Previewing The 2009 Mid-American Conference: Schedule Analysis

With the College Football season fast approaching, it is time to look at the Mid-American Conference and preview the 2009 season. I am going through the schedule week by week highlighting key match-ups and predicting each and every game with a MAC team.

Week 1:

North Texas at Ball State (Thurs)

Troy at Bowling Green (Thurs)

Coastal Carolina at Kent State (Thurs)

Villanova at Temple (Thurs)

Army at Eastern Michigan

Northern Illinois at Wisconsin

Toledo at Purdue

Akron at Penn State

Miami vs. Kentucky (at Cincinnati)

Connecticut at Ohio

Central Michigan at Arizona- Central Michigan has been picked by many to win the MAC West and MAC Championship. This early game in PAC-10 country is an early test of this preseason favorite. In the end, Arizona should be just too much. Arizona

Western Michigan at Michigan- Imagine, it was just two years ago that Applachain State went into the Big House and shocked the Wolverines. Last season, the 3-9 Toledo Rockets pulled off the Big House upset. Nobody knows what Wolverine team will show up but most people believe that Western Michigan will challenge Central Michigan for the division crown. This is the perfect recipe for another Big House surprise. Western Michigan

Buffalo at UTEP- Last year, the Buffalo Bulls walked into the season with hopes of just finishing above 500. The Bulls not only thrashed the Miners 42-17 opening weekend at home, they went on to win the MAC Championship and their first bowl appearance. This season, the Bulls won’t fly under the radar. The Miners will be ready for the some revenge but… Buffalo

Week 2

Colorado at Toledo, 9 pm (ESPN) (Fri)

New Hampshire at Ball State

Eastern Michigan at Northwestern

Western Illinois at Northern Illinois

Western Michigan at Indiana

Morgan State at Akron

Bowling Green at Missouri

Kent State at Boston College

Miami at Boise State

Ohio at North Texas

Central Michigan at Michigan State- Another intriguing inter-Michigan battle. Sparty hopes to rebound from last year’s disappointing season. For the Chippewas, this is going to be a test. However, Sparty will not accept a out of conference loss like this at home. Michigan State

Pittsburgh at Buffalo- Last year, the Bulls went to Heinz Field and held their own against the Panthers. This year, the Bulls will play at home but there shouldn’t be a difference. It will be close but Pittsburgh.

Week 3

Ball State at Army

Alcorn State at Central Michigan

Eastern Michigan at Michigan

Northern Illinois at Purdue

Toledo  vs. Ohio State (at Cleveland)

Indiana at Akron

Bowling Green at Marshall

Buffalo at UCF

Iowa State at Kent State

Cal Poly at Ohio

Temple at Penn State

Miami at Western Michigan- This marks the beginning of MAC play! The Redhawks will look to find their winning ways against a Broncos team that is ready to claim a MAC title. Western Michigan

Week 4

Ball State at Auburn

Akron at Central Michigan

Idaho at Northern Illinois

Toledo at FIU

Hofstra at Western Michigan

Boise State at Bowling Green

Miami at Kent State

Ohio at Tennessee

Buffalo at Temple- This early season clash may very well be the deciding factor in who wins the MAC East. The Bulls needed a Hail Mary last year to beat the Owls but with the Owls looking as strong as they ever have looked in the MAC, the Bulls might have some issues. Nonetheless, it will be another close game but Buffalo.

Week 5

Toledo at Ball State

Temple at Eastern Michigan

Western Michigan at Northern Illinois

Ohio at Bowling Green

Kent State at Baylor

Cincinnati at Miami

Central Michigan at Buffalo- This could be a preview of the MAC Championship game. Last year, the Bulls went to Mount Pleasant and lost 27-25. This year, Chippewas have to go to Buffalo which could cause issues. The key words are “could cause issues.” Central Michigan

Week 6

Ball State at Temple

Eastern Michigan at Central Michigan

Western Michigan at Toledo

Bowling Green at Kent State

Gardner Webb at Buffalo

Miami at Northwestern

Ohio at Akron- This could be another pivotal MAC East game. The Zips and Bobcats are sure to the teams that will stir up the pot in the East. Most people expect that either Buffalo or Temple will win the division but the winner of this game could stir the pot. There is some reason why Ohio can lose so many players yet still be a nuisance… coaching which is why I choose Ohio

