Ohio State
- We all know who they are, we all know who their head coach is, we all know how deep a roster they have.
- According to Phil Steele, Ohio State is the least experienced team in the country this year. Lots of new faces, lots of departures last year.
- Still, this is a deep roster and overall at least as talented as 2015 Tennessee and 2014 Wisconsin.
- Barrett is the best QB we will see all year. We get him out of the way week one.
- OSU has a bunch of unknown running backs. Considering who we're talking about, one of them will probably have a fantastic season and the name "Ezekiel Elliot" will be as memorable as "Justin Zwick" come season's end.
- OSU is probably using this game and the following week Tulsa as "warm-ups" for Oklahoma a couple weeks later. I would love to catch them looking ahead.
- UND went 5-7 last year but was better than 5-7 may indicate.
- They started off with a win over Wyoming (who was blown out by EMU) and also beat Portland State, the same squaud who beat Washington State (24-17) and North Texas (66-7)
- UND finished the season hot offensively, scoring 40+ in their final three.
- I've never seen them play so I'm going off spring game footage and stats from last year. So quick observations ...
- There is a good running back and as a unit the offense ranked #12 in FCS in rushing last year
- The QB could use some more zip to his passes
- Defensively they finished 6 in FCS in rushing defense and bottom of the barrel in passing defense. I have a tendency to think teams passed not because ND could consistently stop the run but because they were hopeless against the pass.
- The QB is the coach's kid, and he had a good 2015 and could have a better 2016.
- Last year in this slot we played Memphis. MTSU is a definite step back from Memphis offensively but think of MTSU as Memphis-lite. They should be gameplanning for a shootout because I don't see their defense stopping us.
- They are a pass first offense. In the running game, there isn't really a star. Instead they RB by committee.
- They return a 1000 yard receiver. He plays a lot like Ronnie Moore.
- If our defense plays well against MTSU, I'll feel good about the season. If this is a shootout, I'll be having 2014 flashbacks.
- Memphis / Bowling Green was an outstanding game that came down to the wire last year as both teams played such similar styles.
- Now both teams are replacing excellent coaches with first year head coaches who assisted on the offensive side for prolific offenses, and both teams are replacing all-timers at QB.
- Honestly I don't know what to make of Memphis. Their new head coach is a Todd Graham guy. He'll put together a great offense even without Lynch and some major WR losses.
- I assume their D will take a step forward. Where last year they had to replace nearly the entire defense, this year nearly the entire defense returns.
- I believe this should be a close game. If it is anything like last year's, it will be well worth the ticket price.
- EMU has the following going for them:
- All of last year's offensive line returns
- The QB returns
- A workable two deep on both sides of the field
- Will it lead to a turnaround? No. However, I cannot help but see that Creighton is building something at EMU. I don't personally expect to see Creighton win the MAC west ever at EMU, but I could see bowl eligibility in the coming seasons at this rate.
- Still, this is EMU we are talking about. The talent level gap between EMU and the upper echelon of the conference is pretty noticeable.
- What I'm getting at is EMU is going to be far better than last year even if the record does not indicate such. They are probably at least a year or two away from bowl eligibility. And I could see them shocking somebody this year.
- It won't be us.
- OU was a great surprise this last year. Just when I was ready to write something nice about Solich for his retirement, he put together a great regular season.
- OU, injuries and all, was dreadful much of last year but health improved and they put together a solid end of season run.
- This year, QB Vick is gone. He was a good passer and a great runner. Now it is Sprague's turn. He too is a dual threat player.
- And despite losing one of their top two backs, the running backs and receivers should be solid, perhaps explosive.
- There is some rebuilding to do in pass defense and offensive line.
- If we beat Ohio, we should win the MAC East again. These guys are easily the top rival.
- Beat these guys. I've had it with them.
- UT lost their head coach to ... Iowa State? And then the coaching search process was handled so poorly it will be used as lessons for ADs going into the future.
- The team is pretty stacked. There are some defensive losses to replace. The offense will again rely on the running game and they return solid experience at QB.
- I personally expect a step back given some key player losses and a new coaching staff. And does anybody besides me see Jason Candle as a poor man's Gregg Brandon?
- And BTW, the last two years, our team has peaked in the first half of October. Guess when we catch UT this year.
- It will be nice playing these guys. We have won 4 of the last 5 and I believe the streak will continue.
