Mid-American Conference

By Steve Herzog
Don Best Associate Editor

As a non-BCS conference, the MAC is always looking to find some nation- wide respect but that might be a tall order this season. There are two words that come to mind when discussing the MAC, balance and mediocrity. There are some dangerous teams in the conference, including Ball State, Central Michigan, Northern Illinois and Bowling Green but it would be a surprise if any team in the conference makes any real noise this season.

Western Division

Ball St
Projected Record (7-5, 6-2)- The Cardinals made their first bowl game since 1996 last season and they should be one of the better teams in the MAC again this season. They have all 11 starters back from last year's offensive unit that averaged almost 32 points per game last season. Junior quarterback Nate Davis threw for 3667 yards and 30 touchdowns against six interceptions last season. His favorite target is Dante Love who had 100 catches for 1398 yards and 10 touchdowns while tight end Darius Hill had 65 grabs for 926 yards and 11 scores. Seven starters are back on defense, including last year's top tackler, senior linebacker Bryant Haines. Junior defensive end Brandon Crawford is also a force after recording eight sacks last season. Ball State is loaded offensively and has enough talent on the other side of the ball to win the MAC's competitive Western Division.

Central Michigan
Projected Record (7-5, 5-3)- Central Michigan has won the West the last two seasons and they have the talent to make it three in a row if things fall into place. Quarterback Dan LeFevour was the MAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2007after becoming only the 2nd quarterback in NCAA history to throw for at least 3000 yards and rush for at least 1000 in the same season. Wide receivers Bryan Anderson and Antonio Brown each gained over 1000 yards receiving last year and return for another season. Eight starters are also back on a defense that gave up an average of nearly 37 points per game in 2007. They should be better on that side of the ball but they will need the entire unit to step up of they are to beat Ball State at home on November 19th, the game which could decide the Western Division's representative in the MAC Championship Game.

Northern Illinois
Projected Record (7-5, 5-3)-The Huskies fell off dramatically last season, going just 2-10, marking an ignominious end to the Joe Novak era. Northern Illinois should rebound nicely in Jerry Kill's first season in Dekalb as they return 55 of 64 lettermen and 21 of 22 starters. The Huskies had an incredibly bad turnover ratio of -17 last year while scoring just under 18 points per game. Senior quarterback Dan Nicholson hopes to improve on those numbers this year and will be pushed by a deep group of signal callers. Running back Justin Anderson gained over 1200 yards rushing last season and also made 45 catches and should be an offensive focal point again. Defensively, senior end Larry English is the Huskies' star. He recorded 10.5 sacks and 67 tackles last season on his way to being named the MVP of the MAC, an incredible feat considering the team's record and LeFevour's historic season. With all 11 starters back on defense, the Huskies should give up far less than the 31 points per game they allowed in 2007. They should be as tough as any team in the conference.

Western Michigan
Projected Record (7-5, 5-3)-Western Michigan is another solid team in the competitive MAC West and like any of the team we have rated above them, they could finish anywhere from first to fourth in the division depending on how things fall. The Broncos return seven starters on offense and ten on defense, including two- time 1st team All-MAC cornerback Londen Fryar. Fryar had an impressive 16 passes defended in 2007 and if he can turn some of those into interceptions, the Broncos could be very dangerous. They had a -5 turnover ratio last season on their way to a 5-7 record. Returning quarterback Tim Hiller had something to do with that, throwing 15 interceptions, but he also completed 63% of his passes for 3021 yards and 20 scores. Jamarko Simmons is the top receiver after making 84 catches for 980 yards in 2007. Expect the Broncos to be solid and bowl eligible this season.

Toledo
Projected Record (4-8, 3-5)- Toledo was one of the MAC's premiere programs in the early 2000's, winning 55 games from 2000 through 2005. The Rockets have gone just 5-7 the last two seasons and despite the return of 15 total starters from last year's team, things don't figure to be any better this season. With last year's top offensive weapon, 1500 yard rusher Jalen Parmele gone, the Rockets will rely on a passing game that has three returning quarterbacks, led by Aaron Opelt, a junior who saw the bulk of playing time last season. Top receiver Stephen Williams is back, but the Rockets will need to replace both tackles from last year's offensive line. The defense has nine starters back but after allowing over 39 points per game in 2007 they will need to improve significantly to make an impact. With one of the toughest schedules in the MAC, including non-conference tilts with Fresno State and at Arizona and Michigan, it will probably be a very long season in Toledo.

Eastern Michigan
Projected Record (3-9, 1-7)-The Eagles of Eastern Michigan improved to a 4-8 record last season and have 15 total starters back. Unfortunately, EMU has some problems that should mean another season in the cellar of the MAC West. The first issue is the schedule, which has only five true home games. Their season should get off to a good start when they play Division I-AA Indiana State on August 28th since the Sycamores have a 1-32 record over the last three years. But it all goes downhill after that for the Eagles. They should be in for a rude awakening week two at Michigan State. They will also make trips to Maryland, Bowling Green, Ball State and Temple, all very tough games. Offensively, they will focus on junior quarterback Andy Schmitt and while the rest of the offense is more experienced, they simply aren't that talented. Incredibly last season the Eagles were +8 in turnover and still went just 4-8. That could be another problem. Expect that to turn around this season and the Eagles to finish with a worse record than last season.

