(07-11-2017 02:25 PM)The Colonel Wrote:  

(07-10-2017 04:51 PM)BobcatEngineer Wrote:  1. Toledo (9-3) (7-1) - They go on to win the 7 straight in MAC play, but drop the final game to 2016 MAC Champ Western Michigan. Toledo wins their first MAC west title since 2004.

2. Western Michigan (7-5) (5-3) - Finishes 1-1 in Michigan MAC play, with a win against Central but a loss to Eastern.

Interesting...so you see us beating Toledo and CMU, but losing at EMU. I'm curious where on our schedule you see the other two MAC losses (BSU, at Buffalo, Akron, KSU, at NIU).

I have WMU losing @NIU and against Akron. I know you guys smoked Akron last year, but I made some picks based off a "ya never know what might happen" mentality. For instance, I would have laughed out loud this time last year if someone would have told me Texas State and Eastern Michigan would have beaten the Bobcats.

Plus, I'm taking in account a drop in talent with the departures of Tarrell and Davis and a slight enthusiasm drop with Fleck leaving for greener pastures.

That said, I didn't put a huge amount of thought into this, just tryin' to have a little pre-season fun!

Wouldn't mind seeing a Bronco-Bobcat rematch in Detroit again!

(07-11-2017 02:59 PM)BobcatEngineer Wrote:  I have WMU losing @NIU and against Akron. I know you guys smoked Akron last year, but I made some picks based off a "ya never know what might happen" mentality. For instance, I would have laughed out loud this time last year if someone would have told me Texas State and Eastern Michigan would have beaten the Bobcats.

Plus, I'm taking in account a drop in talent with the departures of Tarrell and Davis and a slight enthusiasm drop with Fleck leaving for greener pastures.

Fair enough - a loss at NIU is certainly possible (I can't remember the last time we won at NIU). I'd be very surprised if we lost at home to Akron on Homecoming. As you said, though, ya never know...

WMU has a very favorable first seven MAC games (BSU, at Buffalo, Akron, at EMU, CMU, KSU, at NIU) and has a good chance of being favored in all seven. WMU can afford a loss somewhere in that stretch, win all the others, and end the season at Toledo playing for a MAC West title and a MACC spot. It's a bit strange to me (in general; not directed toward you) that WMU gets dinged heavily for losing Terrell and Davis to graduation, yet Toledo graduates Hunt and Roberts but apparently won't miss a beat. Obviously, Toledo still having Woodside helps lessen that blow. The WMU coaching change is certainly a hard-to-predict factor in assessing how the season may go.

IMO, though, WMU has as much returning talent as anyone in the MAC. As a Bronco fan, I certainly have no problem with everyone, it seems (except Vegas, which has WMU as the highest MAC win total over/under at 9), picking Toledo in the West. I'm totally cool with flying under the radar for now.

And, yeah, I'd be all for a WMU-Ohio MACC rematch!

Seems early for this even though the season starts next month.

My Predictions:
Toledo
Western Michigan
Ohio
Eastern Michigan
Miami of Ohio
--------
Central Michigan
Northern Illinois
Akron
-------
Ball St
Bowling Green St
Kent St
Buffalo

Maybe a bit too similar to last year, but I see the MAC overall being better.

(07-09-2017 03:35 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  Without looking at exact schedules for every team, this is my attempt at predicting the MAC.

9-3 Toledo
8-4 EMU
7-5 wmu
7-5 CMU
5-7 NIU
3-9 BSU

10-2 Ohio
9-3 Miami
7-5 BG
3-9 UB
3-9 Akron
3-9 Kent State

Seems about right, although I think EMU goes 6 -6 or 7-5 at best.

(07-13-2017 10:36 PM)CMichFan Wrote:  

(07-09-2017 03:35 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  Without looking at exact schedules for every team, this is my attempt at predicting the MAC.

9-3 Toledo
8-4 EMU
7-5 wmu
7-5 CMU
5-7 NIU
3-9 BSU

10-2 Ohio
9-3 Miami
7-5 BG
3-9 UB
3-9 Akron
3-9 Kent State

Seems about right, although I think EMU goes 6 -6 or 7-5 at best.

Yea I'd say EMU is around 6-6 or 7-5 also. I think NIU ends up 6-6 though obviously I hope for better, and if a QB stands out we can do better than that.

