Capsules
Peter Schinkai
pschinkai@themacdaily.com
A new season is upon us, and here is a look at every Mid-American Conference team.
Akron Zips
2008 Record: (5-7, 3-5 T-4th)
Looking Back At 2008: The Zips had some nice wins, including a 42-28 upset of Syracuse in the Carrier Dome and a 30-27 double-overtime thriller against Kent State. Sadly though, a three-game losing streak to end the year kept Akron from going bowling for the third consecutive season.
Let's Talk About A BCS Bid When: Akron beats Penn State on Sept. 5. The Zips are opening up the year with their biggest test, and a win over Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions would go a long way towards legitimacy.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Akron Will Beat: Morgan State on Sept. 12. The Zips are bringing in a I-AA program for the christening of InfoCision Stadium, and it should be a good night, and lopsided victory, for the UA faithful.
Honest Outlook: Akron's offense, which is returning nine starters, should be able to put up points in bunches. The real question is going to be whether or not the defense can slow anyone down. With only three seniors projected to start on defense, the Zips are going to have to rely on youth to up-end some good teams. Still, with a little bit of luck in non-conference play, Akron may be able to pull off a 6-6 record and get a sniff at the postseason.
Bowling Green Falcons
2008 Record: (6-6, 4-4 2nd)
Looking Back At 2008: Bowling Green might have peaked in Week 1 of the season, but it was such a nice high, that it may have been worth it. The Falcons opened up the season by playing Pittsburgh at Heinz Field on national TV. Bowling Green pulled off the upset that day, beating the No. 25 Panthers 27-17 thanks to a big second half. The rest of the year was very back-and-forth for BGSU as they missed out on a bowl game despite going .500.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Bowling Green rolls through the non-conference schedule at 4-0. Bowling Green has a schedule very similar to Ball State's last year. There are some good opponents, specifically Missouri and Boise State, but there is no wow factor game. Bowling Green's biggest test might be a trip to Muncie, Ind. on Oct. 17 to play the Cardinals.
Even If The Year Is a Disaster, Bowling Green Will Beat: Troy on Sept. 3. Give the Falcons credit. There might not be a Top 25 powerhouse on the docket, but there isn't a I-AA team either. Bowling Green's easiest game might be opening day against last year's Sun Belt champions.
Honest Outlook: There was a lot of turnover at BGSU this year. The Falcons have a new coach in Dave Clawson and they're replacing seven starters on defense. With that said, Clawson is a proven program-builder at the I-AA level, turning around programs at Fordham and Richmond. There is enough talent and the schedule is soft enough that Bowling Green could find itself going 8-4 and competing for the MAC East title. Realistically, this team should be playing in a bowl game this year.
Buffalo Bulls
2008 Record: (8-6, 5-3 1st)
Looking Back At 2008: Every team wants to win the MAC Championship, but for Buffalo, the 42-24 win it had over Ball State was a little more special. For a perennially poor team, and one that started the year 2-4, the second half of the year was simply a dream. Turner Gill and Drew Willy created something magical, that the local community should be proud of.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Buffalo upends Pittsburgh at home on Sept. 12. The Bulls home-opener should be a dandy, and if Buffalo can pull off an upset like Bowling Green's last year, it would go a long way towards legitimacy.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Buffalo Will Beat: Gardner-Webb on Oct. 10. This I-AA tune-up, will be slated between tough MAC home games against Central Michigan and Akron and should be a good game for the Bulls to make any necessary tweaks.
Honest Outlook: The Bulls have earned a share of the MAC East title each of the past two seasons and things are looking up. The biggest hurdle that Buffalo will have to overcome this year is the loss of Willy. He's likely going to be replaced by Zach Maynard, who has completed a single pass for seven yards. The schedule won't be too kind to Buffalo either, with some tough non-conference games and a pair of road games to close out the year. Buffalo may take a step back this season. Look for Buffalo to finish the year 5-7 and in the middle of the MAC East.
