After looking at the MAC team's non-conference schedules, I have come up with games that will give the MAC respect.

Need to Win:
Missouri at BG - winnable home game
UNLV at Toledo - can't lose to mid-major teams
Syracuse at UCF - winnable home game
Miami at Cincinnati - can't lose to mid-majors
BG at Kansas - winnable game against Big 12 team
Wake Forest at NIU - NIU almost won last year

Would be Nice to Win:
Marshall at VaTech - this would be huge
VaTech at WMU - can 2 MAC teams beat VaTech?
Toledo at Pittsburgh - Decent Big East team?
WMU at Michigan - you never know
WMU at Purdue - winnable game
Toledo at Minnesota - 2 wins in 2 years
NIU at Wisconsin - would be huge
EMU at Michigan State - Nevermind...
EMU at Maryland - Where is UConn?
CMU at Boston College - CMU could pull it off
CMU at Indiana - hmmm
Ball ST at Missouri - BSU needs wins in OOC
Miami at North Carolina - ???
Miami at LSU - they did it before
Kent at OSU - Boy would that be a shock!
Akron at Iowa - never know
Akron at Maryland - probably not
Buffalo at Minnesota - wouldn't that be something
UCF at Penn State - they could win
UCF at Arizona ST - exposure in the west for MAC

If you survived this long post, what do you think?

<img border="0" alt="[Cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/cheers.gif" />

That's a pretty good synopsis. Winning the must-win games will definitely be clutch. I'm gonna make a pitch for Miami, too. They play Iowa at home this year. With their fine young qb, I think they have a shot at winning it. That would be HUGE for the MAC! <img border="0" alt="[Cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/cheers.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Golden Glow:
I'm gonna make a pitch for Miami, too. They play Iowa at home this year. With their fine young qb, I think they have a shot at winning it. That would be HUGE for the MAC! <img border="0" alt="[Cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/cheers.gif" /> </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Oops! I missed that one. Definitely a winnable game for Miami.

<small>[ June 11, 2002, 09:45 PM: Message edited by: rocketfootball ]</small>

Since they so often say we are in the shadow of the Big11, I think we need to highlight these games - plus these have the greatest potential impact on recruiting for us.

NIU @ Wisc, WMU @ UMich, WMU @ Purdue
CMU @ Indiana, EMU @ MichSt, Toledo @ Minn
Iowa @ Miami(OH), KentSt @ OhioSt, Akron @ Iowa
Buffalo @ Minn, UCF @ PennSt

==================================================
Looks like we play 11 MAC-Big11 games.

Almost all (10 of 14) of the MAC teams play a Big11 team (BallSt, BGSU, Marshall and OhioU do not) - and almost all of the Big11 teams are represented on this year's slate (Illinois and NW'tern are not).

2 Big11 teams play 2 MAC teams each (Minn and Iowa) with Iowa also playing one of those AT a MAC site (only MAC-Big11 games hosted by a MAC team this year). WMU is the only MAC school taking on two Big11 schools this year.
==================================================
Of these games, most are not out of the question:

Two we should win : Toledo @ Minn, Iowa @ Miami(OH)

5 winnable : NIU @ Wisc, WMU @ Purdue, CMU @ Indiana, Akron @ Iowa, Buffalo @ Minn

4 are unwinnable: WMU @ UMich, EMU @ MichSt, KentSt @ OhioSt, UCF @ PennSt

...well, unless PennSt is as off as they've been lately, then I'd move the last game to winnable (I've heard they should be back though)

Heck, Central Florida can definitely beat Penn State.

And I think Kent State will surprise us in Columubus? Win? I don't know (and would rather Bowling Green do it first, to be honest). But, if Akron only lost by 14 points there...

I would add all 1-AA games to the must win list. Seems a no-brainer but even Marshall and Toledo have had close calls with 1-AA recently. This doesn't mean there aren't great 1-AA teams out there, but image is everything and the MAC should not be losing to them.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by MUther:
I would add all 1-AA games to the must win list. Seems a no-brainer but even Marshall and Toledo have had close calls with 1-AA recently. This doesn't mean there aren't great 1-AA teams out there, but image is everything and the MAC should not be losing to them.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ack! We are in 100% agreement here. I would go ever further and add that we should stop scheduling these games. Especially our top teams. Miami has a policy against playing them. Toledo and Marshall should adopt the same rule immediately, imo.

There has to be budgetary reasons why we schedule 1-AA teams (low payouts). Why else would anyone do this? They make for terrible attendence and a terrible game with a no win situation. If you win, who cares, if you lose...we'll let's not even think about it.

<img border="0" alt="[Saber]" title="" src="graemlins/saber.gif" /> MU also MUST beat Troy State... I absolutely agree. We have to stop this madness of scheduling 1-AA schools. Especially Akron, Ohio, Buffalo, and EMU. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="tongue.gif" />

JUST KIDDING PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!

