http://www.philsteele.com/Blogs/2014/JUN...une16.html

This is always fun to look at in the offseason. Steele has tweeked it a bit this year. Here is how he ranks the MAC in terms of "Experience Points", i.e. returning Seniors:

77.43 CMU
72.90 Akron
67.22 Miami
65.48 Toledo
65.15 EMU
63.72 Bowling Green
62.71 NIU
59.70 Buffalo
58.40 Kent State
54.79 UMass
49.27 Ball State
49.18 WMU
46.27 Ohio

Here's how the MAC teams rank in terms of O-line career starts:

106 NIU
100 Toledo
100 Buffalo
90 CMU
90 EMU
87 Miami
60 WMU
55 Bowling Green
55 Akron
44 Kent State
44 Ball State
39 Ohio
30 UMass

Some observations:
-Experience points only matter if your Seniors are good. Miami and EMU are ahead of NIU by that measure but NIU would be heavily favored in games against them.
-With that said, Miami and EMU are in surprisingly good shape in terms of experience.
-CMU could be real tough if they get some decent QB play.
-On paper it looks like we picked a good year to face Ohio.
-UMass looks like they are in for another season of beatdowns as they play out the string in the MAC.

Yes CMU will be our toughest home game this year. Thank goodness its homecoming and a 5pm kickoff.

My expectations is that this game sells out.

I think CMU in the West and Akron in the East are the surprise teams this year. Not necessarily picking them to win the division but to win more than anticipated. Also Akron has a really nice 2016 QB recruit that will probably get more than a few P5 offers.

(06-23-2014 04:04 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Yes CMU will be our toughest home game this year. Thank goodness its homecoming and a 5pm kickoff.

My expectations is that this game sells out.

Tougher than Toledo?

(06-23-2014 04:04 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Yes CMU will be our toughest home game this year. Thank goodness its homecoming and a 5pm kickoff.

My expectations is that this game sells out.

Not to nit-pick but HC is 4PM.

Which leads me to:
Where are the rest of the MAC Kick-off times?!!!
And Northwestern too!

HuskieJohn you're tight with SF...Tell him we're getting cranky!

Experienced OL - My favorite thing

(06-23-2014 04:14 PM)NIUSAE Wrote:  I think CMU in the West and Akron in the East are the surprise teams this year. Not necessarily picking them to win the division but to win more than anticipated. Also Akron has a really nice 2016 QB recruit that will probably get more than a few P5 offers.

I agree. Akron's made notable progress the last couple years even when the record didn't show it. And CMU has been improving as well -it looks like they have a solid QB now with another year under his belt so I think they'll be tough.

(06-23-2014 04:27 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(06-23-2014 04:04 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Yes CMU will be our toughest home game this year. Thank goodness its homecoming and a 5pm kickoff.

My expectations is that this game sells out.

Not to nit-pick but HC is 4PM.

Which leads me to:
Where are the rest of the MAC Kick-off times?!!!
And Northwestern too!

HuskieJohn you're tight with SF...Tell him we're getting cranky!

The B1G is having issues with their TV picks as I posted in another thread. ESPN and the B1G MUST announce the first 3 weeks by July 1st so we will know our kickoff time in the next week.

Shortly after that I would expect the remainder of the kickoff times from the MAC to be announced. Because well we are ESPN's *****.

(06-23-2014 04:27 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(06-23-2014 04:04 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Yes CMU will be our toughest home game this year. Thank goodness its homecoming and a 5pm kickoff.

My expectations is that this game sells out.

Tougher than Toledo?

Yes. Only because of their OOC schedule.
FCS
@ Purdue
Syracuse
@ Kansas
If they get things together at the beginning of the season they could be on a huge roll coming into our game...which I don't think would be a bad thing for us.

Experienced and talented Oline means easier transition for new QB. Line is solid, running game solid. Receivers solid. TIGHT END solid. The offense is in better shape this year then when Lynch took over. We had a lot of question marks but it worked out pretty good.

