Sports Illustrated's CFB preview... UT #25, BG #70

[Sussman]

I guess the bar is set pretty high for the Rockets. Sports Illustrated ranked them in their top 25. Full story

Bowling Green was put at #70, which is a great sign considering last year BG was #66 with some quarterback whose name escapes me.

Here's where SI put the other 12 MAC teams (with last year's records and number of returning starters:

42 MARSHALL 8-4 13
Senior QB Stan Hill (1,767 yards, 15 TDs despite knee injury) and senior WR Josh Davis (2,975 career yards) are a dangerous combo

72 NORTHERN ILLINOIS 10-2 13
Senior QB Josh Haldi (2,544 yards, 25 TDs) will try to recapture the magic of Huskies' breakout 2003 campaign

74 MIAMI (OHIO) 13-1 17
Junior Josh Betts (19 of 36, 263 yards) takes over at QB for RedHawks' alltime leading passer Ben Roethlisberger

90 AKRON 7-5 12
First-year coach J.D. Brookhart has a building block in senior QB Charlie Frye (8,426 career passing yards and 46 TDs)

94 WESTERN MICHIGAN 5-7 11
Transfer Ryan Cubit, who set Rutgers freshman passing marks in 2001, will battle junior Blayne Baggett for QB job

95 CENTRAL FLORIDA 3-9 15
Unproven sophomore QB Steven Moffett and tough schedule make for a bumpy return to college coaching for George O'Leary

103 CENTRAL MICHIGAN 3-9 17
MAC freshman of year Jerry Seymour set conference mark for first-year RBs with 1,117 rushing yards in just nine games

106 KENT STATE 5-7 16
Golden Flashes get senior QB Joshua Cribbs (2,424 passing yards, 14 TDs) back after one-game suspension for drug possession

107 BALL STATE 4-8 12
David Letterman's alma mater has dominating WR in Dante Ridgeway (89 catches, 1,075 yards, 10 TDs)

113 OHIO 2-10 17
Senior inside LB Dennis Chukwuemeka (100 tackles in 10 games) is Bobcats' leader up front

114 EASTERN MICHIGAN 3-9 16
Senior TB Anthony Sherrell had 1,531 rushing yards, including eight consecutive games with 100 or more

117 BUFFALO 1-11 16
Mr. Irrelevant Game: Bulls travel to Ohio U on Sept. 25; last year's 26-17 victory over Bobcats was Buffalo's only win

That's a lot of bad teams at the bottom, but I guess that's expected. Also, take a look at who they spotlight. Do you notice a pattern?

Honorable mentions to the "good" teams: Ohio State was put in at #8, Michigan at #12. The top three: USC-Oklahoma-LSU, in that order.

[orangeandbrown]

I personally believe that both CMU and EMU, with new coaches, will surprise. I like the CMU coach a lot, and EMU returns more upperclassmen than any team in the MAC, according to Phil Steele. That can often lead to an upset or two.

[kamman]

I guess they don't know about our little friend Omar

[SoonersEnFuego]

I guess they don't know about our little friend Omar

I don't know that much about him. Tell me.

[jacojdm]

I personally believe that both CMU and EMU, with new coaches, will surprise. I like the CMU coach a lot, and EMU returns more upperclassmen than any team in the MAC, according to Phil Steele. That can often lead to an upset or two.

3

they also have a pretty good tailback. don't be surprised if emu breaks the 3 win plateau.

[transfer2BGSU]

I don't know that much about him. Tell me.

It's too hard to describe. But if you're in Norman on September 4, stop by and see for yourself!

[rc_ziggy84]

Pretty bogus if you ask me. Toledo is too high, BG too low, NIU and Miami also could be ranked a bit higher right around where Marshall is probably. I also expect to see Ohio and EMU surprise a few teams this year. Both have new coaches/coordinators and could catch us off guard. Akron, Central F, Central M, Western and Kent are right where they belong though.


Interesting side note: Buffalo ranked last. but NCAA has them competing for the MACC in the second year? Interesting...

[Falconfreak90]

SI...I never did like that rag except for the swimsuit issue. FF, no comment needed!

IMO, BG is a top 35-50 team right now. Maybe top 25-30...Miami and NIU should be ranked higher as well. Hmmm....NIU loses the "Burner", BG loses "Lethal Weapon 5" and Miami loses "Big Ben". Yet all 3 teams have tons of experience coming back for the 2004 season. I guess we're all one man teams? All three teams were ranked for much of 2003 and almost all finished in the year end top 25...yet fall that far after losing marquee players? Syracuse, Rutgers, North Carolina, Kansas, UAB and Northwestern all above BG, NIU and Miami? BS. SI blows.

Marshall at #42? Maybe a bit high but lets face it...the Herd has name recognition and did go 8-4 last yr beating Kansas State and playing Tennessee very well.

What I like it 5 MAC teams are getting votes in both polls to start the year. What I don't like is all the BCS teams that had 4, 5 even 6 losses last yr in the Top 25...

Finally...UT at #25. Well, someone from the MAC has to get the love...and why all these people are picking the rockettes is beyond me. Great offense, no defense. They'll win games and post their 11 consecutive winning season (which is impressive) but won't be winning the West. I feel BG will win the West...if not, I'd go with NIU over UT. NIU has a solid defense. Let all these guys slobber all over UT. Seeing them finish 3rd in the West will be fine with me. All the pressure is on Jabba the Hut and Co.
Yep, forget about BG...we had our day in the limelight.

I feel Akron should be higher...they finished 7-5 last year and lost @ 9-3 UConn 38-37 on a last second FG. ALso, the Zips trailed Wisconsin 34-31 with 6 min left in the game and scored an apparent TD on 4th and Goal at the Badger 1. The officials pulled a Big 10 special and said they didn't. From seeing the replay, there was no doubt the Akron RB crossed the plain by a good yard or 2. On the very next play, Wisky connected on a 99 yr TD pass and broke the Zips' back. They eventually lost 48-31. With a new coach and Miami and Marshall @ the Rubber Bowl, this could be the ZIps year. I hope it is and they win the East....then they'll host BG in the MACC and I'll only have to drive 10 min to get to the game!

Kent should be a bit higher...as should UCF and WMU. EMU could definitely surprise folks this year. Ball St, Buffalo and Ohio are just not very good. They all have quality players but not much of a team.

[Falcon Fanatic]

SI...I never did like that rag except for the swimsuit issue. FF, no comment needed!

LOL!! I have no problem with your comment about the swim suit issue!! It was the terms "piece of a$$" and "her rack" that got my feathers a litle ruffled.

Can't wait to see you in.....how many days?????