Kent State Golden Flashes
2008 Record: (4-8, 3-5 T-4th)
Looking Back At 2008: A 24-3 win over I-AA Delaware State was all the separated Kent State from an 0-7 start. Things started clicking for the Golden Flashes in the second half of the year, and they won three of their final five games.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Kent State wins at Boston College on Sept. 12. Last year, the Golden Flashes lost to the Eagles 21-0 in Cleveland Browns Stadium. An upset in Chestnut Hill would go a long way towards building a good season.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Kent State Will Beat: Coastal Carolina on Sept. 3. The Golden Flashes are looking to get off to a good start, and a Thursday-night season opener against the Chanticleers should be a great way to do just that.
Honest Outlook: The Golden Flashes are bringing back 15 starters from last season. But, the obstacle that they face is overcoming the players that they lost. Gone is three-year starting quarterback Julian Edelman. Also gone is talented receiver Shawn Bayes. The top eight wide outs on this season's depth chart caught just 29 balls last year. That translates to 10 less than Bayes caught by himself. If Kent State is going to gel, then it needs to solve the passing game in a hurry. If the passing game clicks and the defense improves from last year, Kent State could finish as good as 5-7. Still, 2009 looks like one more year without a bowl game.
Miami RedHawks
2008 Record: (2-10, 1-7 7th)
Looking Back At 2008: Last season was not a good one in Oxford. The RedHawks beat just one I-A team, a 27-20 win over Bowling Green. The rest of the year was filled with lopsided defeats. Perhaps, Miami's most impressive loss, was the RedHawks' 16-6 loss to Michigan.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Miami wins at Boise State on Sept. 12. There are not many places harder to win at than on the Broncos' blue turf. A win in Boise, especially if it comes after an opening day win over Kentucky would go a long way to overcoming last season's debacle.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Miami Will Beat: Toledo on Oct. 31. The RedHawks Halloween date with Toledo might be their best chance to avoid an 0-fer if everything unravels.
Honest Outlook: First year head coach Michael Haywood has been working hard to get Miami back on track and it will all come down to offense. Last year, the RedHawks were outscored 215-106 in the first half, meaning that many of MU's games were over before halftime. If Miami wants to be competitive, they'll have to start games better. Unfortunately, Miami will play six of its first eight games on the road, and if things don't click, it could get ugly in Oxford in a hurry. Likely, Miami will go 4-8, struggling at first, but winning some home games on the tail end to build for 2010.
Ohio Bobcats
2008 Record: (4-8, 3-5 T-4th)
Looking Back At 2008: Ohio started the 2008 season with a 1-5 record, but also against some very good competition. After falling 21-20 to Wyoming to open up the year, the next four Ohio losses were all against teams that went bowling last season. Ohio also finished strong, winning its final two games.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Ohio wins at Tennessee on Sept. 26. This is the typical coaching master plays up-and-comer game. Oh yeah, and Ohio has the coaching master. If Frank Solich can lead his team to a victory in Knoxville, it would be cause for a celebration.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Ohio Will Beat: Cal Poly on Sept. 19. The Mustangs are a dangerous I-AA opponent that nearly upset Wisconsin last year (they lost 36-35 in overtime) but Ohio is going to use this game as a tune-up for Tennessee and they should be focused on the task at hand.
Honest Outlook: Once again, Ohio is playing a brutal non-conference slate and a .500 record there could go a long way towards determining whether the Bobcats go bowling this season. Saying it splits the non-conference slate, I see Ohio going 8-4 and possibly playing in the MAC Championship game at Ford Field.
