The MAC East stinks

[jpfalcon09]

David Briggs offers up some harsh but correct analysis about the MAC East so far.

http://www.bcsn.tv/news_article/show/69 ... _id=878183" target="_blank

[BGSU33]

The Plain Dealer has a similar story as well:

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college ... _home.html" target="_blank

[BGSU33]

To me, Ohio looks like the best team in the East by far (which might not be saying much). They blew a double-digit lead late to Texas State in a game they let get away (should have won) but came back and dominated Kansas in a game nowhere close to what the score was. Yes, yes, I know, Kansas is the worst P5 team in the country. Heck, you can probably remove the P5 title and just say one of the worst teams in the FBS. But when a MAC team goes on the road to a P5 school and jumps out to a 25-0 lead, has a 250-4 yard edge after the first quarter and has a 27-9 edge in first downs, it's impressive. Especially when you stack that body of work against the rest of the East where over half of those teams lost at home to FCS schools (Buffalo, Miami, Kent State) and another one should have (BG). To me it's Ohio in the East and take your pick of the order of the other five, they're all a distant second.

In the West, it's a much different story (and has been the last decade or so, but even more so this season). WMU, UT and CMU have all been impressive. WMU's win over Northwestern may have lost some luster after the Wildcats turned around and lost to an FCS school itself, but the Broncos have another Big Ten opponent on tap (Illinois) and I think WMU will beat them too. Even with the officiating debacle at Oklahoma State, CMU would have only lost by 3 on the road to a #22 ranked Big 12 team, and Toledo has just been throttling people - including Arkansas State, who never wants to see the Rockets again after suffering their 3rd loss to UT in 3 seasons (double that and they'd know what BG feels like). NIU looks to have finally fallen back some, BSU is behind the pack and EMU has finally shown signs of breathing again.

Here's how I'd rank the MAC right now:

1. WMU
2. Toledo
3. CMU
4. Ohio
5. NIU
6. Ball State
7. Vacant
8. Vacant
9. Vacant
10. Vacant
11. EMU
12. The rest of the MAC East

[Schadenfreude]

David Briggs offers up some harsh but correct analysis about the MAC East so far.

http://www.bcsn.tv/news_article/show/69 ... _id=878183" target="_blank

He also quoted a post from this board. Falcon83, are your ears burning?

What a disappointment! I think we are in real trouble. no motivation on this team at all! We may not win another game!! Get a high school coach, get a high school team.

[factman]

The MAC east is as BAD as most of Briggs columns! He' is no Davs Hackenberg, that is for sure.

[bgsufalcon24]

Hey 33 are you saying EMU is going to beat BG on homecoming day? That's a bold prediction for sure.

[BGSU33]

Hey 33 are you saying EMU is going to beat BG on homecoming day? That's a bold prediction for sure.

No, I'm not saying that. Hence the reason I said it's how I'd rank them "right now." Now come October 1st, if we haven't made dramatic improvement by then, then yes, it could happen. "Right now" there isn't a team on our schedule that we can't lose to.

[kdog27]

To me, Ohio looks like the best team in the East by far (which might not be saying much). They blew a double-digit lead late to Texas State in a game they let get away (should have won) but came back and dominated Kansas in a game nowhere close to what the score was. Yes, yes, I know, Kansas is the worst P5 team in the country. Heck, you can probably remove the P5 title and just say one of the worst teams in the FBS. But when a MAC team goes on the road to a P5 school and jumps out to a 25-0 lead, has a 250-4 yard edge after the first quarter and has a 27-9 edge in first downs, it's impressive. Especially when you stack that body of work against the rest of the East where over half of those teams lost at home to FCS schools (Buffalo, Miami, Kent State) and another one should have (BG). To me it's Ohio in the East and take your pick of the order of the other five, they're all a distant second.

In the West, it's a much different story (and has been the last decade or so, but even more so this season). WMU, UT and CMU have all been impressive. WMU's win over Northwestern may have lost some luster after the Wildcats turned around and lost to an FCS school itself, but the Broncos have another Big Ten opponent on tap (Illinois) and I think WMU will beat them too. Even with the officiating debacle at Oklahoma State, CMU would have only lost by 3 on the road to a #22 ranked Big 12 team, and Toledo has just been throttling people - including Arkansas State, who never wants to see the Rockets again after suffering their 3rd loss to UT in 3 seasons (double that and they'd know what BG feels like). NIU looks to have finally fallen back some, BSU is behind the pack and EMU has finally shown signs of breathing again.

Here's how I'd rank the MAC right now:

1. WMU
2. Toledo
3. CMU
4. Ohio
5. NIU
6. Ball State
7. Vacant
8. Vacant
9. Vacant
10. Vacant
11. EMU
12. The rest of the MAC East

Not sure why you haven't lumped NIU with the East. They have looked bad too.

[BGSU33]

Hey 33 are you saying EMU is going to beat BG on homecoming day? That's a bold prediction for sure.

EMU just beat Wyoming and is off to its best start in 21 years at 3-1, including a pair of FBS wins, which is two more than BG has this year. BG had better be ready to play as EMU looks to be much improved from recent years, and we all know BG is nowhere near what it's been the last four years.

[60yearsofsicsic]

I think it's really idiotic to assume anything about the MAC East this year it will be completely drive by match ups won on that given day ... Talent is pretty even to assume teams like NIU Ohio and Ball State are better then BG Is foolish ...Your making that judgement on two losses to OSU and MTSU who you both win the MAC and probably the conference

[kdog27]

Not much to assume. Making a strong argument for worst team in FBS.

[jpfalcon09]

Well, the East will come down to the final week as Ohio plays Akron and Miami of all teams plays Ball State. Who would've thought the Redskinhawks would be 5-2 in conference play? Either way, WMU/Toledo has to be licking their chops at the thought of playing either one of these teams.

Ohio clinches with a win or Miami loss
Miami clinches with a win and an Ohio loss

[Falconfreak90]

Well, the East will come down to the final week as Ohio plays Akron and Miami of all teams plays Ball State. Who would've thought the Redskinhawks would be 5-2 in conference play? Either way, WMU/Toledo has to be licking their chops at the thought of playing either one of these teams.

Ohio clinches with a win or Miami loss
Miami clinches with a win and an Ohio loss

It's Bat Sheet Crazy! Man, thinking about those close losses to EMU, OU and tsun.

I think WMU is gonna crush UB this week and not let up against tsun. Rooting for them to finish 13-0 and get that NYD Bowl bid. Row the boat...

[Schadenfreude]

Unless another program steps it up, we clearly aren't that far from again winning the East again. That's encouraging.

[jpfalcon09]

Ohio needed a stop in the waning seconds of the game to hold off Akron 9-3 in a craptastic game to clinch the division. They will play the winner of Toledo/Western Michigan in Detroit next Friday and probably get drilled, although they somehow managed to beat Toledo a few weeks ago.

Should BG be able to recruit well enough this winter they can be right back in the mix next season for the division crown.