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The Sporting News' 2008 College Football Preview hit newsstands today. Here's the rundown:

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

MAC West
1. Ball State
2. Central Michigan
3. Western Michigan
4. Toledo
5. Northern Illinois
6. Eastern Michigan

BG All-MAC Selections:
Diyral Briggs
P.J. Mahone

BG Honorable Mention All-American Selections:
Diyral Briggs
P.J. Mahone

BG’s biggest game:
vs. Miami

MAC Bowl Predictions:
Miami to the GMAC Bowl
Ball State to the Motor City Bowl
CMU to the International Bowl
Temple to the St. Pete Bowl

MAC Ratings:
Fastest Receiver: Dante Love, Ball State
Best Hands: Corey Partridge, Bowling Green
Best Passing QB: Nate Davis, Ball State
Best Running QB: Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan
Mot Elusive RB: James Starks, Buffalo
Best Instincts: Barry Church, Toledo
Best Athlete: Naaman Roosevelt, Buffalo
Best Under Pressure: Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan
Top NFL Prospect: Londen Fryar, Western Michigan
Top Impact Freshman: Danny Green, Miami
Hardest Hitter: P.J. Mahone, Bowling Green
Biggest Underachiever: Tim Hiller, Western Michigan
Best Home-Field Advantage: Northern Illinois
Best Fans: Central Michigan
Best Mascot: Ball State
Best Stadium: Toledo

MAC Recruiting Class Rankings:
1. Western Michigan
2. Toledo
3. Kent State
4. Akron
5. Temple
6. Miami
7. Eastern Michigan
8. Ohio
9. Ball State
10. Central Michigan
11. Buffalo
12. Bowling Green
13. Northern Illinois

Let's just get to the season. Screw the prognosticators. It's all or nothing this season. MAC champs or bust.

Well like I said the other day, Miami and Temple are going to be the two teams mostly likely to beat us for the MAC East Championship. We don't play Temple, so our game vs Miami on October 18th will likely determine whether we can win the division or not. These predictions pretty much reflect that.

I don't see any of the other schools making a run at the title. The team out of the bottom four most likely to surprise people is Kent State because they are so good at running the football. Ohio and Akron lost their best players to graduation, so they're screwed. And Buffalo won't surprise anybody this year.

San Fran Falcon wrote:Let's just get to the season. Screw the prognosticators. It's all or nothing this season. MAC champs or bust.

There ya go....as simple as it gets. I want to see Coach B hoisting that MAC Trophy in Dec at Ford Field. Win the East and get a shot...

I don't see Kent State finishing last. They were hit pretty hard with injuries last year and if Edleman and Jarvis stay healthy, they are a legit team.

I see Akron finishing last in the East.

66 days to go.....ROLL ALONG.

BGSU33 wrote: Best Stadium: Toledo

Well, this was all I needed to read to write of this piece of crap!

Redwingtom wrote:

BGSU33 wrote: Best Stadium: Toledo

Well, this was all I needed to read to write of this piece of crap!

And CMU has the best fans? I've been to Mt Not So Pleasant twice for games and the CMU fans, by far, are the worst in the MAC....at least their students are. Total aholes.....

Redwingtom wrote:

BGSU33 wrote: Best Stadium: Toledo

Well, this was all I needed to read to write of this piece of crap!

I know it's not their stadium, but Temple plays in the best stadium, hands down.

Best Mascot - Ball State ? I am not sure what is so special about their Cardinal.

Best Home Field Advantage - N. Illinois. When Northern was good, I could see it, but when you go 1-11 or whatever they did last year, I can't see that.

1987alum wrote:
I know it's not their stadium, but Temple plays in the best stadium, hands down.

True, but not this year- I'm not sure when we have them at home next. The stadium in which they play their home games is the worst stadium in the MAC for simple reason its not on a campus. Location, location, location...

Best Stadium??? Temple plays at best 1/3 of capacity for most games... typically 1/4 or 1/5 full.

Stadiums should be intermingled within the Campus... Im biased towards Miami, but Ball State has really done a nice job, as well WMU and Akron's new Jewel is just too good for that porgram.

h2o, r4e:

A matter of perspective, I guess ... when you say best stadium, I think of the facility, not the environment. The Linc is THE best facility in the MAC, hands down. But I'll concede it's not a campus feel - at all - and the gameday atmosphere is tepid.

So I have been on a bit of a hiatus from following the Football team, but it's summer and that means one thing...Football is coming! So someone want to give me a quick rundown of how BG looks for this season? Are we going to have a Harris/Jacobs season or are we looking at more of a lucky if we're at .500 season?

CapitalFalcon wrote:So I have been on a bit of a hiatus from following the Football team, but it's summer and that means one thing...Football is coming! So someone want to give me a quick rundown of how BG looks for this season? Are we going to have a Harris/Jacobs season or are we looking at more of a lucky if we're at .500 season?

I wouldn't mind a harris/jacobs season...just add the MAC Championship to it

Mediocre is not an option; I see All or nothing for this "post 2008 GMAC Bowl" team. Brandon's future is now and he should know that.

Beat Pitt!

I agree...all the pieces are there. As long as the new O linemen can gel pretty quickly, I think we have a great shot. Injuries can derail BiG seasons so staying healthy is a must.

We've been waiting since 1992 for a MAC title. That is simply waaaaaaaay too many years in between titles for a program tied for 2nd, all time, in league titles. I know Miami hit a dry spell after 1986 and didn't win one again until 2003.

The MAC is gonna be a pretty solid deal this season. CMU, Ball State, WMU, BG, Miami all look pretty solid. Temple and Buffalo are very much improved and competitive. UT? If Opelt gets that offense going again and their D can play 20% better than absolutely lousy, they can outscore anyone. Tom is gonna be on the hot seat soon if they have another losing season so I look for UT to come out firing. NIU has a new coach...always some unknowns but look at Urban's first year here.

EMU is capable of beating most teams in the league on any given day. They haven't been able to get over the hump. Kent State will be better...Akron will be worse and Ohio? We didn't get it done against them last year but we usually play very well in Athens. I don't see them as a major player in the East and 6 of their first 8 games are on the ROAD...man, you gotta hold it together traveling that much.

We have a good schedule...the OCC sked is very challenging but the games are winnable. In MAC play, getting Miami, Buffalo and Kent State at home is a major plus and Akron and Ohio as road games. We don't have to play at Temple...which, I believe, helps.

West crossover games are not as difficult by not drawing CMU, WMU or Ball State. But winning in the Glass Bowl has not happened since 1994...at NIU will not be an easy game. EMU has played us well the last 2 years so we'll need to play our best, like every game.

I am pumped...I know the cicada sounds will be filling the air soon and college football will rock again. I'm enjoying the summer but man, that gridiron fever is showing its symptons.

GO FALCONS~ WIN THE MAC~