MAC Preview

Predicted Order of Finish

East

Kent St | 6-2 | 7-5

Bowling Green | 5-3 | 6-6

Miami Ohio | 4-3 | 4-8

Ohio | 4-4 | 6-6

Akron | 3-5 | 5-7

Buffalo | 1-7 | 2-10

Temple | 0-8 | 0-12


West

Western Michigan | 6-1 | 8-4

Central Michigan | 6-1 | 9-3

Toledo | 5-3 | 7-5

Northern Illinois | 4-3 | 6-6

Ball St | 4-3 | 5-7

Eastern Michigan | 0-7 | 1-11



East

Kent St will probably be the best team in the East and could make it to the MAC Championship game. They also could be playing in their first bowl game since 1972. They will win games much like Ohio did last year, focusing on the running game and defense. The defense should be the best in the Doug Martin era, and they should have no problem running the ball behind a veteran line. QB Julian Edelman needs only to protect the ball a little better, and the scoring should improve. As long as the Golden Flashes don't have any bad losses like the Army and Buffalo games last year, they will break their 35 year postseason drought.


Bowling Green looked promising last season starting off 4-3, but then they lost the final five games including the embarrassing one at Temple. This year most of the offense returns, so scoring should improve. This team led the conference in rushing yards last season, and could do so again this year. The defense gave up a lot of points last year, but not a lot of yards. That's a good sign for improvement in the next year. Last year's team struggled because of its youth. This year they should win more games because the experience is now there. The Falcons will contend in the East and a possible bowl game is not out of the question.


Miami Ohio was another young team last year that should bounce back in a big way this year. The running game was dreadful last year, but should be much better with one of the conference's best lines paving the way. More points will be scored with a more balanced offense. Last year they lost five games by seven points or less. The defense should be improved, especially against the run. The schedule will make it tough for a huge year, as all five non-conference games could go either way. The RedHawks are still a year away from legitimately contending in the East.


Ohio was somewhat of a surprise team, winning nine regular season games including seven consecutive leading up to the MAC Championship game. The offense is centered on the running game, and it has one of the best running backs in the conference in Kalvin McRae. Expect another big season for him in his senior season. The QB is a huge question mark, as he threw seven interceptions in 72 pass attempts as the backup last season. Those numbers must improve, or the offense will be worse. The defense was arguably the best in the conference last season and will be very good again this season. The Bobcats made it to their first bowl game in 38 years last season, and they could make it to another one this season.


Akron will have a really good defense this year, but the offense may have a tough time keeping them in games. The offense will be led by a QB who has only a single pass attempt in his career. Also, the offensive line has only one returning starter, and there are plans to start three underclassmen. Akron scored fewer than 20 points per game last season, and that number will probably go down. The defense is the bright spot and will probably help them win some games. With many of the other teams in the East improving, it looks like the Zips will miss the postseason again this year.


Buffalo only won two games last season, and one of those was against Temple in overtime. Both the offense and the defense have a lot of starting experience returning, so both sets of numbers should improve. Unfortunately, that probably won't be enough to move very far up in the standings, if at all. It's doubtful that they will win any of the non-conference matchups. The Bulls will continue to be near the bottom of the standings.


Temple joins the MAC this season. They only have one win in the past two seasons. The offense was dreadful last season, ranking 116th in the country in points scored. They were shut out three times and their highest scoring game was 28 points against Bowling Green. The defense was equally bad, giving up 40+ points in eight games and 60+ points in three games. They ranked 118th in the country in points allowed. The Owls will be fortunate to win any games this season.



West

Western Michigan has improved in both years under new head coach Bill Cubit, and in his third year he commands the best team in the MAC. QB Joe Tiller leads the offense after taking last season as his medical redshirt year. He played in the final six games of the 2005 season and had a remarkable 20-3 ratio. Despite his limited play, he was still named the MAC Freshman of the Year. He should step in to the starter's job and be productive right away. The defense is where this team really shines. This should be the best in the conference and should improve on last year's already good numbers. The Broncos are my pick to win the West and go to the MAC Championship game.


Central Michigan had a huge year winning 10 games last year including the MAC Championship game and the Motor City Bowl. Afterwards the head coach Brian Kelly took the Cincinnati job opening. Butch Jones, the WR coach at West Virginia and former OC at Central Michigan, takes over the head coaching job. The only question about the offense is the line, since they lost two players to the NFL Draft, one a first-rounder. If the line doesn't drop off too much, this will be the best offense in the conference. The winner of the West will be decided the Central Michigan @ Western Michigan game on November 6. No matter what happens in that game, the Chippewas will be playing in a bowl game again.


Toledo will try to challenge for the top spot in the West, but will fall a little short. The offense should improve with senior RB Jalen Parmele, one of the best in the conference, leading the way. The offense does need someone to step up as the starting QB, and whoever that is will have a talented and experienced group of receivers to throw to. The defense gave up a lot of points last year, but not a lot of yardage. They should also be improved this year. In a crowded West division, the Rockets may need to get an at-large bid to be playing in the postseason.


Northern Illinois has had two great running backs leading the way over the past six years. First it was Michael Turner, who now plays for the San Diego Chargers. Then it was Garrett Wolfe, who was drafted by the Chicago Bears. Those guys are the top two all-time rushing leaders for the school. It will be interesting to see if another back will step up and be the next great Northern Illinois running back. The offense will probably struggle with the loss of Wolfe and QB Phil Horvath. The non-conference schedule includes tough road games against Wisconsin and Navy, and a neutral site game against Iowa at Soldier Field. The Huskies might not make back to a bowl game this year.


Ball St involved in a lot of high-scoring games last year. They were able to score a lot of points, but gave up a lot too. The offense should continue to be good with sophomore QB Nate Davis, who had an excellent freshman season, and the top two receivers back. The running game does need to improve, so top recruit RB was brought in and will get some playing time right away. The defense continues to be the weak spot, as it ranked last in conference in passing yards and total yards allowed last year. The non-conference schedule has four tough road games, plus they play in the loaded West division. The Cardinals, who have only four senior starters, are still at least a year away from being bowl-eligible.


Eastern Michigan only won one game last year and are doubtful to improve on that record much this year. The offense struggled to score points last season, and finished averaging less than 14 per game. The defense finished last year ranked last in rushing yards allowed and tenth in total yards allowed. The Eagles may not win any more games this season than they did last season.