Our final look at our peer conferences (G5) first week of action. This week: the Mid-American Conference (MAC). After this week, we'll get into the real meat and potatoes of predicting C-USA, but for now, let's take our final look.

I personally like the scheduling philosophy of the MAC and the sprinkling of a few winnable Autonomy 5 schools. Some of those at home. Nice. Fewer FCS teams on tap. First week MAC-tion includes (excluding UMass which has a bye in week 1):

Bowling Green @ Tennessee (Nashville)
UNLV @ Northern Illinois
Stony Brook @ Toledo
Oklahoma State @ Central Michigan
Ohio @ Idaho
Michigan State @ Western Michigan
Albany @ Buffalo
Kent State @ Illinois
Akron @ Oklahoma
VMI @ Ball State
Presbyterian @ Miami (O)
Old Dominion @ Eastern Michigan

And my prediction are:

Bowling Green @ Tennessee (Nashville): Not really a neutral field, and see the Vols coming out on top in a close one.
UNLV @ Northern Illinois: Should be an easy win for NIU
Stony Brook @ Toledo: SB can play defense, but Rockets too tough
Oklahoma State @ Central Michigan: Cowboys on an up-tick, but I won't be surprised if Chips take this one.
Ohio @ Idaho: I expect Ohio to be formidable in the East.
Michigan State @ Western Michigan: Will be closer than expected, but Sparty will win.
Albany @ Buffalo: Only because FBS shouldn't lose to FCS (with apologies to NDSU)
Kent State @ Illinois: Illinois has troubles, but so does Kent State
Akron @ Oklahoma: A body bag game. Only one I see for sure, though.
VMI @ Ball State: Keydets just don't win many games.
Presbyterian @ Miami (O): Redhawks continue to improve
Old Dominion @ Eastern Michigan: New QB for the Monarchs, but they will take this on the road.

(08-10-2015 09:01 AM)Cnelson203 Wrote:  And my prediction are:

Bowling Green @ Tennessee (Nashville): Not really a neutral field, and see the Vols coming out on top in a close one.
UNLV @ Northern Illinois: Should be an easy win for NIU
Stony Brook @ Toledo: SB can play defense, but Rockets too tough
Oklahoma State @ Central Michigan: Cowboys on an up-tick, but I won't be surprised if Chips take this one.
Ohio @ Idaho: I expect Ohio to be formidable in the East.
Michigan State @ Western Michigan: Will be closer than expected, but Sparty will win.
Albany @ Buffalo: Only because FBS shouldn't lose to FCS (with apologies to NDSU)
Kent State @ Illinois: Illinois has troubles, but so does Kent State
Akron @ Oklahoma: A body bag game. Only one I see for sure, though.
VMI @ Ball State: Keydets just don't win many games.
Presbyterian @ Miami (O): Redhawks continue to improve
Old Dominion @ Eastern Michigan: New QB for the Monarchs, but they will take this on the road.

Would not surprise me to see Western take MSU down... And if enough folks show up dressed as Pepsi cans (attendance side joke), Eastern may knock off ODU...
Hopefully, Toledo and Marshall will knock heads again in future scheduling...

They go 6-6 with losses to Tennesse, Oklahoma State, Michigan State, Illinois, Oklahoma and Old Dominion. Hmm -- kind of puts the Monarchs in good company, doesn't it?

(08-10-2015 10:26 AM)ODU AGGIE Wrote:  They go 6-6 with losses to Tennesse, Oklahoma State, Michigan State, Illinois, Oklahoma and Old Dominion. Hmm -- kind of puts the Monarchs in good company, doesn't it?

So if the Monarchs win while some of those teams lose, Monarchs>that team?

(08-10-2015 06:43 PM)Surbadger Wrote:  

(08-10-2015 10:26 AM)ODU AGGIE Wrote:  They go 6-6 with losses to Tennesse, Oklahoma State, Michigan State, Illinois, Oklahoma and Old Dominion. Hmm -- kind of puts the Monarchs in good company, doesn't it?

So if the Monarchs win while some of those teams lose, Monarchs>that team?

If the Monarchs win (and I think they will) then I will go out on a limb and say with certainty that they are better than Eastern Michigan.

Would love to see a future, Toledo Rockets vs. Marshall home and home series, FMRocket. Toledo holds a 21-18-1 edge over Marshall, all time, but Marshall holds a slight 4-3 lead since we rejoined the MAC in 97. It would be a fun series and a great one for both teams.

(08-11-2015 07:38 AM)Cnelson203 Wrote:  Would love to see a future, Toledo Rockets vs. Marshall home and home series, FMRocket. Toledo holds a 21-18-1 edge over Marshall, all time, but Marshall holds a slight 4-3 lead since we rejoined the MAC in 97. It would be a fun series and a great one for both teams.

Too bad only 2 of those 7 games were played in the Glass Bowl.
'97 @Huntington Herd 34 Rockets 14
'98 @Huntington Herd 23 Rockets 17
'99 @Huntington Herd 38 Rockets 13
'00 @Toledo Herd 0 Rockets 42
'01 @Toledo Herd 36 Rockets 41
'02 @Huntington Herd 49 Rockets 45
'03 @Huntington Herd 17 Rockets 24

Yep, we never have been the greatest road team in history. But a home and home would solve that particular issue.

I hope that Kent crushes Illinois and then we crush Kent. That immediately raises our SoS a good bit. Like to beat Purdue early and then have them gel and make a nice Big Ten run to further boost us. It's so frustrating to have these teams suck right after scheduling them. I mean Kent was almost in a BCS bowl a couple years ago when we scheduled them. Then they go back to suck.