<small>[ June 12, 2002, 08:55 AM: Message edited by: THUNDERstruck73 ]</small>

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Econoknight:
There has to be budgetary reasons why we schedule 1-AA teams (low payouts). Why else would anyone do this? They make for terrible attendence and a terrible game with a no win situation. If you win, who cares, if you lose...we'll let's not even think about it.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">There are plenty of reasons why we schedule them, some of them very good reasons. But, imo, it does more harm than good. Especially when the conference is possibly on the verge of gaining more respect.

Boy, I couldn't agree with you more, Oddball. I believe the decision to schedule I-AA schools has a large part to do with finances. But, imagine how much revenue would never see the light of day if (God-forbid) we lost to one of these schools. Serious reprucussions would result. As long as we've got the talent to play the "bigger" and "better" schools, why not use it? Losing to a I-AA school would impact the forward momentum of the conference in a strongly negative fashion. We can't have that.

Wyoming@CMU is also a winnable game. The Cowboys have a passing offense, but not much else, and they are 3-19 the last two seasons. Agree we must all beat the IAA's. Nice analysis, overall.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Oddball:

Ack! We are in 100% agreement here. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Must be a blue moon.

I think another winnable game could be Northeastern @ Ohio U. I am a firm believer that ALL MAC schools should consistently beat I-AA schools. Kent-YSU was always a toss-up on who would win. Hopefully the Bobcats won't get tripped up against NU, like they did against N. Iowa a few years back.
Although it's tough financially and travel-wise, I would like the MAC schools to schedule more schools like a Wyoming or a Boise St., or a UNLV....I think we're slowly doing a better job at this. It seemed like UCF and now UConn are "honorary league schools".

<small>[ June 13, 2002, 08:15 PM: Message edited by: RedHawk 86'ed ]</small>

The only upset less likely than Buffalo over Minnesota is Eastern Michigan over Michigan State. That's going to be UGly.

I list Buffalo @ Minn as "winnable" - not because of any analysis of Buffalo as a competitive team - but due to Minnesota's pathetic teams as of late - and no reason to believe that is about to change.

This is probably the worst team in the Big11 - depending on just how bad Indiana is this year.

This is the same reason CMU @ Indiana is "winnable".

I think if UB can get a QB to step-up and take charge, then UB will have a real shot at being very competitive this Fall. The Oline is young,but will have three starters back in Weber,Zeppuhar,and Mills. Avery will not be back this Fall due to constant shoulder problems. We have a great group of receivers on the team also.The offense needs to be able to put up some points,something that didn't come very easy last season. If they can play offensively like they looked against Ohio last yr,44-0,then they will compete. Look for some upsets again this season as many team look past the Bulls. I don't think they should make that mistake again. This team needs to play with confidence, something they were starting to get last Fall. Go Bulls!!

UBfan00 - I really hope Buffalo does well. If they can start winning some games against the upper half of the MAC, the fans will start coming. Looking at the Buffalo market, that could mean a good fan base.

Good Luck!

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by nert:
Since they so often say we are in the shadow of the Big11, I think we need to highlight these games - plus these have the greatest potential impact on recruiting for us.

NIU @ Wisc, WMU @ UMich, WMU @ Purdue
CMU @ Indiana, EMU @ MichSt, Toledo @ Minn
Iowa @ Miami(OH), KentSt @ OhioSt, Akron @ Iowa
Buffalo @ Minn, UCF @ PennSt

==================================================
Looks like we play 11 MAC-Big11 games.

Almost all (10 of 14) of the MAC teams play a Big11 team (BallSt, BGSU, Marshall and OhioU do not) - and almost all of the Big11 teams are represented on this year's slate (Illinois and NW'tern are not).

2 Big11 teams play 2 MAC teams each (Minn and Iowa) with Iowa also playing one of those AT a MAC site (only MAC-Big11 games hosted by a MAC team this year). WMU is the only MAC school taking on two Big11 schools this year.
==================================================
Of these games, most are not out of the question:

Two we should win : Toledo @ Minn, Iowa @ Miami(OH)

5 winnable : NIU @ Wisc, WMU @ Purdue, CMU @ Indiana, Akron @ Iowa, Buffalo @ Minn

4 are unwinnable: WMU @ UMich, EMU @ MichSt, KentSt @ OhioSt, UCF @ PennSt

...well, unless PennSt is as off as they've been lately, then I'd move the last game to winnable (I've heard they should be back though)</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">4 are unwinnable? Well I would say highly unlikely. Any chip that can remember back for any reasonable length of time should remember being 34.5 point underdogs (WMU was only 15 point underdogs to UMich last year) and winning. Of course western and Eastern playing the big 10 isn't nearly as bitter as WMU/CMU (weird things are less likely to happen)
For three of the teams in the MAC I would rate the Big East games almost as big as the Big conference that can't count. Remember while 11 of our teams are competing with the Big 10 for respect within our states MUg, UCF and Buffalo have the same issues with the Big East. MUr just beat Va. Tech as recently as 1997, so 2 games by two of potentially their top teams vs. them are definitely winnable.