Even with my personal bias aside, you have to favor NIU to win the west. Their only major losses due to graduation are their receivers (Powers and Hurd), while Toledo starts a new QB. CMU could also threaten NIU, but CMU and Toledo both visit NIU in 2006, and NIU looks to have an easier cross division schedule than UT or CMU. I do not think WMU or BSU are ready to challenge the Huskies for the title either.
I know a lot can happen between now and December, so I will not buy my MCC tickets just yet, but you have to favor the Huskies. Look for the CFB preview mags to favor NIU in a few months.
The East division is more wide open. BGSU, Miami, or Akron. Take your pick.
Huskie_Jon Wrote:Even with my personal bias aside, you have to favor NIU to win the west. Their only major losses due to graduation are their receivers (Powers and Hurd), while Toledo starts a new QB. CMU could also threaten NIU, but CMU and Toledo both visit NIU in 2006, and NIU looks to have an easier cross division schedule than UT or CMU. I do not think WMU or BSU are ready to challenge the Huskies for the title either.
I know a lot can happen between now and December, so I will not buy my MCC tickets just yet, but you have to favor the Huskies. Look for the CFB preview mags to favor NIU in a few months.
The East division is more wide open. BGSU, Miami, or Akron. Take your pick.
I wouldn't write off BSU or WMU. They could be dangerous if we're not careful. BSU considers their annual game with NIU to be huge, just like we consider our game with Toledo to be huge. Of all the middle of the road teams in the West, BSU concerns me the most. Just look at what happened last season.
Huskie_Jon Wrote:Even with my personal bias aside, you have to favor NIU to win the west. Their only major losses due to graduation are their receivers (Powers and Hurd), while Toledo starts a new QB. CMU could also threaten NIU, but CMU and Toledo both visit NIU in 2006, and NIU looks to have an easier cross division schedule than UT or CMU. I do not think WMU or BSU are ready to challenge the Huskies for the title either.
I know a lot can happen between now and December, so I will not buy my MCC tickets just yet, but you have to favor the Huskies. Look for the CFB preview mags to favor NIU in a few months.
The East division is more wide open. BGSU, Miami, or Akron. Take your pick.
I'll bite. This is just a prediction, that's why the games are played. ;-)
MAC East
Miami 9-3 (6-2) winning the division with a win in the last game
OU 9-3 (6-2) great year, look for better things to come
Akron 6-6 (5-3) Swing games include Miami and OU
BGSU 5-7 (3-5) New offense, same defense
Kent St. 3-9 (1-7) Little improvements, have generous schedule
UB 1-11 (0-8) Possible Temple win, all downhill from there
MAC West
UT 10-2 (8-0) Only tough MAC road games: WMU, NIU
NIU 8-4 (6-2) NIU vs. UT, decides West
WMU 6-6 (4-4) Swing games, Miami and NIU at home
CMU 6-6 (4-4) 4-2 the last 6 games give the CMU faithful hope
BSU 5-7 (3-5) New guys determine record, good or bad
EMU 3-9 (1-7) Play on the field will disappoint EMU fans
UT over Miami in MAC Championship
UT-Motor City Bowl
Northern Illinois- GMAC Bowl
Miami-Toronto Bowl
NIU could very well be the favorite, and UT fans, coaches, and players won't mind that.
In 2002 Toledo had a new QB and won the MAC West. In 2005 NIU had a new QB and they won the MAC West. Toledo could do the same in 2006.
Toledo is loaded at running back, offensive line, and tight end. All but one receiver returns from last season too. Toledo is going to be very good in 2006 and will give NIU all they can handle.
rocketfootball Wrote:NIU could very well be the favorite, and UT fans, coaches, and players won't mind that.
In 2002 Toledo had a new QB and won the MAC West. In 2005 NIU had a new QB and they won the MAC West. Toledo could do the same in 2006.
Toledo is loaded at running back, offensive line, and tight end. All but one receiver returns from last season too. Toledo is going to be very good in 2006 and will give NIU all they can handle.
