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Posted 08/29/2009 at 02:17 AM
Time to roll out another college conference preview. Over the next two days, I’ll look at the Mid-American Conference, where there figures to be a big shift in the balance of power. Last year’s two championship game finalists don’t figure to be nearly as strong this year. Overall, I think the MAC is somewhat weak this season, and unlike some past campaigns, there’s no team I have rated anywhere near my 2009 Top 50.
The Eastern Conference would appear to be just plain lousy this year. Tabbing the winner is definitely not an easy task as there isn’t that one team that stands out from the rest of the pack. In fact, I basically came up with a first place prediction here more on the basis of eliminating teams than anything else.
I ended up with Akron as my MAC East top choice for a variety of reasons. The Zips are blessed with a great deal of returning experience, especially on offense. There’s a major intangible in Akron’s factor, as they are moving to their spiffy new on campus stadium, which should definitely increase their home field advantage. Perhaps most importantly, the Zips get both Temple and Ohio at home, and that has a chance to be the difference maker in a very tight race.
I think Temple may be the most talented team in this division. The Owls are going to miss QB Adam DiMichelle, and the questions at that position along with the schedule are the two primary reasons I didn’t put Temple on top. They have to visit both Ohio and Akron, which makes picking them to get to the title game dicey. However, on talent alone, I think the Owls are probably the best team in the division. The Owls should have a very tough defense and if the QB play works out, this team should get to a bowl game for the first time since 1979.
Ohio seems to be in good position to make a run at the divisional crown. They have the most favorable schedule of the likely front runners, and the fact they were unlucky in close games last season is usually a good harbinger for the following season, as those things often even out from one year to the next. But I’m just not sold on this team, particularly in their ability to stop the run, and to be honest, I’ve just never been a believer in Frank Solich. So while I would not be at all surprised to see the Bobcats win this sector, I’m picking against them.
Buffalo was the feel good story of the 2008 campaign. Turner Gill worked miracles all season long and the Bulls earned their way to the MAC Championship and their first-ever bowl appearance. I cannot see an encore performance in the works. Buffalo was phenomenally fortunate in a number of games last season, and they ended up with a remarkable +19 net turnovers. They’ve lost some key personnel from a season ago, and the fact that Gill is almost certainly on his way to bigger and better things may actually work against the Bulls this season.
Bowling Green took a dip last year. The Falcons were a bit of a flop at 6-6. This year they are a mystery team. Tyler Sheehan is at the helm of an offense that should be okay. But the defense looks weak, and with the personnel on hand, this team could be very soft against the run. On the flip side, new HC Dave Clawson was a big winner at Richmond and, until last year, had a great rep as an offensive wizard. He’s looking to rebuild that image after last season’s disaster as the OC at Tennessee. I feel as though BGU underachieved last season, so maybe I’m picking them too low. But the defensive issues are substantial, so I cannot see this as a good campaign for the Falcons.
Miami looks like the one easy pick in this division. The Redhawks are in trouble. New coach Mike Haywood is going to have to completely rebuild a program that has hit rock bottom. It’s actually kind of hard to believe how badly mishandled this football team was under the departed regime, as it’s not that long ago that Miami was the scourge of the MAC and was a team no one wanted to schedule. The talent on hand is just not very good, and I would not be shocked if the Redhawks lose ‘em all as they have a very tough schedule.
I’ll have the MAC West tomorrow.
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