MAC East Predictions and Thoughts

Akron: Their Shiny new Digs wont be enough to make up for key losses and a much improved Eastern Division.

Last year was Akron's big shot at taking the east, they may have missed their chance for a couple of years. Where last years East Champs (the Bulls) thrived in close games four of the Zips seven losses came by less than a touchdown. Its going to be hard for Akron to be in the drivers seat this November; the East as a whole should improve a bit and the Zips have a decent out of Conference slate.

The offense lost key personnel in Dennis Kennedy and Chris Kemme. Chris Jacquemain is going to have a hard time of it with these losses but his year over year performance has been impressive and he does have most of the starters returning for his final year.

Schedule:

(7-5, 4-4)

Sept. 5 @ Penn State
Sept. 12 Morgan State
Sept. 19 Indiana
Sept. 26 @ Central Michigan
Oct. 10 Ohio
Oct. 17 @ Buffalo
Oct. 24 @ Syracuse
Oct. 21 @ Northern Illinois
Nov. 7 Kent State
Nov. 13 Temple
Nov. 20 @ Bowling Green
Nov. 27 Eastern Michigan


Bowling Green: MAC-Smack likes the new coach but will he take off running or not? One thing is for sure, I don't think he will be dumb enough to bad mouth fans after a tough loss.

Fifteen Minutes is all that separated the Falcons from the MAC east title and that 15 minutes Pushed Gregg Brandon into kind of meltdown that ends coaching careers. Bowling Green has been one of the better teams in the east for some time now and there is no reason to think that they cant continue to challenge but when will they stop challenging and start winning division titles?

Last year after the Pitt game most everyone saw Bowling Green as the team to beat, and that precisely what they were, again. Losing to Miami in 07, and Buffalo in 08 has to leave a bitter taste but Gregg Brandon's protest aside the Falcons have some of the best fans in the MAC, they will be out again this year.

Like Akron they return most of their offense and little of their defense. In a high scoring league like the MAC overcoming 8 new starters on defense is going to be very difficult.

Schedule:

(7-5, 5-3)

Sept. 3 Troy
Sept. 12 @ Missouri
Sept. 19 @ Marshall
Sept. 26 Boise State
Oct. 3 Ohio
Oct.10 @ Kent State
Oct. 17 @ Ball State
Oct. 24 Central Michigan
Nov. 3 @ Buffalo
Nov. 12 @ Miami University
Nov. 20 Akron
Nov. 27 Toledo


Buffalo: Sorry guys Turner go bye-bye... But he will leave you with a nice parting gift.

What UB did last year was just amazing, what Turner Gill has done in three years is earth shattering. UB comes in not as a joke, not as an also ran but as the defending Champion (albeit on the back of two close overtime games late in the season). The question is can UB do it without Drew Willy?

Part of the reason for UB's success last year was that no matter how late in the game, how bad the score Drew Willy never blinked. Comeback wins Against Army, Temple, Bowling Green, Akron, and a near miss against the Chips showed that UB was never out of a game. For the Bulls 2009 a win-lose situation; If they win games the lose Gill and if the lose Games they win Gill. If UB gets to another Bowl game no way Gill does not get that offer from a program he considers worthy of a move.

While losing Willy is a real kick in the teeth what UB is sporting on defense this coming year has the Bulls fans excited. Not only the best secondary in the MAC but a very deep Line backing core and bigger, faster linemen then UB has ever fielded. Mark my word Darius Willis (LB) will be starting by mid season and will be a terror.

Schedule:

(7-5, 5-3)

Sept. 5 @ UTEP
Sept. 12 Pittsburgh
Sept. 19 @ U.C.F.
Sept. 26 @ Temple
Oct. 3 Central Michigan
Oct. 10 Gardner Webb
Oct. 17 Akron
Oct. 24 @ Western Michigan
Nov. 3 Bowling Green
Nov. 10 Ohio
Nov. 18 @ Miami University
Nov. 27 @ Kent State

Kent: No flashes, leaving you out of 'who will win the MAC East' was not an accident. You might surprise someone again this year but the odds of doing more than once or twice is minimal.

Well you did beat the 2008 MAC Champions and you did it in their house, other than that it was a painful season and there is no reason to think that 2009 will be any better. I mean you are losing about every starter you had so that's something to put in the plus column.

Nobody seems to know exactly what the deal is with the flashes they nearly beat Akron, they take out Buffalo but the inexplicable losses and inconsistent play will haunt them until something *cough cough* coaching *cough cough* changes.