I agree that it is going to be very close again this year between Toledo, and barring anything unforseen like a major injury it seems like the NIU vs. Toledo game will decide the MAC West.
I am not counting Toledo out of the West title at this point. They still have a good running game, and they have a knack of reloading at QB, like they did when Gradkowski replaced Jones. But I do favor NIU's known QBs over Toledo's unknowns.
Toledo should know better than to look past NIU now. They should know better than to pass over the middle too.
I hope NIU does not look past BSU this year. I think they will bring their "A" game to Muncie. They did not seem to bring it to DeKalb last year.
I do not think Rocketman gives Akron enough credit. I actually hope Akron wins the East again. I want a shot at redemption. I need a photo opportunity. I don't want to end up a cartoon in a cartoon graveyard.
rocketman49 Wrote:I'll bite. This is just a prediction, that's why the games are played. ;-)
MAC East
Miami 9-3 (6-2) winning the division with a win in the last game
OU 9-3 (6-2) great year, look for better things to come
Akron 6-6 (5-3) Swing games include Miami and OU
BGSU 5-7 (3-5) New offense, same defense
Kent St. 3-9 (1-7) Little improvements, have generous schedule
UB 1-11 (0-8) Possible Temple win, all downhill from there
MAC West
UT 10-2 (8-0) Only tough MAC road games: WMU, NIU
NIU 8-4 (6-2) NIU vs. UT, decides West
WMU 6-6 (4-4) Swing games, Miami and NIU at home
CMU 6-6 (4-4) 4-2 the last 6 games give the CMU faithful hope
BSU 5-7 (3-5) New guys determine record, good or bad
EMU 3-9 (1-7) Play on the field will disappoint EMU fans
UT over Miami in MAC Championship
UT-Motor City Bowl
Northern Illinois- GMAC Bowl
Miami-Toronto Bowl
What the heck is "generous" about this schedule? Or do you mean generous for our opponents?
08.31.2006 Thu MINNESOTA DIX STADIUM TBA
09.09.2006 Sat at Army West Point, N.Y. TBA
09.16.2006 Sat at Miami* Oxford, Ohio 2 p.m.
09.23.2006 Sat at Bowling Green* Bowling Green, Ohio 1 p.m.
09.30.2006 Sat AKRON* DIX STADIUM TBA
10.07.2006 Sat at Temple Philadelphia, Pa. TBA
10.14.2006 Sat TOLEDO* DIX STADIUM TBA
10.28.2006 Sat OHIO* DIX STADIUM TBA
11.04.2006 Sat at Buffalo* Buffalo, N.Y. 1 p.m.
11.11.2006 Sat at Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Va. 1:30 p.m.
11.18.2006 Sat EASTERN MICHIGAN* DIX STADIUM TBA
11.24.2006 Fri at Ball State* Muncie, Ind. 12 p.m.
axeme Wrote:rocketman49 Wrote:I'll bite. This is just a prediction, that's why the games are played. ;-)
MAC East
Miami 9-3 (6-2) winning the division with a win in the last game
OU 9-3 (6-2) great year, look for better things to come
Akron 6-6 (5-3) Swing games include Miami and OU
BGSU 5-7 (3-5) New offense, same defense
Kent St. 3-9 (1-7) Little improvements, have generous schedule
UB 1-11 (0-8) Possible Temple win, all downhill from there
MAC West
UT 10-2 (8-0) Only tough MAC road games: WMU, NIU
NIU 8-4 (6-2) NIU vs. UT, decides West
WMU 6-6 (4-4) Swing games, Miami and NIU at home
CMU 6-6 (4-4) 4-2 the last 6 games give the CMU faithful hope
BSU 5-7 (3-5) New guys determine record, good or bad
EMU 3-9 (1-7) Play on the field will disappoint EMU fans
UT over Miami in MAC Championship
UT-Motor City Bowl
Northern Illinois- GMAC Bowl
Miami-Toronto Bowl
What the heck is "generous" about this schedule? Or do you mean generous for our opponents?
