Week 1 MAC predictions
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:09 pm
I can't believe we don't have one of these yet ... means we are so damn excited for the game tonight!!
Here's predictions for the conference this weekend:
Troy at Bowling Green
BG by two possessions. BG offense soars, defense proves its better than 3 returning starters would indicate, and Dave Clawson starts the era on a high note.
North Texas at Ball State
North Texas had no defense last year but a decent offense. Ball State is rebuilding a lot at receiver and O-Line but still has some great players coming back. Ball State by 2 or 3 possessions.
Kentucky at Miami
There isn't too much going for the Redhawks into this game ... even though Kentucky is likely to be lower tier SEC, they still completely outmatch Miami. Kentucky big.
Toledo at Purdue
Toledo returns basically their entire team from last year ... for better or for worse. Purdue is rebuilding offensively but should be fine there quickly, and defensively should be mediocre Big 10. Purdue by two possessions, but Purdue is on partial upset alert (I can't believe I'm saying that ...)
Akron at Penn State
Akron's got a lot coming back from a surprisingly good team but this upset is not happening period. Penn State big.
Western Michigan at Michigan
Michigan will be extremely improved going into this year, but WMU could be a big challenge. WMU gives Michigan everything they can handle but Tate Forcier and crew find a way to become explosive on offense and Michigan wins by at least a possession. That being said ... things could backfire and Michigan is on my upset alert.
Connecticut at Ohio
UConn is losing a lot of talent in Donald Brown, but they'll still be powerful enough to run over Ohio. I know Ohio is known for surprising, but I just don't see it happening. UConn big.
Northern Illinois at Wisconsin
Now that Wisconsin is really Bielema's team instead of Alverez's, they have really disappointed big. 2006 was a product of Bielema running what Barry created but he has not sustained at all. Wisconsin is in for a down year, but they always seem to handle MAC teams just fine. Wisconsin big in week one but not much as the year goes on.
Buffalo at UTEP
UTEP has been getting a lot of attention and I really don't see why. They have a lot of talent coming back, but they aren't going to be that good defensively IMO and are traditionally turnover-prone on offense. I would have said Buffalo big like last year (42-17), but with James Starks out, its going to be tough early on. I'd say a low scoring game with Buffalo winning small, but this one could go either way.
Coastal Carolina at Kent State
Kent should win, but they are not going to be good this year. Eugene Jarvis is a great player but he doesn't have the supporting cast around him, and losing Edelman is really tough. Kent wins, but its not indicative of the 2009 season.
Villanova at Temple
Temple is a legit conference title contender and probably has the conference's best defense. Offense could be a problem and they haven't been explosive on offense recently. 'Nova is a very good team and will be extremely fired up for this one. I'm picking Temple to win, but Temple is on upset alert. Remember ... CMU won the MAC in 2007 after getting blown out by FCS member NDSU. Temple losing this game doesn't mean they are a bad team or they can't win the conference.
Army at Eastern Michigan
EMU is explosive on offense but had one of the worst defenses in the nation last year. They gave up 30 or more points 9 times, 40 or more 6 times, and 50 or more 3 times. Army's new coach is known for doing a lot with a little and some bizarre and unique offenses. Sounds like a shootout, but EMU has been in more shootouts than Army ... Army is more known for being on the wrong side of blowouts (and I'm not saying EMU is not experienced in that department). I'd say EMU winning a shootout, but with two new head coaches, this could go either way.
Central Michigan at Arizona
Arizona has some rebuilding to do, but I think they are turning a corner. Offense should be fine even with a new QB, defense should be one of the better in the Pac-10. CMU has been having problems with non-conference games (52-7 to KU, 45-22 to Purdue, 44-14 to NDSU, 70-14 to Clemson, 56-17 to Georgia ...). Arizona big, but be ready for CMU to be extremely good in MAC play.
Here's predictions for the conference this weekend:
Troy at Bowling Green
BG by two possessions. BG offense soars, defense proves its better than 3 returning starters would indicate, and Dave Clawson starts the era on a high note.
North Texas at Ball State
North Texas had no defense last year but a decent offense. Ball State is rebuilding a lot at receiver and O-Line but still has some great players coming back. Ball State by 2 or 3 possessions.
Kentucky at Miami
There isn't too much going for the Redhawks into this game ... even though Kentucky is likely to be lower tier SEC, they still completely outmatch Miami. Kentucky big.
Toledo at Purdue
Toledo returns basically their entire team from last year ... for better or for worse. Purdue is rebuilding offensively but should be fine there quickly, and defensively should be mediocre Big 10. Purdue by two possessions, but Purdue is on partial upset alert (I can't believe I'm saying that ...)
Akron at Penn State
Akron's got a lot coming back from a surprisingly good team but this upset is not happening period. Penn State big.
Western Michigan at Michigan
Michigan will be extremely improved going into this year, but WMU could be a big challenge. WMU gives Michigan everything they can handle but Tate Forcier and crew find a way to become explosive on offense and Michigan wins by at least a possession. That being said ... things could backfire and Michigan is on my upset alert.
Connecticut at Ohio
UConn is losing a lot of talent in Donald Brown, but they'll still be powerful enough to run over Ohio. I know Ohio is known for surprising, but I just don't see it happening. UConn big.
Northern Illinois at Wisconsin
Now that Wisconsin is really Bielema's team instead of Alverez's, they have really disappointed big. 2006 was a product of Bielema running what Barry created but he has not sustained at all. Wisconsin is in for a down year, but they always seem to handle MAC teams just fine. Wisconsin big in week one but not much as the year goes on.
Buffalo at UTEP
UTEP has been getting a lot of attention and I really don't see why. They have a lot of talent coming back, but they aren't going to be that good defensively IMO and are traditionally turnover-prone on offense. I would have said Buffalo big like last year (42-17), but with James Starks out, its going to be tough early on. I'd say a low scoring game with Buffalo winning small, but this one could go either way.
Coastal Carolina at Kent State
Kent should win, but they are not going to be good this year. Eugene Jarvis is a great player but he doesn't have the supporting cast around him, and losing Edelman is really tough. Kent wins, but its not indicative of the 2009 season.
Villanova at Temple
Temple is a legit conference title contender and probably has the conference's best defense. Offense could be a problem and they haven't been explosive on offense recently. 'Nova is a very good team and will be extremely fired up for this one. I'm picking Temple to win, but Temple is on upset alert. Remember ... CMU won the MAC in 2007 after getting blown out by FCS member NDSU. Temple losing this game doesn't mean they are a bad team or they can't win the conference.
Army at Eastern Michigan
EMU is explosive on offense but had one of the worst defenses in the nation last year. They gave up 30 or more points 9 times, 40 or more 6 times, and 50 or more 3 times. Army's new coach is known for doing a lot with a little and some bizarre and unique offenses. Sounds like a shootout, but EMU has been in more shootouts than Army ... Army is more known for being on the wrong side of blowouts (and I'm not saying EMU is not experienced in that department). I'd say EMU winning a shootout, but with two new head coaches, this could go either way.
Central Michigan at Arizona
Arizona has some rebuilding to do, but I think they are turning a corner. Offense should be fine even with a new QB, defense should be one of the better in the Pac-10. CMU has been having problems with non-conference games (52-7 to KU, 45-22 to Purdue, 44-14 to NDSU, 70-14 to Clemson, 56-17 to Georgia ...). Arizona big, but be ready for CMU to be extremely good in MAC play.
I will definitely be returning here after the game is over. If for anything else, to either admit we have over inflated the expectations of our team or to get the apologies from INeedBotox, and for her to admit that the Sunbelt has teams better than some of those in the Big 12.