Eastern Division

Bowling Green
Projected Record (7-5, 6-2)-Bowling Green like a number of teams in the MAC, has just five true home games but despite the difficult schedule, the Falcons should be a strong contender in the conference's Eastern division. After going 8-5 last season, the Falcons return eight starters on offense and nine on defense. Junior quarterback Tyler Sheehan is back for another year under center and has all of the weapons that led to a 32 point per game average last season. The offensive line will have new starters at center and both tackle positions, so it could be an issue early on and the schedule is tough early. They start at Pittsburgh, come home for a date with Minnesota and then complete their non-conference schedule with trips to Boise State and Wyoming. If they can come out of that stretch 2-2, the Falcons should have a terrific season. They are the favorite to represent the division in the MAC Championship Game.

Miami (Ohio)
Projected Record (6-6, 4-4)-Miami (Oh) returns 17 starters in all, eight on offense and nine on defense, to a team that went 6-7 last season, losing in the MAC Championship Game to Central Michigan. The offense averaged just over 19 points per game last season but should be a better bit better this season although there are question marks on the offensive line and at running back. The defense looks to be very strong this season with the top seven tacklers from last season back, including MAC Defensive Player of the Year, senior linebacker Clayton Mullins who had 143 tackles and four sacks in 2007. If they can find a quarterback from their deep group of candidates the Redhawks should be able to navigate a relatively easy schedule to at least as many wins as last season.

Temple
Projected Record (6-6, 4-4)-Things might finally be looking up at one of the most moribund college football programs in the country. Temple has always been at the bottom of whatever conference in which they reside but a 4-8 record in 2007 showed some signs of life. This season, with all 11 starters back on both sides of the ball, the Owls could be very dangerous. No team in the nation is more experienced with all but two lettermen back from last year. The schedule is tough with seven road games and virtually no homefield advantage in Philadelphia for the Owls anyway. Their season begins with a trip to Army, a home date with Connecticut and a trip to MAC rival Buffalo before facing Penn State in Happy Valley. Beating Penn State is probably unrealistic, but if the Owls can at least go 2-1 in their first three games, they could be bowl eligible when the season comes to a close.

Buffalo
Projected Record (5-7, 4-4)-Buffalo head coach Turner Gill is coming into his third season in upstate New York off a 5-7 record, equaling the number of wins the program had in it's previous three seasons. The next step is a hard one though and with a very ambitious schedule the Bulls might not be able to do better than last season. The Bulls open with five very tough games and could be winless heading into their bye week on October 4th. They open at home against UTEP, then go to Pittsburgh, play Temple at home then visit Missouri and Central Michigan in succession. Ten starters are back on offense including senior quarterback Drew Willy and 1000 yard rusher junior James Starks. The offensive is also very big and experienced, so the offense should be able to move the ball. The defense has a strong set of safeties in last season's leading tackler, strong safety Davonte Shannon and free safety Mike Newton who had 86 tackles and four interceptions. If the Bulls can weather their non-conference schedule they should be in position to be very competitive in conference play.

Kent State
Projected Record (4-8, 3-5)-Kent State struggled mightily in 2007. They were -11 in turnovers and scored just under 22 points per game while allowing more than 29 on their way to a 3-9 record. They have eight starters back on both sides of the ball from that team and while they should be more competitive this year, they still aren't talented enough to get to .500. Their top player is 1st Team All-MAC running back Eugene Jarvis, who rushed for 1669 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. He also led the team in receiving yards, with just 306, an incredibly bad number in the pass happy MAC. The Golden Flashes' quarterbacks were the worst in the conference last season and they have all four signal callers who threw a pass last season back in the fold. If Kent State can find a quarterback, they will be better, but it still won't be enough to get them to post season play.

Akron
Projected Record (4-8, 3-5)-The Akron Zips have some ability on the offensive side of the ball, especially at running back and on the offensive line. The also have junior quarterback Chris Jacquemain back as well as three experienced senior receivers. With all that talent back, Akron could be a solid offensive team. The problem is the defense and the schedule. The Zips allowed just over 29 points per game last year and they have just five starters back on that side of the ball. Akron 'sschedule features seven road games including their season opener at Wisconsin, followed by a trip to Syracuse. The Zips were just 4-8 last season but they went 6-5-1 ATS. They could be a dangerous team against the spread again this season but that's only because they won't be able to find many straight up wins.

Ohio
Projected Record (3-9, 2-6)-Frank Solich has done a fine job at Ohio, going 6-6 last season after a 9-5 record in 2006. This season the Bobcats will probably take a step back as they return just 13 total starters from last year's team. They will have to replace an outstanding running back in Kalvin McRae and a fine quarterback in Brad Bower which is a pretty tall order considering the two combined for over 3000 yards of total offense last season. The Bobcats averaged just over 30 points per game in 2007 and don't figure to be close to that number this season. Defensively, Ohio allowed 30 points per game last season and that was with a +2 turnover ratio. They have seven starters back from that unit. The Bobcats also face arguably the hardest schedule in the conference, opening up with road games at Wyoming and Ohio State. In all, six of their first eight games and seven total games are on the road. Look for the Bobcats to finish at the bottom of the MAC East.

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