08.31.2006 Thu MINNESOTA DIX STADIUM TBA
09.09.2006 Sat at Army West Point, N.Y. TBA
09.16.2006 Sat at Miami* Oxford, Ohio 2 p.m.
09.23.2006 Sat at Bowling Green* Bowling Green, Ohio 1 p.m.
09.30.2006 Sat AKRON* DIX STADIUM TBA
10.07.2006 Sat at Temple Philadelphia, Pa. TBA
10.14.2006 Sat TOLEDO* DIX STADIUM TBA
10.28.2006 Sat OHIO* DIX STADIUM TBA
11.04.2006 Sat at Buffalo* Buffalo, N.Y. 1 p.m.
11.11.2006 Sat at Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Va. 1:30 p.m.
11.18.2006 Sat EASTERN MICHIGAN* DIX STADIUM TBA
11.24.2006 Fri at Ball State* Muncie, Ind. 12 p.m.
What I meant by that is that Kent should beat Army, Temple, UB and possibly EMU. Those are 3-4 "winable" games for Kent. I don't want to start anything, we'll just have to see how the season goes.
Huskie_Jon Wrote:I am not counting Toledo out of the West title at this point. They still have a good running game, and they have a knack of reloading at QB, like they did when Gradkowski replaced Jones. But I do favor NIU's known QBs over Toledo's unknowns.
Toledo should know better than to look past NIU now. They should know better than to pass over the middle too.
I hope NIU does not look past BSU this year. I think they will bring their "A" game to Muncie. They did not seem to bring it to DeKalb last year.
I do not think Rocketman gives Akron enough credit. I actually hope Akron wins the East again. I want a shot at redemption. I need a photo opportunity. I don't want to end up a cartoon in a cartoon graveyard.
Miami always reloads with great teams. OU has shown glipses of being a top team in the East.
Akron is playing a brutal OOC schedule with Penn St., NC State, and Cincy. Akron can always win a game that I had them losing (Miami, @OU, @UT). Miami is always a tough task, at home or away. Last year, Akron was 3-3 on the road. That's why I have them losing to OU and UT. Akron looks great at home, beating NIU...but loses to Army 20-0! But who knows, these are just predictions.
This is just my biased perspective, but nobody is really giving the Zips any credit this year. Yes, they are lucky to get to the MACC last year, but the fact is that they won it! The 2006 Zips are way better than last year team. This is the year that Brookhart said when he first came here that this was year he thought he could win the MAC. If you think Biggs is a loss in the ground game you are mistaken. We will be better running the ball with our o-line back. Our passing game will not suffer. MCB record setter Jabari Arthur will be leading the air attack at 6'4" 220 lbs. There isn't a DB in the MAC that can match him. Our defense will be faster, big and stronger with possibly the best DL in the state when you look at Jermaine Reid, Kiki Gonzalez, and past ?uber-recruit? Nate Robinson who was considered a top ten recruit regardless of position coming out of high school.
The Zips will go 9-3 (7-1).
@ Penn State 9/2/06 L ? 34-21 they just have too much for us
@ NC State 9/9/06 L ? 24-20 watch out for this could be an upset special
@ CMU 9/16/06 W ? 31-24 closer than it should be, but we pull it out
North Texas 9/23/06 W ? 34-17 home opener provides a big pick-me-up
@ Kent 9/30/06 W 31-10 just the usual beat down
@ Cincinnati 10/07/06 W 20-17 off day, but the Zips prevail
Miami 10/21/06 W 34-31 we owe them on Homecoming
@ Toledo 10/28/06 L 27-20 Rockets win the home game
BGSU 11/04/06 W 24-23 last week?s loss still hurt but came through
Buffalo 11/09/06 W 38-17 not even as close as the score
@Ohio 11/16/06 W 24-17 why is Ohio getting any hype?