- This program was gutted by the previous coach, Treadwell. The coach before, Haywood, was able to win with patching together a barely workable roster, some coaching magic, and a little bit of luck
- Yes, I still remember the phantom interception in the fog.
- MU is recruiting well. I don't know much about Chuck Martin as he has been working with the previous coach's team and his own freshmen. I can't really say I know what he wants to do with the team.
- Regardless, get your kicks in now. This is a proud program and the right coach will build them back up. Is Chuck Martin the right one?
- And talk about experience. MU returns almost everybody on both sides of the field. This reminds me a lot of our 2011. The talent is there, but the talent is full of sophomores who started much earlier than their counterparts on other teams.
- NIU is my favorite west program because they are run so damn well.
- Part of me feels like NIU is looking at a decline. They snuck into the MAC title game last year, they don't have the stars they've had in recent years, their head coach is not rumored for big jobs every year.
- Still, this is a talented and deep team. They are not my west pick (WMU), so I'll look awfully stupid if NIU wins the west yet again.
- NIU always has an outstanding offensive line. They have some pieces to replace but with their depth they'll be fine.
- There is absolutely no way NIU has the same injury problems they had last year. So when we play these guys, they will be at full strength.
- The results of this game will probably deeply impact both division races. I could see this game being a tiebreaker, perhaps in both divisions.
- I'm still shocked that after our complete shellacking of Akron last year, they rallied to get to and win a bowl game.
- Akron's top two strengths last year were the offensive line and the linebackers.
- And none of them return. I'm serious. Anybody in those two units who did anything significant is gone.
- Beyond those two voids, Akron returns what could be a team to make a run at the MAC east. I just don't see them replacing their strengths so quickly.
- I'm expecting Akron to take a step back this year and then in a year or two take another step forward.
- The last time we lost to Akron was 2006, with Ruben Ruiz and the phantom offensive pass interference. Let's keep this winning streak alive.
- If Kent State can find an offense, you are looking at a team similar to our 2012 squad. This defense is legit.
- And the defense was legit last year until our offense ripped them a new one.
- Offensively, they lose RB Durham, who I couldn't believe was still around. Beyond him, everybody is back.
- For better or for worse. This offense couldn't do anything well last year and was on the wrong side of three shutouts, all to MAC East opponents.
- Defensively, they'll be solid. They return nearly everybody from a defense that last year held most teams in range.
- Most teams did not include us or anyone else with a pulse. Their lack of offense came back to hurt two-fold against the better teams because not just did the offense have to work with a deficit, they also left Kent's defense on the field too long.
- Basically Kent took care of business defensively against bad teams. Now is the time to step up and do it against good teams too. And having an offense to give their defense a breather on occasion will help.
- All they need to do is find something, anything, on offense they can do well besides punting. If they can, Kent could make a run at a bowl game.
- Lance Leipold is an outstanding coach. Give him time. UB may very well be the next MAC dynasty, but it will take some time to build.
- This year, UB returns a solid offensive line and a solid defense. You may think all the pieces are in place for a big step forward.
- However, they do not return their QB and some other offensive playmakers. Barring an incredible reload there, UB is not primed for a step forward this year.
- The UB rivalry is always fun and so I expect we'll have another good one. How many of our games in the last decade have come down to the wire?
- Really, almost all of them.
Western Michigan
- Easily my MAC favorite. Best backfield the conference has seen in years, an experienced defense, and a like-him-or-hate-him head coach who can out-recruit half the Big Ten.
- Their schedule includes both Illinois Big Ten teams and Georgia Southern. I kid you not, WMU can sweep their schedule. Not that I'm expecting it to happen but it is doable.
- Under Enos, CMU was a talented team with a dufus of a head coach who made every team he inherited worse. Why he still has a job is beyond me.
- One year under John Bonamego and you can see the direction they are headed in. CMU has reasons for excitement, including perhaps the MAC's best QB in Cooper Rush.
- And I just have to say, one of the MAC's best stories in recent years is Bonamego has been declared cancer free. Check out this story about his day-to-day in 2015. How can I not like the guy after that read?
- I don't have the foggiest idea what to expect out of Ball State's new head coach.
- All I can say is he has a serious building job in front of him. The floor fell out from under Lembo the last couple years and though the cupboard is not bare, it will take some time to compete in the MAC west.
- This looks like a "year 0" scenario if I've ever seen one.
