(10-04-2015 02:04 PM)sterling1man Wrote:  Toledo Rockets are ranked 24th in the AP and 29th in the coaches pole.
Go MAC!

NIU has one bowl game this year and that's the Glass Bowl, at least a chance to take down a ranked opponent, that is pretty much all that is left to play for, but that would be something else to pull an upset in that one.

(10-04-2015 02:33 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 02:04 PM)sterling1man Wrote:  Toledo Rockets are ranked 24th in the AP and 29th in the coaches pole.
Go MAC!

NIU has one bowl game this year and that's the Glass Bowl, at least a chance to take down a ranked opponent, that is pretty much all that is left to play for, but that would be something else to pull an upset in that one.

If we win the mighty Bronze stalk trophy for the 7nth straight year we will face Toledo with a 5-3 record. Should NIU upset Toledo and go 6-3 then Buffalo, WMU and Ohio
are all that stands in the way of a record sixth straight trip to Detroit.

(10-04-2015 02:42 PM)sterling1man Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 02:33 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 02:04 PM)sterling1man Wrote:  Toledo Rockets are ranked 24th in the AP and 29th in the coaches pole.
Go MAC!

NIU has one bowl game this year and that's the Glass Bowl, at least a chance to take down a ranked opponent, that is pretty much all that is left to play for, but that would be something else to pull an upset in that one.

If we win the mighty Bronze stalk trophy for the 7nth straight year we will face Toledo with a 5-3 record. Should NIU upset Toledo and go 6-3 then Buffalo, WMU and Ohio
are all that stands in the way of a record sixth straight trip to Detroit.

The MAC's worst are not as bad as they normally have been, and NIU...well we have seen the badness NIU is capable of. You can't put any game in the auto-win column this year in the MAC for NIU

1) At NIU FB, the definition of a successful season is a win over Toledo or a Bowl game.
2) A very successful season is a trip to Detroit with a win over Toledo.
3) A very very successful season is a win in Detroit with a win over any Bowl team.
4) An extravagantly successful season is a trip to a major Bowl game.

Only #4 has been ruled out so far.
#1 is still in play.
#2 is possible, but will be almost certainly ruled out with a loss to BSU.
#3 is possible but improbable.

Quote:Should NIU upset Toledo and go 6-3 then Buffalo, WMU and Ohio are all that stands in the way of a record sixth straight trip to Detroit.

ALL that stands? BSU isn't a gimmie-game, Buffalo has a tough D. If they can hold BGSU's O down to reasonable pts, NIU is going to need to have their O to where it was assumed going into the season playing that game. If WMU's kicker gets off his crack habit and the team cuts down on penalties -- yeah, good luck with that one. Ohio is looking pretty tough as well and is going to be no slouch by any means.

Bottom line: If NIU gets their O in sync and running on all cylinders -- then it's a "all that stands in the way is". If they really can't get that fire to catch -- they're in the same boat as anyone else any year trying to get a division title with a better team in front.

(10-04-2015 02:53 PM)toddjnsn Wrote:  

Quote:Should NIU upset Toledo and go 6-3 then Buffalo, WMU and Ohio are all that stands in the way of a record sixth straight trip to Detroit.

ALL that stands? BSU isn't a gimmie-game, Buffalo has a tough D. If they can hold BGSU's O down to reasonable pts, NIU is going to need to have their O to where it was assumed going into the season playing that game. If WMU's kicker gets off his crack habit and the team cuts down on penalties -- yeah, good luck with that one. Ohio is looking pretty tough as well and is going to be no slouch by any means.

Bottom line: If NIU gets their O in sync and running on all cylinders -- then it's a "all that stands in the way is". If they really can't get that fire to catch -- they're in the same boat as anyone else any year trying to get a division title with a better team in front.

Basically the MAC is still up for grabs. Anyone can win it at present. After 3 weeks we will have a much clearer picture.

(10-04-2015 03:02 PM)sterling1man Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 02:53 PM)toddjnsn Wrote:  

Quote:Should NIU upset Toledo and go 6-3 then Buffalo, WMU and Ohio are all that stands in the way of a record sixth straight trip to Detroit.

ALL that stands? BSU isn't a gimmie-game, Buffalo has a tough D. If they can hold BGSU's O down to reasonable pts, NIU is going to need to have their O to where it was assumed going into the season playing that game. If WMU's kicker gets off his crack habit and the team cuts down on penalties -- yeah, good luck with that one. Ohio is looking pretty tough as well and is going to be no slouch by any means.

Bottom line: If NIU gets their O in sync and running on all cylinders -- then it's a "all that stands in the way is". If they really can't get that fire to catch -- they're in the same boat as anyone else any year trying to get a division title with a better team in front.

Basically the MAC is still up for grabs. Anyone can win it at present. After 3 weeks we will have a much clearer picture.

Being realistic though, Ball State and NIU are out

(10-04-2015 03:08 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 03:02 PM)sterling1man Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 02:53 PM)toddjnsn Wrote:  

Quote:Should NIU upset Toledo and go 6-3 then Buffalo, WMU and Ohio are all that stands in the way of a record sixth straight trip to Detroit.

ALL that stands? BSU isn't a gimmie-game, Buffalo has a tough D. If they can hold BGSU's O down to reasonable pts, NIU is going to need to have their O to where it was assumed going into the season playing that game. If WMU's kicker gets off his crack habit and the team cuts down on penalties -- yeah, good luck with that one. Ohio is looking pretty tough as well and is going to be no slouch by any means.

Bottom line: If NIU gets their O in sync and running on all cylinders -- then it's a "all that stands in the way is". If they really can't get that fire to catch -- they're in the same boat as anyone else any year trying to get a division title with a better team in front.

Basically the MAC is still up for grabs. Anyone can win it at present. After 3 weeks we will have a much clearer picture.

Being realistic though, Ball State and NIU are out

NIU lost to CMU last year 17-34 at home after being crushed 52-14 at Arkansas. Our worst loss in over 7 years.We then went on to win 7 MAC games in a row.
Miami Ohio 51-41
EMU 28-17
BSU 35-21
Toledo 27-24 (at home where Toledo owns us)
Ohio 21-14
WMU 31-21
At Detroit BG 51-17

Things looked maybe worse last year then this year, except for the snapping problems, our poor kicking game and turnovers. All fixable problems.

If NIU lost to CMU last year and won the MAC West, MACC title then this year is still in play.