WMU 11/24/06 W 27-20 East already wrapped up but till win
MACC: Akron vs. Toledo W 38-31 revenge taken
MCB: Akron
GMAC: Toledo
Toronto: NIU
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEMPLE OWLS......EARLY PREDICTIONS
Thu. Aug. 31 at Buffalo* WIN
Sat. Sept. 9 Louisville Lincoln Financial Field LOSS
Sat. Sept. 16 at Minnesota LOSS
Sat. Sept. 23 at Western Michigan* WIN
Sat. Sept. 30 at Vanderbilt LOSS
Sat. Oct. 7 Kent State* WIN
Thu. Oct. 12 vs. Clemson Charlotte, N.C. LOSS
Sat. Oct. 21 at Northern Illinois* WIN/LOSS
Sat. Oct. 28 Bowling Green* LOSS
Sat. Nov. 4 Central Michigan* WIN
Sat. Nov. 11 at Penn State LOSS
Sat. Nov. 18 at Navy WIN
SmanTU Wrote:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEMPLE OWLS......EARLY PREDICTIONS
Thu. Aug. 31 at Buffalo* WIN
Sat. Sept. 9 Louisville Lincoln Financial Field LOSS
Sat. Sept. 16 at Minnesota LOSS
Sat. Sept. 23 at Western Michigan* WIN
Sat. Sept. 30 at Vanderbilt LOSS
Sat. Oct. 7 Kent State* WIN
Thu. Oct. 12 vs. Clemson Charlotte, N.C. LOSS
Sat. Oct. 21 at Northern Illinois* WIN/LOSS ha ha ha !!GO HUSKIES!!!!
Sat. Oct. 28 Bowling Green* LOSS
Sat. Nov. 4 Central Michigan* WIN
Sat. Nov. 11 at Penn State LOSS
Sat. Nov. 18 at Navy WIN
SmanTU Wrote:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEMPLE OWLS......EARLY PREDICTIONS
Thu. Aug. 31 at Buffalo* WIN
Sat. Sept. 9 Louisville Lincoln Financial Field LOSS
Sat. Sept. 16 at Minnesota LOSS
Sat. Sept. 23 at Western Michigan* WIN
Sat. Sept. 30 at Vanderbilt LOSS
Sat. Oct. 7 Kent State* WIN
Thu. Oct. 12 vs. Clemson Charlotte, N.C. LOSS
Sat. Oct. 21 at Northern Illinois* WIN/LOSS
Sat. Oct. 28 Bowling Green* LOSS
Sat. Nov. 4 Central Michigan* WIN
Sat. Nov. 11 at Penn State LOSS
Sat. Nov. 18 at Navy WIN
NIU beat three of those teams last season that you are projecting Temple to win. NIU blew out Kent State and Western Michigan, and also beat CMU. You would be much wiser to write in the NIU game as a definite loss for Temple. If a 6-5 Bowling Green can put that bad of a thrashing on Temple then i can not even imagine how badly NIU is gonna kill Temple. Our starters will probably start coming out before the end of the first half. Predicting Temple to go 5-7 when they went 0-11 last season is absurd! You guys got blown out by everyone you played. Granted you only lost to WMU by 3 points, but you lost to them
AT Temple. You guys got whooped at Navy last season too, and now you're predicting to beat them this year. If you don't want to be embarassed you better lower your expectations A LOT!
I would predict that WMU and Navy will win their games as well.
rocketfootball Wrote:NIU could very well be the favorite, and UT fans, coaches, and players won't mind that.
In 2002 Toledo had a new QB and won the MAC West. In 2005 NIU had a new QB and they won the MAC West. Toledo could do the same in 2006.
Toledo is loaded at running back, offensive line, and tight end. All but one receiver returns from last season too. Toledo is going to be very good in 2006 and will give NIU all they can handle.
While true, QB is nowhere near as important in the NIU offense as it is in Toledo's offense.
Losing Wolfe (or Turner) would concern me more then losing Haldi (or Horvath).
I think Akron will lose to Toledo and BG thus giving Miami the berth in the MACC to lose to either UT or NIU. Akron becomes the 3rd team in a bowl.
Temple will lose to WMU, NIU, and Navy. But hey 2 wins is an improvement over last year.