Mid-American Conference Football Predictions 2010
Mid-American Conference Football Predictions 2010
MAC East Predictions
1. Temple Owls - Temple's only loss in conference play a season ago came at Ohio in the last game of the regular season. That loss cost the Owls a trip to the MAC championship game. With Temple getting Ohio at home this season, I expect the Owls to avenge their loss to the Bobcats and to win the East.
2. Ohio Bobcats - I can't complement Frank Solich enough on the job he has done at Ohio. He has led the Bobcats to two MAC East championships in the last four years, and he helped snap a 39-year bowl drought. Solich will have the Bobcats in the hunt for another MAC East title, but I have them coming up just short with a loss at Temple.
3. Kent State Golden Flashes - The last couple seasons, Kent State has been capable of beating just about anyone. In fact, the Golden Flashes have defeated the MAC East champ each of the last two seasons. The Flashes finished 4-4 in conference play in 2009, but they could have ended up better had it not been for early season injuries to some key players. If healthy, I expect Kent State to break through and make its first bowl trip since 1972.
4. Buffalo Bulls -The Bulls finished just 3-5 in league play last season, but they could have easily been 6-2 when you consider that three of their losses came by three points or less. Still, it's hard to think much, if any, improvement will be on the way as the team must adjust to life without Turner Gill.
5. Akron Zips -Akron finished 3-9 a season ago, and its struggled will continue under new head coach Rob Ianello. The offense is just too anemic, only averaging 19.3 ppg in 2009, and I don't foresee much improvement in Ianello's pro-style system.
6. Bowling Green Falcons - After losing two of the best players in the history of the program, QB Tyler Sheehan and WR Freddie Barnes, the offense won't be able to keep the Falcons in games the way it did last year.
7. Miami Ohio Redhawks - The Redhawks fell to 3-21 the last two seasons following a 1-11 2009 seasons. This record marks their worst two-year run in the last 20 years. The Redhawks could find a way to get out of the MAC East basement, but it isn't going much further than that.
MAC West Predictions
1. Northern Illinois Huskies - I really like what the Huskies bring to the table. They run the football well, and they play great defense. That's the stuff championship teams are made of, and that's why I like the Huskies to win the West.
2. Toledo Rockets -Toledo should do a better job of not turning the football over this season. That should instantly lower the 37.7 points per game the Rockets gave up a year ago, helping them win more football games as a result.
3. Central Michigan Chippewas - Losing head coach Butch Jones, QB Dan LeFevour, WR Antonio Brown and RB Bryan Schroeder will be too much for the Chipps to overcome.
4. Western Michigan Broncos -The Broncos lose QB Tim Hiller and RB Brandon West, and those key losses will keep them from being contenders in the West.
5. Ball State Cardinals The Cards caught a break with the NCAA granting MiQuale Lewis a fifth year of eligibility, but this team still has a long way to go. The Cards went just 2-10 in 2009, but there is reason to be optimistic with all they have coming back on both sides of the football. Getting back to .500 isn't out of the question.
6. Eastern Michigan Eagles - Year one did not treat Ron English well as his Eagles went 0-12 while finishing dead last in the conference in total offense and defense. It's going to take a ton of improvement for the Eagles to avoid the cellar, and I just don't see it happening.
MAC Championship Game Prediction - Northern Illinois over Temple
If you are interested in seeing which schools I like to win all of college football's other conferences, then be sure to check out my 2010 college football predictions.
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