(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!