2010 College Football Predictions: Mid-American Conference

FROM: http://machorhino.com/?p=16715

The MAC is the spot to find up-and-coming players and coaches who you might not have heard of yet.

It also tends to be very competitive. A lot of good teams here collide against one another each week battling for supremacy, and this year should be no different.

Here’s how we see the MAC shaking out in 2010.

EAST

1. Ohio

The Bobcats under Frank Solich look to be very good this year, led by seniors on defense that hope to shut down Bernard Pierce and Temple in what will be the league’s biggest game of the year. Ohio is the premier team in the MAC this year with a ton of playmakers on offense. Anything less than winning the MAC will be considered a disappointment for this team.

2. Temple (6-2)

Not sure if Al Golden has a stockpile of talent at running back or not, but I was stunned to see the great Bernard Pierce had been knocked down to the second team this week. Is Golden trying to motivate him, does he simply have a better player, or is there a deeper issue? If things turn out okay there, they will win a lot of games. This is the most talented team in the MAC on offense and should win at least nine games this season.

3. Kent State (6-2)

This is a season that’s setting up nicely for them. They’ve got very tough road games at Boston College and Penn State, but the two big dogs in the division, Ohio and Temple, come to their place, putting a bowl game and perhaps a spot in the conference championship game in their hands. The Golden Flashes have talent and should not just make a bowl this year; they should win eight games as well.

4. Buffalo (4-4)

Gone is head coach Turner Gill, who resurrected one of the worst programs in the country just a few seasons ago. They’ve still got several experienced players coming back, and if they can get steady play from a new QB, they could find their way back to a bowl game.

5. Bowling Green (4-4)

The Falcons are hoping to get back to a bowl game this season, but I don’t think it’ll be in the cards for them. They’ve got a difficult non-conference schedule that will force them to win at least five games in the MAC to make a bowl.

6. Miami (OH) (1-7)

The RedHawks will be better this season, but the record probably won’t reflect it. They’ve got Florida, Missouri, and Cincinnati on the schedule out of conference and some tough games in league play also. If Zac Dysert can lead a changed offense with limited turnovers and the defense stops giving up big plays in the passing game, they could win as many as they lose.

7. Akron (1-7)

The Zips are transitioning to a new system under a new head coach, so I wouldn’t expect a big jump this season. They’ve got a brutal schedule in the league, making it an even tougher transition. They’re likely headed for a four-win season.

WEST

1. Northern Illinois (8-0)

They should be back at the top of their division this season, riding a stifling defense that should be challenging for the great offense they’ll face in the MAC title game. Chad Spann will have to carry the load on offense as they try to break in a new quarterback.

They’re going bowling again, and eight wins are definitely realistic this year and possibly more if they find steady QB play against a weakened division in the MAC. They’ve got their toughest conference games at home, and they should be able to win those and run the league table before dropping the championship game.

2. Central Michigan (5-3)

The Chippewas look like they’ll struggle to score points this year, but at least their defense should keep them in games to where a lot of points won’t be necessary. Until they figure out how to score with their new offense, it will be a long, tough season. They’ve got a few non-conference games against BCS schools that probably will end up ugly but otherwise should be competitive in the conference.

3. Western Michigan (4-4)

The Broncos will break in some new players this year and have a brand new defensive staff as well. A tough schedule will test them in and out of the league, but they’ve got talent. It’s just whether or not they come together to find a way to win games. Playing in the West will be to their benefit this year, as other teams are breaking in new players as well, which will give them a chance to win some games.

4. Ball State (3-5)

Coming off a two-win season last year, the Cardinals should equal that win total by Week 3 of the 2010 season. They’ll take that 2-0 record on the road against two Big Ten teams and will test their mettle, which they hope can vault them to a bowl game. The Cardinals will be better than last year and should go 6-6 to get a shot at earning a bowl invitation.

5. Toledo (3-5)

The Rockets are led by a strong offensive line that should open holes for the running game and slow games down to keep them in it. The defense must improve over last season, as it was last in the league, giving up 37.7 points a game. It should be another year of the Rockets having to get in shootouts to win games. Until the defense shows improvement, I can’t expect more than four wins from Toledo.

6. Eastern Michigan (1-7)

Can the Eagles win a game this season? That’s the question. They were in a lot of games last year but just couldn’t find a way to win them. They should get up to three wins this year, but the schedule doesn’t have many, if any games you can pencil in as a victory.

CHAMPION: Ohio Bobcats

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Bernard Pierce (Temple)

COACH OF THE YEAR: Frank Solich (Ohio)

The Top Five Games for the MAC

1. Ohio at Temple (November 16)

This game could very well decide which of these two gets to go to the MAC championship game.

2. Ohio at Ohio State (September 18)

The Bobcats are hoping to go pull the monumental upset here and use this game as a measuring stick for the conference.

3. Temple at Northern Illinois (October 9)

Possible preview of the MAC championship, and you get to see the best defense in the league try to stop the Owls' Bernard Pierce.

4. Temple at Kent State (November 6)

These two should show a lot of offense in a battle for trying to win their division. This is definitely a game to watch.

5. Connecticut at Temple (September 18)

Temple gets a chance to take on a good Big East team. This is a great measuring stick for Al Golden’s team and the MAC in general.