alright guys here's how i do this. I predict the divisons and teams based on overall record. I will take the 2 winners and pick the winner of the mac title game. Also lets get this out of the way i'm not a fan of nay team in my state or any etam period.. Lets get at it
6. Ball State 4-8
won 12 games in 08 has won 15 in the last 3 years combined. defense has to get better. LY they gave up 500 or more yds in 8 of their 12 games. They have given up 20 pts or more in their last 26 games! For Ball State to be better teh defense must improve
5. Eastern Michigan 4-8
I predicted them for 5 wins LY i had them starting 3-2. But Howard and Alabama State aren't on this schedule. Hell they don't play akron or umass. I see a 2-0 start again. defense went from giving up 44 ppg to 24 ppgLY E.Michigan gave up 35 pts or more once in 2010 they did it 8 times. For them to do better Alex Gillett has to take the next step and they have to score more pts especially in the mac where 60 pts sometimes doesn't win you a gameCoach English has this program in the right direction
4. Central Michigan 5-7
LY 1-11 ats. Hell since not converting that 2 pt conversion vs navy in a 38-37 loss they're 1-12 ats Enos 6-17-1 ats and he's on the hot seast. 11 games in a row giving up 22 or more pts. they play at iowa,NIU,and Toledo back to back to back plus Mich.State,W.Mich and Navy at home. If enos doesn't get fired during the season and they lose the umass game he'll be gone. Hell they could start 1-6! Big year for Enos idk if he survives
3. Toledo 7-5
This pains me because i like Toledo. But they're at W.Michigan and NIU this year and that will cost them the mac west. They have an interesting schedule at arizona and wyoming in 1st 2 weeks cicncinnati comes in in october. I like Coach Campbell but i see a step back mainly because of the schedule. Only Houston and Oklahoma State LY scored more in conference play than Toledo. 8 starters back
New DC Matukewicz was the interim coach in the potato bowl a few years back for NIU I think he should get a hc job
2. Northern Illinois 8-4
2nd yr for Doeren. 2 11 win seasons in a row. Harnish gone but NIU knows how to win. I think they'll figure it out and have another nice year
1. Western Michigan 10-2
I see them undefeated in the mac this year. 1 loss would be to illinois the other would be either Uconn or minnesota i think they'll get a split. They've never won a bowl! Cubit 38-40-3 ats. Best westen michigan tm and they're my pick to win the west.
Now we go to the east
7. Massachusetts 0-12
You're reading that right 0-12. They now play thgeir home games at gillette stadium. -29 in turnover ratio the last 4 years. There are no cupcakes on this schedule. Maybe they beat Akron but i'll call for Umass to be the worst team in the country.
6. Akron 2-10
Fear the dagum roo says Terry Bowden. GL with that. Akron was 5-7 in 08 5-31 the last 3 years. The offense was pathetic scoring 14 pts or less 6 times 20 pots or less 9 times Morgan State and Umass the wins and get ready for year 2
5. Buffalo 5-7
My man doubleup4life says they'll go 6-6 i see 5-7. 5-7 in 09 5-19 since. I see quinn matching his win total in his 1st 2 years. They'll go as far as Branden Oliver takes them.
4. Kent State 6-6
I watched their game vs bama opening day yuck! 6 games scoring 12 pts or less. I see a 4-1 start for the Flashes. Hasn't won abowl since 1972. Started 1-6 LY. Only 13.6 1st downs per game last season worst in nation. I see Hazell getting a 500 season
3. Bowling Green 7-5
I see a 1-3 start as they're at Florida,Toledo and Va Tech to start the year. 10 defensive starters back for B.Green They've gone 39 gms since allowing a team to score single digits against them.
2 Miami of Ohio 8-4
2009 -24 in turnover ratio 2010 +11 LY -4. Who is the real miami of ohio? I think they start 1-2. 4-4 after ohio then win their final 4 games. LY there were 68 players in college football who ahd more rushing yards than miami of ohio
1. Ohio 11-1
I see the 1 loss being penn state then winning the rest. This is Solich's best team at Ohio. He's 47-37-1 ats at Ohio. LY their 1st bowl win ever! No W.michigan,NIU,Toledo or c.michigan on their schedule! And if they beat Penn state OHio would be undefeated in the mac title game. Speaking of...
My Mac Title game prediction Western Michigan over Ohio so
W.Michigan finishes 11-2 Ohio finishes 11-2
Final thoughts...
The whole point to adding UMass was to have a 14 tm league. But with Temple taking their talents to the Big East they're back to 13 teams and its a weaker league. I hoe they get a 14th team. whether its s.illinois or army or whoever. I see 2 11 win teams with a possibility to win a 12th in a bowl. It'll be a lot of fun watching these weeknight mac games on here with all of you. This could be the mac;s best season yet. Tomorrow i preview Conference USA. Your thoughts on the mac?