 yards and two touchdowns. It was the fifth straight game Oliver rushed for over 100 yards and second time in that span he rushed for 200 yards. Buffalo’s defense also shut down Ohio from start to finish, holding the Bobcats to just a field goal in the win.
These two teams now can control the outcome of the MAC East race. Buffalo has a tricky match-up next week on the road at Toledo and follows that up with another road game at struggling Miami Ohio. Bowling Green will host Ohio and play at Eastern Michigan before the final game of the regular season. If Buffalo and Bowling Green can get by their next two games without a loss, the division will come down to the regular season finale between Buffalo and Bowling Green in Buffalo on Friday, November 29.
Ohio can still wiggle back in but will need the Bulls and Falcons to lose to help them out. Whoever comes out of the East will likely have a chance to block Northern Illinois from another MAC title, and perhaps a second straight BCS berth.
Of course, that is just assuming Northern Illinois gets by Ball State first.