MAC Lunch Links: Northern Illinois opens as 10-point favorites over that Big 12 school with the good basketball team

Northern Illinois is a double-digit favorite over Kansas on Saturday.

Charlie Weis and Kansas are double-digit underdogs headed to Northern Illinois on Saturday. Associated Press

Charlie Weis claimed he brought a "decided schematic advantage" to Notre Dame over his five-season tenure.

He's going to need it in week four of his first year at Kansas, where he will take his Jayhawks into Husky Stadium as ten-point underdogs against Northern Illinois, which barely eked out a one-point victory against Army this past week.

Quick recap of the rest last week's non-UMass scores before we get to the links:

• Wait, they're 3-0, what's happening? Minnesota 28, Western Michigan 23
• The Trainmakers Purdue 54, Eastern Michigan 16
• Akron 66, A really talented team that beat Sacred Heart in overtime Morgan State 6
• Smurf Turf Boise State 39, Miami (Ohio) 12
• Ohio 27, We Are Marshall 24
• Ryan Autullo of the Toledo Blade Toledo 27, John Wagner of the Toledo Blade Bowling Green 15
• Ball State 41, Ball State's Whipping Boys Indiana 39

Whoa, did those get edited again? Second week in a row? This is getting ridiculous.

Here are the links:

After a blowout on the Smurf Turf last week, Miami (Ohio) is ready to look ahead to this week's matchup against UMass, writes Rick Cassano.

The trash talk was answered on the field for Ball State, writes Andrew Mishler of the Ball State Daily News. A trick play worked to perfection for the Cardinals, writes Doug Zaleski of the Muncie Star Press.

Dave Hackenberg of the Toledo Blade "warms up some backburner leftovers" from the Battle of I-75.

The Blade's Ryan Autullo writes that Toledo running back David Fluellen and the rest of the Rockets are eschewing ego for selflessness in victory.

Northern Illinois got it done when it counted against Army, writes Steve Nitz of the DeKalb Daily Chronicle.

Central Michigan got back to basics during its bye week, writes Matt Thompson of CM Life.

Kent State relaxed Saturday as it prepares for Wednesday's game at Buffalo, writes Allen Moff of the Kent Ravenna Record Courier.

Speaking of Das Bulls, linebacker Jake Stockman is doing it with talent and intangibles on defense, writes Bob DiCesare of the Buffalo News.