Link

Predicted Final Standings:

Toledo
Eastern Michigan
Central Michigan
NIU
Ball State
Western Michigan

Here's their write-up on NIU:

Quote:What does normal look like at NIU? In the last three seasons for Thomas Hammock at NIU, it's all gone wrong, then all right, then all wrong again. Hammock's Huskies have been on a nonstop roller coaster, going 0-6 in 2020, surging to 9-5 and a West title in 2021, then crumbling back to 3-9.

NIU was the most physical team in the MAC during 2021's title run and the most injured in 2022. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi and slot man extraordinaire Trayvon Rudolph both missed most or all of last season, and the offense didn't boast a single player who started all 12 games; that the Huskies fell only from 40th to 67th in offensive SP+ was a minor miracle.

The slippage did, however, expose a defense that was flawed in 2021 and downright bad in 2022. NIU ranked 128th in defensive SP+ and allowed 37.2 points per game in losses. It would have been difficult for even a healthy offense to keep up with that. Inexperience was certainly an issue, as evidenced by the fact that, of the 17 returning defenders who saw at least 100 snaps in 2022, only two (tackles James Ester and Demond Taylor) are now seniors. There were freshmen and sophomores everywhere you looked, and that's at least one issue coordinator Nick Benedetto won't have to deal with in 2023.

With Lombardi, Rudolph, running back Antario Brown and last year's top six linemen (including all-conference tackle Nolan Potter) all returning, it sure seems like it could be 2021 all over again on offense. Lombardi began his career at Michigan State in 2017, and after last year's medical redshirt, he'll spend his seventh and final collegiate season back in DeKalb. He threw for 2,597 yards and averaged 5.9 yards per non-sack carry in 2021, and if he remains on the field, NIU could have another top-50 offense.

NIU has prime rebound potential, in other words. The roller coaster ride might continue with another upward surge, even if SP+, baffled by the last few seasons, isn't so sure.

Listed under "My 10 Favorite Players"

Quote:RB Antario Brown, NIU. NIU lost its leading rusher to the portal for the second straight year, but while they'll miss Harrison Waylee, more touches for the burly but explosive Brown (218 pounds, 6.3 yards per carry, 7.3 outside the tackles) might not be the worst thing in the world.

WR Trayvon Rudolph, NIU. In a three-game span midway through NIU's MAC title run in 2021, Rudolph caught 28 balls for 577 yards and five touchdowns. His upside is immense, and he was sorely missed after suffering a knee injury in fall camp.