In January!

http://cfn.scout.com/2/1149405.html

East
1. Ohio
2. Kent State
3. Temple
4. Miami
5. Buffalo
6. Akron
7. UMass

West
1. WMU
2. NIU
3. Toledo
4. Ball State
5. BGSU
6. CMU
7. EMU

I like what i'm seeing! Besides, it's never too early to talk about college football!

I think Toledo and Ball State are being under-estimated in this ranking, and WMU over-estimated because of their QB. WMU lost quite a bit at WR, I believe 3 of their top 4 wide receivers were seniors. I'm not sure if they had any seniors on the offensive line, but if they lost a couple of guys there that is the big issue for Carder. In 2010 he was running for his life a lot, and WMU suffered because of it.

(01-18-2012 09:46 PM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  I think Toledo and Ball State are being under-estimated in this ranking, and WMU over-estimated because of their QB. WMU lost quite a bit at WR, I believe 3 of their top 4 wide receivers were seniors. I'm not sure if they had any seniors on the offensive line, but if they lost a couple of guys there that is the big issue for Carder. In 2010 he was running for his life a lot, and WMU suffered because of it.

Lost a tackle. No more there. WMU reloads at wr. Cubit has been amazing since Greg Jennings, Jamarko Simmons and White. It's next up when you talk QB and WR at WMU. I do agree BSU and the rest of the west may be underrated

(01-18-2012 09:59 PM)conaire Wrote:  

(01-18-2012 09:46 PM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  I think Toledo and Ball State are being under-estimated in this ranking, and WMU over-estimated because of their QB. WMU lost quite a bit at WR, I believe 3 of their top 4 wide receivers were seniors. I'm not sure if they had any seniors on the offensive line, but if they lost a couple of guys there that is the big issue for Carder. In 2010 he was running for his life a lot, and WMU suffered because of it.

Lost a tackle. No more there. WMU reloads at wr. Cubit has been amazing since Greg Jennings, Jamarko Simmons and White. It's next up when you talk QB and WR at WMU. I do agree BSU and the rest of the west may be underrated

I get the reloading thing, but with the wide receivers WMU had this year, and the improved offensive line, they still lost to NIU, Toledo, and EMU. Even with unproven guys stepping up, none is Jordan White. Just don't see them as the West favorite just because Carder is back. People thought the same thing about Toledo in 2005 with Gradkowski back as a senior despite losing Lance Moore to graduation. And that was a MACC Toledo team from 2004, not one that lost to three West Division teams. NIU won the West in 2005 while Toledo lost to NIU and CMU in the division.

Looking at the West Division, it's going to be brutal. I have no clue who will win the division, but WMU, NIU, UT, BSU, EMU, and BG are going to be good next year IMO. And CMU could be much better with those two freshmen wide receivers they had this year. Realistically, any of the 7 teams in the West could win the division. Can't really say the same for the East.

(01-18-2012 09:46 PM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  I think Toledo and Ball State are being under-estimated in this ranking, and WMU over-estimated because of their QB. WMU lost quite a bit at WR, I believe 3 of their top 4 wide receivers were seniors. I'm not sure if they had any seniors on the offensive line, but if they lost a couple of guys there that is the big issue for Carder. In 2010 he was running for his life a lot, and WMU suffered because of it.

There's a surprise.

I'll pick Temple again in the East, someone needs an ass kicking if they don't win the East in 2012. The WEST? BG returns 4 of 5 OL and played very good at times last year, 2012 they could break out. Everyone is chasing the TOP DOG! Go Huskies.

(01-19-2012 12:29 AM)7 Wrote:  

(01-18-2012 09:46 PM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  I think Toledo and Ball State are being under-estimated in this ranking, and WMU over-estimated because of their QB. WMU lost quite a bit at WR, I believe 3 of their top 4 wide receivers were seniors. I'm not sure if they had any seniors on the offensive line, but if they lost a couple of guys there that is the big issue for Carder. In 2010 he was running for his life a lot, and WMU suffered because of it.

There's a surprise.

Why is that? Can't really say WMU or NIU are under-estimated because they are 1 and 2. The schools from 5-7 are probably slightly behind the first four, though I could see any of them winning the division next year.

NIU lost their Mr Everything QB, their main running back, and 4 offensive linemen (including arguably the two best linemen on the team) to graduation. Why should they be picked ahead of schools like Toledo and Ball State? If your answer is that they will reload, either A) you are doing just what you are trying to incorrectly accuse me of, or B) you are expecting that NIU will replace these players without missing a beat and a school like Toledo cannot replace their top offensive players that are leaving. Either way, it sounds like you are doing exactly what you are trying to accuse me of.

Coyer and Anthony Robey starting all year--I'm excited. Losing Pierce hurts, but Brown can definitely take over for him and we have a few other good options at RB. We had pretty good depth at OL last year, and I expect the backups to step into the starting lineup without an issue.

(01-19-2012 12:39 AM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  

(01-19-2012 12:29 AM)7 Wrote:  

(01-18-2012 09:46 PM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  I think Toledo and Ball State are being under-estimated in this ranking, and WMU over-estimated because of their QB. WMU lost quite a bit at WR, I believe 3 of their top 4 wide receivers were seniors. I'm not sure if they had any seniors on the offensive line, but if they lost a couple of guys there that is the big issue for Carder. In 2010 he was running for his life a lot, and WMU suffered because of it.

There's a surprise.

Why is that? Can't really say WMU or NIU are under-estimated because they are 1 and 2. The schools from 5-7 are probably slightly behind the first four, though I could see any of them winning the division next year.