(06-23-2014 05:00 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(06-23-2014 04:27 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(06-23-2014 04:04 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Yes CMU will be our toughest home game this year. Thank goodness its homecoming and a 5pm kickoff.

My expectations is that this game sells out.

Tougher than Toledo?

Yes. Only because of their OOC schedule.
FCS
@ Purdue
Syracuse
@ Kansas
If they get things together at the beginning of the season they could be on a huge roll coming into our game...which I don't think would be a bad thing for us.

Chips could be 1-5 coming into DeKalb. They were worst last season in the MAC in turnovers lost, 11th in sacks allowed, and 9th in rushing. 5 of CMU's wins last season were over a FCS team and 4 programs that combined for 4 wins.

(06-24-2014 09:20 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(06-23-2014 05:00 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(06-23-2014 04:27 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(06-23-2014 04:04 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Yes CMU will be our toughest home game this year. Thank goodness its homecoming and a 5pm kickoff.

My expectations is that this game sells out.

Tougher than Toledo?

Yes. Only because of their OOC schedule.
FCS
@ Purdue
Syracuse
@ Kansas
If they get things together at the beginning of the season they could be on a huge roll coming into our game...which I don't think would be a bad thing for us.

Chips could be 1-5 coming into DeKalb. They were worst last season in the MAC in turnovers lost, 11th in sacks allowed, and 9th in rushing. 5 of CMU's wins last season were over a FCS team and 4 programs that combined for 4 wins.

I will stick with my prediction.

God I hope UMass takes a beating from the MAC this year. Also of course hoping we give it to NU, remind everyone who the best FBS team in the state is... READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!

(06-24-2014 09:39 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(06-24-2014 09:20 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(06-23-2014 05:00 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(06-23-2014 04:27 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(06-23-2014 04:04 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Yes CMU will be our toughest home game this year. Thank goodness its homecoming and a 5pm kickoff.

My expectations is that this game sells out.

Tougher than Toledo?

Yes. Only because of their OOC schedule.
FCS
@ Purdue
Syracuse
@ Kansas
If they get things together at the beginning of the season they could be on a huge roll coming into our game...which I don't think would be a bad thing for us.

Chips could be 1-5 coming into DeKalb. They were worst last season in the MAC in turnovers lost, 11th in sacks allowed, and 9th in rushing. 5 of CMU's wins last season were over a FCS team and 4 programs that combined for 4 wins.

I will stick with my prediction.

Looking over my new copy of Phil Steele's, says the key game of the Huskie season is at home against the Rockets.

(06-24-2014 01:44 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(06-24-2014 09:39 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(06-24-2014 09:20 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(06-23-2014 05:00 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(06-23-2014 04:27 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  Tougher than Toledo?

Yes. Only because of their OOC schedule.
FCS
@ Purdue
Syracuse
@ Kansas
If they get things together at the beginning of the season they could be on a huge roll coming into our game...which I don't think would be a bad thing for us.

Chips could be 1-5 coming into DeKalb. They were worst last season in the MAC in turnovers lost, 11th in sacks allowed, and 9th in rushing. 5 of CMU's wins last season were over a FCS team and 4 programs that combined for 4 wins.

I will stick with my prediction.

Looking over my new copy of Phil Steele's, says the key game of the Huskie season is at home against the Rockets.

Its fairly safe to say that every year about our game.

(06-24-2014 01:44 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(06-24-2014 09:39 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(06-24-2014 09:20 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(06-23-2014 05:00 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(06-23-2014 04:27 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  Tougher than Toledo?

Yes. Only because of their OOC schedule.
FCS
@ Purdue
Syracuse
@ Kansas
If they get things together at the beginning of the season they could be on a huge roll coming into our game...which I don't think would be a bad thing for us.

Chips could be 1-5 coming into DeKalb. They were worst last season in the MAC in turnovers lost, 11th in sacks allowed, and 9th in rushing. 5 of CMU's wins last season were over a FCS team and 4 programs that combined for 4 wins.

I will stick with my prediction.

Looking over my new copy of Phil Steele's, says the key game of the Huskie season is at home against the Rockets.