Week 7

Bowling Green at Ball State

Kent State at Eastern Michigan

Northern Illinois at Toledo

Akron at Buffalo

Miami at Ohio

Army at Temple

Central Michigan at Western Michigan- This is the game many predict will decide who represents the MAC West in the MAC Championship Game. The Chippewas are led by fourth year starting quarter Dan LeFevour. The Broncos are led by quarterback Tim Hiller. The difference in this game is going to be the defense and to me the better defense will win. Central Michigan

Week 8

Ball State at Eastern Michigan

Central Michigan at Bowling Green

Northern Illinois at Miami

Temple at Toledo

Akron at Syracuse

Kent State at Ohio

Buffalo at Western Michigan- This was another close game for the Buffalo “Cardiac Kids” Bulls. The loss at home to the Broncos was one the Bulls would like to forget having given the Broncos the chance to tie late in the game. The OT loss sparked the Bulls chaotic overtime run into the MAC East Division Championship and an MAC Championship. The Bulls will look to exact revenge on the road but the Broncos will be hungry to avenge the last week’s loss to the Chippewas. Buffalo

Week 9

Ohio at Ball State

Eastern Michigan at Arkansas

Akron at Northern Illinois

Toledo at Miami

Western Michigan at Kent State

Temple at Navy

Central Michigan at Boston College- This game is only intriguing because of the timing of it. The Eagles take time out of their tough ACC schedule to face arguably the best team in the MAC. The Eagles should be on upset alert if they want to look ahead past the Chippewas. Central Michigan

Week 10

Bowling Green at Buffalo (Tues)

Eastern Michigan at Northern Illinois (Thurs)

Miami at Temple, (Thurs)

Kent State at Akron

Western Michigan at Michigan State- Sparty once again hosts a prolific MAC team from Michigan. The Spartans should have an easier time with the Broncos than with the Chippewas but again, timing is everything so State should be on alert. Michigan State

Week 11

Toledo at Central Michigan (Wed)

Ball State at Northern Illinois (Thurs)

Bowling Green at Miami (Thurs)

Temple at Akron (Fri)

Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan

Ohio at Buffalo, 7 pm (Tues)- This is an interesting game. The Bobcats will travel to Buffalo with the sole purpose of ruining the Bulls title hopes but not so fast. The Bobcats lost 13 starters from last season, and the Bulls ripped the Bobcats up last season. Buffalo

Week 12

Central Michigan at Ball State (Wed)

Buffalo at Miami (Wed)

Eastern Michigan at Toledo (Fri)

Akron at Bowling Green (Fri)

Northern Illinois at Ohio

Kent State at Temple- The Golden Flashes are a hard working team and if you take them lightly then you will be in trouble. The Owls, looking at success for the first time since joining the MAC probably will stumble sometime in MAC play. Kent State

Week 13

Ball State at Western Michigan (Tues)

Northern Illinois at Central Michigan (Fri)

Eastern Michigan at Akron (Fri)

Toledo at Bowling Green (Fri)

Buffalo at Kent State (Fri)

Temple at Ohio (Fri)- This game again is one that can shift the balance of power in the East. Ohio could be in a chance to win the East but Temple could be as well. Temple

Now with the season over we look at the predicted standings.

EAST

1. Buffalo 10-2 (7-1)

2. Temple 8-4 (6-2)

3. Ohio 8-4 (6-2)

4. Kent State 6-6 (5-3)

5. Akron 4-8 (3-5)

6. Bowling Green 2-10 (2-6)

7. Miami 0-12 (0-8)

WEST

1. Central Michigan 10-2 (8-0)

2. Western Michigan 9-3 (6-2)

3. Toledo 6-6 (5-3)

4. Northern Illinois 4-8 (2-6)

5. Ball State 4-8 (1-7)

6. Eastern Michigan 0-12 (0-8)

December 4, 2009

Central Michigan vs. Buffalo- In a rematch of an earlier game the two 10-2 teams of the MAC square off for the title. The Bulls once again are underdogs to a superior team on paper. The Chippewas come in strong with a perfect 8-0 conference record. The Bulls play spectacular defense but the lack of experience at quarterback sends them back to Toronto in 2010. Central Michigan

BOWLS!!

Motor City- Central Michigan

GMAC- Western Michigan

International- Buffalo

Wildcard Bowl- Temple

Top 5 Players to Watch Out For:

1. Dan LeFevour- QB Central Michigan
2. MiQuale Lewis- RB Ball State
3. James Starks- RB Buffalo
4. Naamen Roosevelt- WR Buffalo
5. Tim Hiller- QB Western Michigan

There it is my in-depth preview of the MAC. Stay Tuned for my in-depth preview of the defending MAC Champs, the Buffalo Bulls.