Temple Owls
2008 Record: (5-7, 4-4 T-2nd)
Looking Back At 2008: The Owls were 5-7. That's not great. But, it was the most wins that they've had in 18 years. So, that's improvement. The Owls didn't make a bowl game. But they finished second in the MAC East. The best way to look back at 2008 was to say that it was a season of continuous growth.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Temple wins at Penn State on Sept. 19. The Owls will get 16 days to prepare for this in-state game and a win against Pennsylvania's best would be earth-shattering for the up-and-coming Owls.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Temple Will Beat: Villanova on Sept. 3. Temple opens up the 2009 campaign by hosting it's Philadelphia rival and, no matter what happens the rest of the way, the Owls should start 1-0.
Honest Outlook: Every year, the Owls are overlooked, and often times, this would not be the worst team to ignore. But, this year, that could prove costly. For opposing teams, ignoring Temple will almost certainly end in a loss. For fans, ignoring the Owls means that they'll be missing an exciting product. Temple needs to replace three-year starting quarterback Adam DiMichele, but it is returning 17 starters from a year ago. It's been 30 long years since Temple last played in a bowl game (a 28-17 win over Cal in the Garden State Bowl) and that's a streak I think will end this year. At worst, Temple should go 6-6 and deserves some discussion for a December game.
Ball State Cardinals
2008 Record: (12-2, 8-0 1st)
Looking Back At 2008: Last year was one of the greatest in Ball State history. A 12-0 start was incredible, with some thrilling wins along the way. The 31-24 win over Central Michigan all but settled the MAC West crown and a 42-20 win over Indiana filled the Ball State community with a sense of early-season pride. The only sad part was that the Cardinals' season ended with two bad losses. To Buffalo (42-24) in the MAC Championship and to Tulsa (45-13) in the GMAC Bowl.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Ball State wins at Auburn on Sept. 26. The non-conference slate is relatively soft, but a win over the Tigers would be a huge statement.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Ball State Will Beat: New Hampshire on Sept. 12. The Cardinals have nine days to prepare for UNH and they should have no problem leaving with a victory.
Honest Outlook: Ball State didn't just lose stud quarterback Nate Davis in the offseason, but four offensive linemen to go with him. At the same time, the defense might take some steps back. Ball State should be able to start 3-0, but they'll have some bumps this year. Most likely, this team will go 8-4 and swipe an at-large bid to a bowl game.
Central Michigan Chippewas
2008 Record: (8-5, 6-2 T-2nd)
Looking Back At 2008: Three tough losses to close out the year might take away some of the luster from 2008, but it was a very good year in Mount Pleasant. The Chippewas started 6-0 in the MAC and won a tough-fought game against arch rival Western Michigan (38-28). A 31-24 loss to Ball State ended CMU's title hopes though, and a 56-52 stunner by Eastern Michigan the next week piled onto it. The Chippewas closed out the year by losing 24-21 to Florida Atlantic in the Motor City Bowl.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Central Michigan wins at Michigan State on Sept. 12. Say what you will about programs adding easy Ws to the schedule. Central Michigan won't hear of it, as it also plays at Arizona and Boston College. This is the big one though. A win over Michigan's best Big Ten team would would be huge for the Chippewas in the rankings and also, in recruiting.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Central Michigan Will Beat: Eastern Michigan on Oct. 10. It's tempting to pick Central Michigan's home opener against Alcorn State, but if CMU is going to beat anyone, it better be on homecoming against the rival that embarrassed them a year ago.
Honest Outlook: A couple of things really stand out for CMU. First, Dan LeFevour is back for his senior campaign. Second, the defense only lost one starter from a year ago and third, the Chippewas schedule is a nightmare. CMU travels to Arizona, Michigan State and Boston College in the non-conference season. In the MAC, it plays at Ball State in November again and has a brutal three-game road trip at mid season. With all that said, Central Michigan should go 7-5 and will earn every one of its wins. It will also go to a bowl game, probably the International Bowl.
