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: Eastern Michigan

Eastern Michigan Eagles

Previous Season: 1-11 (0-8) 6th in West

Returning Starters: 8 OFF, 8 DEF, 2SP

2016 Schedule

September:
2nd MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE
10th @Missouri
17th @Charlotte
23rd WYOMING

October:
1st @Bowling Green
8th TOLEDO
15th @Ohio
22nd @Western Michigan
29th MIAMI (OH)

November:
8th @Ball State
15th NORTHERN ILLINOIS
22nd @Central Michigan


Hard times fell upon the beloved Eagles of Eastern Michigan last season. Spirits were high after they knocked off the Cowboys of Wyoming, but that joy was short lived. Ten consecutive losses followed that game and they were the cellar dwellers of the MAC with an atrocious 1-11 record. This followed up the previous year's 2-10 record to leave a less than impressive 3-21 record at the school for head coach Chris Creighton.

Things seemed to turn sour when the Eagles made the decision to boast the nations worst rushing defense. They gave up 316.5 yards per game, over 35 more than the next worst team. It's extremely difficult to find a nice thing to say about the defense, to be quite honest. They were in the bottom 7 nationally in yards per game allowed and gave up over 42 ppg., placing them in a tie for 5th worst nationally. They ranked 33rd in passing yards allowed, but that was largely due to the fact that they were trailing most of the time and they faced the least passes of anyone in the NCAA.

Offensively, they were middle of the pack, ranking 66th in passing offense and 84th in rushing offense. For a defense as subpar as theirs, they needed much more offensively. You can give up 42 ppg (I don't recommend it), but you have to score WELL over 25 ppg on your own. Luckily, they're bringing back a good majority of their team back and they'll have another year under their belt for the battles to come

Player to watch: Shaq Vann

With Darius Jackson lost to graduation, this is now Shaq Vann's offense to run. He turned in strong numbers as the backup last season and is poised to become the big dog of the backfield this season. All of Jackson's 208 carries and 16 touchdowns will be up for grabs and that has to sound like paradise to a young man who averaged a stellar 5.9 ypc in the 2015 campaign.

If you only watch them once, watch:

10/29 vs Miami (OH). This will be their best shot to end their conference losing streak of 20 games (should the season play out like I'm predicting). Last year they lost at Miami (OH) by a score of 13-28. One year wiser may not be enough, but if they're going to do it, this is the time to circle the wagons and get the troops fired up.

Season Prediction: 3-9 (0-8, MAC)

All my love,
@corbeech