Wrapping up the MAC

I've been talking to you fools for a week about the MAC and all of the MACtion that has happened and will happen. If you're still here, you're obviously TURNT on the fun and are ready to go to war. I've given you some predictions for each team individually, but if you're like me, you're a visual learner. It's our curse. If that's the case, here are your standings.

East:

Ohio                        9-3 (6-2)

Bowling Green       8-4 (6-2)

Buffalo                   5-7 (2-6)

Kent State               4-8 (2-6)

Miami (OH)           3-9 (2-6)  

Akron                     3-9 (1-7)

West:

Western Michigan      12-0 (8-0)

Northern Illinois         11-1 (7-1)

Central Michigan        8-4 (6-2)

Toledo                         7-5 (4-4)

Ball State                     7-5 (4-4)

Eastern Michigan        3-9 (0-8)

Western Michigan is going undefeated. Call your bookie and bet your life savings. As sure as grass is green and the sky is blue, it will happen. They will face Ohio in the title game because I have them winning the regular season game vs BG and owning the tiebreaker. Western Michigan is going to be 13-0 after they handle business against Ohio. Will they get in the playoff? Nope. The MAC gets slept on and doesn't get the respect it deserves. If that happens, I'll riot with you, Broncos. We're in this together. Row the boat boys, it's going to be a blast.

Offensive Player of the Year: Zach Terrell - Western Michigan QB

Defensive Player of the Year: Shawun Lurry - Northern Illinois DB

Coach of the Year: P.J. Fleck - Western Michigan

 All my love,

@corbeech

Mid-American Conference Preview: Bowling Green

Bowling Green Falcons 

2015 Results: 10-4 (7-1, 1st in East)
Lost to Georgia Southern in Go Daddy Bowl 

Returning Starters: 5 OFF, 6 DEF, 1 SP

2016 Schedule: 

September:

3rd at Ohio State

10th NORTH DAKOTA

17th MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE

24th at Memphis

October:

1st EASTERN MICHIGAN

8th at Ohio

15th at Toledo

22nd MIAMI (OH)

November: 

1st at Northern Illinois

9th at Akron

15th KENT STATE

25th BUFFALO

Bowling Green was awesome in 2015. AWESOME. They were a guaranteed cover and made me a decent bit of money last year. They were all about offense and said " screw it" every time the other team had the ball. Dino Babers abandoned ship and went to Syracuse, leaving the program better than he found it. Mike Jinks is new man in charge. Coming over from Texas Tech, I'll let you figure out what kind of offense he prefers. It's looking like the team try to match up with their previous team, but the question will be how the new guys can fill in.

The offense was crazy last year. You could count on BG to drop points, let the ball fly, and have a fun game. Matt Johnson was second nationally in passing yards and touchdowns. You could set your watch by BG. They were going to throw the ball around like mad men and put up points. Johnson threw for 49 touchdowns, which would be around the 50-60 range in team touchdowns. Let that sink in. Their offense was bonkers and if the system can catch on, this next crop can do similar things.

Defensively, BG couldn't care less. They weren't as bad as the Hal Mumme teams who would let the opponent score just so they could get the ball back, but they weren't far ahead. They return half of their starters, which doesn't instill much confidence in them getting better. They need to make monumental strides in order to keep up last year's record and team toughness. They lost far too many offensive weapons to struggle defensively in the coming season.

Player to watch: Austin Valdez

I've been bashing the defense, but Valdez is a beast and he's back for his Junior year. Last year, he was the star of the defense with 101 tackles, 11 TFL, and 2 interceptions. He was everywhere and he had to be. Otherwise, BG may have given up 75 points per game. For them to have success this season, he'll have to step his game up and carry the load.

If you only watch them once, watch: 10/15 at Toledo

They're fighting an absolute battle vs Toledo and it's going to be a revenge game from last year. I have them stunning the Rockets and pulling out the W. "How can you do that after they lost all of those weapons?", you may ask. Simple, I'm the blogger and you're the reader. Kidding. Toledo is replacing a lot of offensive players too, so I'm going with Bowling Green in this one.

Prediction: 8-4 (6-2, MAC)

All my love,

@corbeech

College Football Preview: Mid-American Conference

No disrespect to my fellow blog brothers, but I have the conference that everyone wants a piece of. Everyone loves some MACtion and Thursday nights are the prime example of their glory. I'm giddy to honor my Middle American brethren with some discussion about the hidden gem of college football.

The MAC breaks down into 12 teams making up 2 divisions.

EASTSIDE:
Akron
Bowling Green
Buffalo
Kent State
Miami (OH)
Ohio

WESTSIDE:
Ball State
Central Michigan
Eastern Michigan
Northern Illinois
Toledo
Western Michigan

These will be dropped at a clip of 2 per day up until the end of our journey together. I will be releasing them in reverse order of finish. AKA if you finished on the bottom last season, everyone will hear about you first up until we get through all of the big dogs.

Order will be:

Monday:
Eastern Michigan
Ball State (sorry guys, alphabetical order got ya)

Tuesday:
Miami (OH)
Kent State

Wednesday:
Buffalo
Akron

Thursday:
Ohio
Central Michigan

Friday:
Northern Illinois
Toledo

Saturday:
Western Michigan
Bowling Green
Conference Wrapup

See you soon homies.

All my love,
@corbeech