(07-12-2017 05:21 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  Seems early for this even though the season starts next month.

My Predictions:
Toledo
Western Michigan
Ohio
Eastern Michigan
Miami of Ohio
--------
Central Michigan
Northern Illinois
Akron
-------
Ball St
Bowling Green St
Kent St
Buffalo

Maybe a bit too similar to last year, but I see the MAC overall being better.

I'm starting to have doubts on Eastern. Was looking at recruiting rankings, and while that doesn't mean everything, EMU's been ranked near the bottom of the MAC.

Out west, we know Toledo will be good, but other then that, could be anyone. (The QB question at Western Michigan is starting to scare me.)

(07-13-2017 10:36 PM)CMichFan Wrote:  

(07-09-2017 03:35 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  Without looking at exact schedules for every team, this is my attempt at predicting the MAC.

9-3 Toledo
8-4 EMU
7-5 wmu
7-5 CMU
5-7 NIU
3-9 BSU

10-2 Ohio
9-3 Miami
7-5 BG
3-9 UB
3-9 Akron
3-9 Kent State

Seems about right, although I think EMU goes 6 -6 or 7-5 at best.

Akron is NOT going 3-9. I will give you 6-6, but not 3-9. Bowden would be gone by Halloween if they went that far into the abyss........

Akron has 26 seniors, 57 returning lettermen and Bowden is in his 6th year there. He cannot possibly be bad enough to go 3-9.

(07-16-2017 02:36 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  Akron has 26 seniors, 57 returning lettermen and Bowden is in his 6th year there. He cannot possibly be bad enough to go 3-9.

That's my thing. There is no way that happens. Now if they lose to Iowa State, he is in the hot seat. No doubt about that in my mind, but I see 7-9 wins this season

(07-16-2017 02:41 PM)lance99 Wrote:  

(07-16-2017 02:36 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  Akron has 26 seniors, 57 returning lettermen and Bowden is in his 6th year there. He cannot possibly be bad enough to go 3-9.

That's my thing. There is no way that happens. Now if they lose to Iowa State, he is in the hot seat. No doubt about that in my mind, but I see 7-9 wins this season

Losing to a P5 team is cause for being on the hot seat? Getting trashed by Troy or Kent State would make perfect sense, but ISU will probably be better than last year and you could still easily win seven or so games if you lose to the Cyclones.

(07-16-2017 04:44 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(07-16-2017 02:41 PM)lance99 Wrote:  

(07-16-2017 02:36 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  Akron has 26 seniors, 57 returning lettermen and Bowden is in his 6th year there. He cannot possibly be bad enough to go 3-9.

That's my thing. There is no way that happens. Now if they lose to Iowa State, he is in the hot seat. No doubt about that in my mind, but I see 7-9 wins this season

Losing to a P5 team is cause for being on the hot seat? Getting trashed by Troy or Kent State would make perfect sense, but ISU will probably be better than last year and you could still easily win seven or so games if you lose to the Cyclones.

Stop the madness. It is Iowa State. They will be better than last year, but let's be real. They are a below average MAC West Team at best if they played in the Conference. This game for us is a turning point for us...........

(07-16-2017 09:29 PM)lance99 Wrote:  

(07-16-2017 04:44 PM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(07-16-2017 02:41 PM)lance99 Wrote:  

(07-16-2017 02:36 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  Akron has 26 seniors, 57 returning lettermen and Bowden is in his 6th year there. He cannot possibly be bad enough to go 3-9.

That's my thing. There is no way that happens. Now if they lose to Iowa State, he is in the hot seat. No doubt about that in my mind, but I see 7-9 wins this season

Losing to a P5 team is cause for being on the hot seat? Getting trashed by Troy or Kent State would make perfect sense, but ISU will probably be better than last year and you could still easily win seven or so games if you lose to the Cyclones.

Stop the madness. It is Iowa State. They will be better than last year, but let's be real. They are a below average MAC West Team at best if they played in the Conference. This game for us is a turning point for us...........

Isu Will be a middle of the pack Big12 team... Akron is doomed. No offense. I think Akron under achieved last season and will again

collegefootballnews.com has Kent State ranked 126th out of 130.