NIU lost their Mr Everything QB, their main running back, and 4 offensive linemen (including arguably the two best linemen on the team) to graduation. Why should they be picked ahead of schools like Toledo and Ball State? If your answer is that they will reload, either A) you are doing just what you are trying to incorrectly accuse me of, or B) you are expecting that NIU will replace these players without missing a beat and a school like Toledo cannot replace their top offensive players that are leaving. Either way, it sounds like you are doing exactly what you are trying to accuse me of.

I said nothing about NIU in my post, just that it's not a surprise you would say Toledo is under estimated. You mention how much NIU loses on offense, but fail to mention Toledo loses both Page and Thomas.

I couldn't care less about preseason predictions. They mean nothing. Toledo was predicted to win the West in 2011 and how is that looking? Here's 60 more coming your way.

As for NIU, yes they lose Harnish and the entire offensive line, but Lynch looked fantastic in the bowl game and he has plenty of weapons on the outside to help him out. I don't see NIU averaging 38 a game like they did the last two years, but I have no reason to believe they wont be able to score points. With that being said, look at NIU's defense. It was really good the last 5 games of the season, and the only two starters lost are replaced by Butler and Clark who were the two best players on a good defense in 2010.

(01-19-2012 02:14 AM)7 Wrote:  I couldn't care less about preseason predictions. They mean nothing.

Says the kid posting about his concerns in a thread regarding preseason predictions.

Our WR situation is, by far, the biggest wild card for the Broncos. You don't replace White, and to a somewhat lesser degree Arnheim and Ravenelle, without missing a beat. If the young receivers catch on rather quickly, then a MAC West title is well within reason. If it's growing pains, then middle of the pack it is (assuming Cubit is too stubborn to utilize a veteran RB lineup more to balance it out).

There's a discussion to be had on epistomology and uncertainty in data collection and measurments.

But not today. This is just stupid and meaningless.

Temple has no business winning the East next year and this is a fair prediction. And since Temple shouldn't win they just might.

(01-18-2012 10:40 PM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  

(01-18-2012 09:59 PM)conaire Wrote:  

(01-18-2012 09:46 PM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  I think Toledo and Ball State are being under-estimated in this ranking, and WMU over-estimated because of their QB. WMU lost quite a bit at WR, I believe 3 of their top 4 wide receivers were seniors. I'm not sure if they had any seniors on the offensive line, but if they lost a couple of guys there that is the big issue for Carder. In 2010 he was running for his life a lot, and WMU suffered because of it.

Lost a tackle. No more there. WMU reloads at wr. Cubit has been amazing since Greg Jennings, Jamarko Simmons and White. It's next up when you talk QB and WR at WMU. I do agree BSU and the rest of the west may be underrated

I get the reloading thing, but with the wide receivers WMU had this year, and the improved offensive line, they still lost to NIU, Toledo, and EMU. Even with unproven guys stepping up, none is Jordan White. Just don't see them as the West favorite just because Carder is back. People thought the same thing about Toledo in 2005 with Gradkowski back as a senior despite losing Lance Moore to graduation. And that was a MACC Toledo team from 2004, not one that lost to three West Division teams. NIU won the West in 2005 while Toledo lost to NIU and CMU in the division.

Looking at the West Division, it's going to be brutal. I have no clue who will win the division, but WMU, NIU, UT, BSU, EMU, and BG are going to be good next year IMO. And CMU could be much better with those two freshmen wide receivers they had this year. Realistically, any of the 7 teams in the West could win the division. Can't really say the same for the East.

Crazy but true. It's going to be a wacky year in the West.

BG returns a lot of talent on defense....on offense we have our QB and pretty much the entire depth chart at RB and TE coming back as well as most of our OL. Like WMU, our biggest question mark is WR. We completed 254 passes last year. 170 or so of those receptions graduated. Shaun Joplin is really the only known commodity we have there. If Jeron Stokes and JUCO Westrooks and Allen can step in we'll be OK. If not, *** RS freshmen Gallon and Coby are going to have to be ready. There's a ton of talent at that position, but very little experience...

(01-19-2012 09:47 AM)El Grande Flippero Wrote:  BG returns a lot of players on defense

FIFY

Well torch...I think having two 1st team all mac defenders back is a pretty good start...

(01-18-2012 10:40 PM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  

(01-18-2012 09:59 PM)conaire Wrote:  

(01-18-2012 09:46 PM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  I think Toledo and Ball State are being under-estimated in this ranking, and WMU over-estimated because of their QB. WMU lost quite a bit at WR, I believe 3 of their top 4 wide receivers were seniors. I'm not sure if they had any seniors on the offensive line, but if they lost a couple of guys there that is the big issue for Carder. In 2010 he was running for his life a lot, and WMU suffered because of it.

Lost a tackle. No more there. WMU reloads at wr. Cubit has been amazing since Greg Jennings, Jamarko Simmons and White. It's next up when you talk QB and WR at WMU. I do agree BSU and the rest of the west may be underrated

I get the reloading thing, but with the wide receivers WMU had this year, and the improved offensive line, they still lost to NIU, Toledo, and EMU. Even with unproven guys stepping up, none is Jordan White. Just don't see them as the West favorite just because Carder is back.

They were beating NIU at half and had a meltdown in the 3rd.
EMU and Toledo were away games that could've gone either way. Their youth was on defense which showed at times. Who knows though in 2012.

(01-19-2012 10:03 AM)El Grande Flippero Wrote:  Well torch...I think having two 1st team all mac defenders back is a pretty good start...

Sure is. But it's not "a lot".