Schedule:

(2-10, 1-7)

Sept. 3 Coastal Carolina
Sept. 12 @ Boston College
Sept. 19 Iowa State
Sept. 26 Miami (Ohio)
Oct. 3 @ Baylor Oct. 10 Bowling Green
Oct. 17 @ Eastern Michigan
Oct. 24 @ Ohio Oct. 31
Western Michigan
Nov. 7 @ Akron
Nov. 21 @ Temple
Nov. 27 Buffalo

Miami: pssst... You guys have been watching the death spiral that is Notre dame football right?

In all seriousness the word on Haywood is that he is a demon in the recruiting game and this will greatly benefit Miami, but not this year. Instead Miami will go the only place they can after last year.... up but not enough to be competitive week in and week out. Games might end up being closer (for some reason I have the feeling they might shock NIU) but they will still lose, albeit in a more respectable fashion. Sill if Haywood can deliver recruiting classes up to expectations the future is very bright for the Hawks.

The offensive line of Miami has taken some real hits with the losses of Steve Sutter and Dave DiFranco but aside from that the offensive unit as a whole is in tact. Losing Joey Hudson and Clayton Mullins on Defense is going to hurt the unit deeply.

Schedule:

(2-10, 2-6)

Sept. 5 Kentucky
Sept. 12 @ Boise State
Sept. 19 @ Western Michigan
Sept. 26 @ Kent State
Oct. 3 Cincinnati
Oct. 10 Northwestern
Oct. 17 @ Ohio
Oct. 24 Northern Illinois
Oct. 31 Toledo
Nov. 5 @ Temple
Nov. 12 Bowling Green
Nov. 18 Buffalo

Ohio: Are you really the early favorite to start if you took over the job last year by injury and did absolutely nothing with it?

For some reason a mini bandwagon is starting up for Ohio, some folks have them winning the east and just about everyone has them in the mix at the end. One has to ask themselves why? What exactly transpired last year that has such high hope this year?

Is it the late season close win over a demoralized Akron team of the more convincing win over a hapless Miami team the last week of the year? Maybe it losing more than half of your starters on offense and defense or the looming battle for the Quarterback position? Whatever it is some folks think its magic time for the Bobcats...

There is an outside chance of them competing, this is the MAC east so pretty much everyone starts with two division wins (over Miami and Kent) Steal a game or two and you are right in the mix. But getting NIU and Ball state from the West does not help the Bobcats. They also draw three of the Better east teams (Bowling Green, Akron, and Buffalo) on the road flip a couple of these to home games and they might be a stronger challenger.

Schedule:

(5-7, 3-5)

Sept. 5 Connecticut
Sept. 12 @ North Texas
Sept. 19 Cal Poly
Sept. 26 @ Tennessee
Oct. 3 @ Bowling Green
Oct. 10 @ Akron
Oct. 17 Miami University
Oct. 24 Kent State
Oct. 31 @ Ball State
Nov. 10 @ Buffalo
Nov. 21 Northern Illinois
Nov. 27 Temple


Temple: And speaking of bandwagons who the heck did Al Golden give his kidney to? Sorry Temple Second Verse same as the first...

The Owls may well win the east, they will almost certainly compete well for the crown but their personnel losses are as deep as any in the MAC and despite solid recruiting Al Golden has done little to blow me away.

The Owls were one or two plays from winning the MAC last year but then again who wasn't? Aside from Miami, Kent, and Ohio. Unless there has been some real growth of character among the returning players there is no reason to think the Owls will fair any better in clsoe games this year. Temple does have a nice schedule draw from the East getting EMU from the west (the gift that keeps on giving), and budding rival Buffalo at Home. They also get out of playing Bowling Green which is a plus for both teams (who would'nt want to swap Toledo for the Falcons).

If Temple gets the bounces this year, or learns how to take them they can win the east, they will almost certainly be Bowl eligible which for a program booted from the Big East for under performance is saying something.

Schedule:

(7-5, 5-3)

Sept. 03 Villanova
Sept. 19 @ Penn State
Sept. 26 Buffalo
Oct. 03 @ Eastern Michigan
Oct. 10 Ball State
Oct. 17 Army
Oct. 24 @ Toledo
Oct. 31 @ Navy
Nov.05 Miami (OH)
Nov.13 @ Akron
Nov.21 Kent State
Nov.27 @ Ohio