Ball State is 120th
The Bulls are 118th
EMU is 11th (sorry, 111th)
The Zips are 103rd
The real Miami is ranked 100th
BGSU is 97th
No Ill is 96th out of 130

In other words, they don't expect much out of the MAC

CMU is 87th
the Bobcats are 85th
West Michigan is up at 64th
The Toledo Rockets are at 31st on the list

(07-17-2017 07:15 AM)Slinkin Street Flash Wrote:  collegefootballnews.com has Kent State ranked 126th out of 130.

Ball State is 120th
The Bulls are 118th
EMU is 11th (sorry, 111th)
The Zips are 103rd
The real Miami is ranked 100th
BGSU is 97th
No Ill is 96th out of 130

In other words, they don't expect much out of the MAC

CMU is 87th
the Bobcats are 85th
West Michigan is up at 64th
The Toledo Rockets are at 31st on the list

yeah I like this list much better!

School-----Athlon--Orlando Sentinel--ESPN--Average
Toledo.........69...............58..............64........64
Miami..........78...............69..............81........76
WMU...........83...............79..............73........78
Ohio............85.............101..............91........92
NIU.............99...............87..............95........94
CMU..........106...............95..............89........97
EMU..........102...............90.............102.......98
Ball State...116...............74.............106.......99
Akron........109.............116.............105......110
BG............114.............104.............112......110
Kent..........127.............122.............115......121
Buffalo.......123.............128.............123......125

(07-17-2017 07:15 AM)Slinkin Street Flash Wrote:  collegefootballnews.com has Kent State ranked 126th out of 130.

Ball State is 120th
The Bulls are 118th
EMU is 11th (sorry, 111th)
The Zips are 103rd
The real Miami is ranked 100th
BGSU is 97th
No Ill is 96th out of 130

In other words, they don't expect much out of the MAC

CMU is 87th
the Bobcats are 85th
West Michigan is up at 64th
The Toledo Rockets are at 31st on the list

CFN is the LAST listing I would use. They've always been clueless about the MAC and probably G5 teams in general.

(07-25-2017 03:36 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(07-17-2017 07:15 AM)Slinkin Street Flash Wrote:  collegefootballnews.com has Kent State ranked 126th out of 130.

Ball State is 120th
The Bulls are 118th
EMU is 11th (sorry, 111th)
The Zips are 103rd
The real Miami is ranked 100th
BGSU is 97th
No Ill is 96th out of 130

In other words, they don't expect much out of the MAC

CMU is 87th
the Bobcats are 85th
West Michigan is up at 64th
The Toledo Rockets are at 31st on the list

CFN is the LAST listing I would use. They've always been clueless about the MAC and probably G5 teams in general.

Eastern Michigan 111th? Unless they think EMU REALLY underachieved last season, they're smokin'.

CFN is really bad. Granted, some places over-glorify G5 teams a bit, but CFN pretty much sees the G5 as D1AA.

I don't expect anyone in the MAC West to go undefeated within the division. COULD happen, but I definitely don't see going undefeated conference-wide. That gives the EMoos a chance, but the problem is, as stated -- Broback as QB is going to have a new OC + OL, which will keep them from taking the top (but still will possibly beat anyone at home).

I could easily see Toledo & WMU both at 6-2 --- but WMU playing @Toledo, @NIU, and @EMU -- no way is WMU going 3-0 on that. I see WMU going 1-2, but cleaning house the rest of the way... or going 2-1 but having a flub.

I'd put WMU at 6-2 or 5-3, given that they won't have their great turnover-margin of last year, with the help of also having a new QB +WRs + OC. I think unless Toledo screws up more than once (which is possible of course), WMU will be a step ahead for #2 spot instead of #1.

I still see wmu as mac w favorite. Kills me saying it but their lines are legit and I think they will beat msu. They still have a load of talent offensively with stud rbs and playmakers.

(07-25-2017 07:22 PM)cmufanatic Wrote:  I still see wmu as mac w favorite. Kills me saying it but their lines are legit and I think they will beat msu. They still have a load of talent offensively with stud rbs and playmakers.

I think BGSU also has a chance to beat MSU this year, but Sparty is really hurting, so that may not mean much. I think Toledo looks like the toughest right now.

WMU looks a lot (on paper) like we did in 2010: loss of most of the receiving corps, loss of record-setting QB, loss of coach, and loss of kicking specialists. The best pass rusher is also gone. They do have a proven stable of backs returning, which we didn't in 2010, and 4/5 of the line (we had that also), but I think WMU takes at least one step back. The MAC West could be pretty wild this season.