They call it the Mid-American Conference when, in fact, the league could just as easily be known as the Mid-Major Conference. When you talk about NCAA mid-major schools, you think of the MAC.

Thus, if you’re a major school playing a MAC school, you’re in potential trouble because you have everything to lose and nothing to gain — a fact that shows up in KU’s football record against MAC schools.

The Jayhawks have won only five of their last eight meetings with MAC schools, and each of the three losses has been embarrassing in its own way.

Two years ago, Bowling Green came to town and manhandled Kansas, 39-16, in Mark Mangino’s second home game as the Jayhawks’ head coach.

One KU head coach had his home debut spoiled by a MAC team. That was Pepper Rodgers. Ohio University came to Lawrence in September of 1967 and stunned Rodgers’ Jayhawks, 30-15.

Still, the most memorable win by a MAC team at Memorial Stadium occurred in 1987 when Kent State, usually one of the league’s tail-enders, stunned the Jayhawks, 31-17 — a feat that so impressed KU’s hierarchy that the Golden Flashes’ head coach, Glen Mason, was hired to take over the Kansas program the next season.

Is Toledo the next MAC team to pull the rug on the Jayhawks? I don’t think so, but you’d be wise not to take my word for it. Dozens of folks whipped me in last week’s Wanna Whack Woodling contest. You can do it this week. All you have to do is go to KUsports.com on the Web and follow the prompts.

First prize is a “We Whacked Woodling” T-shirt. Second prize is an air guitar. Third prize is a ticket to a Royals’ playoff game.

Here are the picks you’ll find this week at KUsports.com:

Nebraska 38, Southern Miss 11 — Cornmen convincing in throttling of Illinois compass school last week. No reason to think Mississippi directional school will fare any better.

Whack Woodling

Kansas State 16, Fresno State 9 — Will Bill Snyder have Darren Sproles carry the ball 42 times again this week? He may have to. Bulldogs a couple of rungs above customary K-State nonconference cupcake.

Iowa 40, Iowa State 6 — Cyclones giddy following blanking of Div. I-AA Northern Iowa last week, but ISU still is bottom feeder at the next level and No. 16-ranked Hawkeyes aren’t.

Washington State 44, Colorado 25 — Game is in Seattle, officially a neutral site, but Buffaloes usually brutal outside of Boulder so look for WSU quarterback Josh Swogger to steal a little thunder from Ichiro.

Texas A&M 55, Wyoming 53 — A&M’s defense still dreadful, but so is Wyoming’s. Looks like a shootout between Aggies’ Reggie McNeal and Cowboys’ Corey Bramlet.

Oklahoma 55, Houston 11 — Score would be the same if the Sooners were playing the Cougars or the NFL Texans. Bob Stoops could hold Jason White, Kejuan Jones and Mark Clayton out, and still win by three touchdowns.

Oklahoma State 39, Tulsa 12 — Cowboys, fresh from satisfying road win at UCLA, will make their debut in refurbished Pickens Stadium a memorable one. Bruins couldn’t stop Vernand Morency. Neither will Golden Hurricane.

Baylor 33, Texas State 29 — Bad News Bears, bulldozed at UAB last week, will bounce back, but it won’t be easy against school once known as Southwest Texas State, but shortened at request of headline writers.

New Mexico 40, Texas Tech 39 — New Mexico’s Kole McKamey outpasses Tech’s Sonny Cumbie, even through Cumbie completed more passes (40) than McKamey threw (30) Saturday.

Texas 35, Arkansas 31 — Longhorns haven’t forgotten last year’s stunning 38-28 loss to Razorbacks in Austin. It’s payback time.

Kansas 29, Toledo 23 — Mashed in Minnesota last week, Rockets will come to Lawrence with red glare, but Jayhawks should produce more bombs bursting in air. With apologies to Francis Scott Key.