If you polled NIU football fans, the overwhelming majority would say the key home game of the season is the Toledo game. The winner of that game almost always has the inside track to the MAC-West crown. CMU? They're a pretender, not a contender.

And, of course, we look forward to beating the Rockets for the 5th time in a row!

I only worry about CMU when we play them on the road...lol

(06-24-2014 02:59 PM)huskiebob Wrote:  

(06-24-2014 01:44 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(06-24-2014 09:39 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(06-24-2014 09:20 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(06-23-2014 05:00 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Yes. Only because of their OOC schedule.
FCS
@ Purdue
Syracuse
@ Kansas
If they get things together at the beginning of the season they could be on a huge roll coming into our game...which I don't think would be a bad thing for us.

Chips could be 1-5 coming into DeKalb. They were worst last season in the MAC in turnovers lost, 11th in sacks allowed, and 9th in rushing. 5 of CMU's wins last season were over a FCS team and 4 programs that combined for 4 wins.

I will stick with my prediction.

Looking over my new copy of Phil Steele's, says the key game of the Huskie season is at home against the Rockets.

If you polled NIU football fans, the overwhelming majority would say the key home game of the season is the Toledo game. The winner of that game almost always has the inside track to the MAC-West crown. CMU? They're a pretender, not a contender.

And, of course, we look forward to beating the Rockets for the 5th time in a row!

+1

(06-24-2014 09:20 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  Chips could be 1-5 coming into DeKalb. They were worst last season in the MAC in turnovers lost, 11th in sacks allowed, and 9th in rushing. 5 of CMU's wins last season were over a FCS team and 4 programs that combined for 4 wins.

And NIU could be 1-4 coming into the game. But Purdue/Kansas are awful. We beat OU last year and they lost their QB/RB. And UTC should/will be a win. I think a safe and unbiased opinion will be 4-2.

CMU returns the most starters in the nation I believe. As someone mentioned, we are returning 2 QB's with experience and a more experienced o-line which was injury riddled last year. Also gotta watch out for Titus Davis, dude's a beast!

We have a soft schedule this year. I truly believe the MAC West will be more about what NIU/UT/BSU can do to fill their voids. Lynch/Bishop/Ward are gone, Wenning/Snead/Newsome are gone, Owens/Fluellen/Reedy are gone. The MAC West is wide open. I don't think CMU will win it, but I think it's safe to say they will compete because 6-2 will likely win it.

(06-26-2014 05:58 PM)george14 Wrote:  

(06-24-2014 09:20 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  Chips could be 1-5 coming into DeKalb. They were worst last season in the MAC in turnovers lost, 11th in sacks allowed, and 9th in rushing. 5 of CMU's wins last season were over a FCS team and 4 programs that combined for 4 wins.

And NIU could be 1-4 coming into the game. But Purdue/Kansas are awful. We beat OU last year and they lost their QB/RB. And UTC should/will be a win. I think a safe and unbiased opinion will be 4-2.

CMU returns the most starters in the nation I believe. As someone mentioned, we are returning 2 QB's with experience and a more experienced o-line which was injury riddled last year. Also gotta watch out for Titus Davis, dude's a beast!

We have a soft schedule this year. I truly believe the MAC West will be more about what NIU/UT/BSU can do to fill their voids. Lynch/Bishop/Ward are gone, Wenning/Snead/Newsome are gone, Owens/Fluellen/Reedy are gone. The MAC West is wide open. I don't think CMU will win it, but I think it's safe to say they will compete because 6-2 will likely win it.

You have to be the most envious, insecure fan I have ever heard of. You have the same method of operation every time you speak. The following is the exact same thing you post EVERY TIME:

"I think the MAC West sucks, its anybody's division. NIU is vulnerable they can be beat, they have many holes. CMU is as good as any team in the MAC. Having said that, I don't think we will win it, but it wouldn't surprise me if we did. Im not saying CMU is great, Im just saying everyone else is so-so, so there is no reason CMU can't win this game, but I don't think we have much of a chance"


Every time I read your post I want to bang my head.