Eastern Michigan Eagles
2008 Record: (3-9, 2-6 T-5th)
Looking Back At 2008: The highlight of Eastern Michigan's year was without a doubt, it's 56-52 win over Central Michigan as the 2008 campaign came to a close. Up to that point, things really didn't go well for the Eagles. They had a 52-0 win over I-AA Indiana State but then got man-handled in their next four games. As the year came to a close though, this team started to mesh and, despite a lot of losses, Eastern Michigan was competitive at the end.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Eastern Michigan wins at Northwestern on Sept. 12. A lot of people are talking about the Sept. 19 game against Michigan, but NU may be the better Big Ten foe, and, even it it isn't, that win will get people talking one week earlier than the trip to the Big House.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Eastern Michigan Will Beat: Kent State on Oct. 17. With a new coach in Ron English, this team might take a will to connect. With how the schedule is set up though, the Kent State game will be a good test on where EMU is at. A win will show progress.
Honest Outlook: I believe that given time, Ron English is going to turn Eastern Michigan around. Unfortunately, it will not be over night. The Eagles schedule is brutal, and they'll be scraping for wins all year. Give this team another year or two and they'll beat you. Right now though, EMU is about 2-10.
Northern Illinois Huskies
2008 Record: (6-7, 5-3 4th)
Looking Back At 2008: For the Huskies, the losses last year were almost more impressive than the wins. Northern Illinois began the season by losing a hard-fought 31-27 decision to Minnesota, lost 13-9 to Tennessee and nearly beat both Central Michigan (losing 33-30) and Western Michigan (losing 29-26). Perhaps, the best thing was that despite all these close losses, NIU, at 6-6, made a bowl game, falling 17-10 to Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Northern Illinois beats Wisconsin on Sept. 5. The Huskies open up under the lights in Madison, Wisc. and a win over UW would be a head-turner.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Northern Illinois Will Beat: Western Illinois on Sept. 12. The Leatherheads are slotted into the schedule between a couple of Big Ten foes. This one should be an easy win for the Huskies.
Honest Outlook: Northern Illinois is in a tough spot because the top of the MAC West is still loaded with talent. The Huskies are one of those talented teams and they'll play both Western Michigan and Ball State at home. If they can take one of those games, and play out the rest of the schedule as expected, NIU should improve to 8-4. The Huskies are likely looking at an at-large bowl again too.
Toledo Rockets
2008 Record: (3-9, 2-6 T 5th)
Looking Back At 2008: Fifty years from now, the one game that the Toledo players might still be telling their grandkids about took place on a cool Saturday in October. The 1-4 Rockets went to Ann Arbor, Mich. and stunned the Michigan Wolverines, 13-10. That game was far-and-away the highlight on what was otherwise a forgetful season.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Toledo beats Ohio State on Sept. 19. This neutral site game (it's being played in Cleveland Browns Stadium) is already getting people in northern Ohio excited. An upset of four-time defending Big Ten champs would overshadow the win over Michigan last year. It would be pure euphoria.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Toledo Will Beat: Eastern Michigan on Nov. 20. The Rockets are playing a tough schedule this year and senior day will probably be Toledo's easiest game.
Honest Outlook: Tim Beckman is the new man at Toledo, and he's been given the task of rebuilding a once proud program. The early schedule is a nightmare, but this team is bringing back 20 starters from last year. If the Rockets came survive some early bumps, they could be the surprise team in the MAC this year. There will be some improvements this year, but UT is looking at a 4-8 campaign.
Western Michigan Broncos
2008 Record: (9-4, 6-2 T 2nd)
Looking Back At 2008: Last year, Western Michigan earned a Texas Bowl appearance by winning the games that it was expected to win. The Broncos best moment might have been their 23-17 win over Illinois at Ford Field. Unfortunately, in all of WMU's other big games, the Broncos came out on the short end. That included losses to Central Michigan (38-28) and Ball State (45-22) in the MAC and to Rice (38-14) in the Texas Bowl.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Western Michigan wins at Michigan State on Nov. 7. The Broncos will play both of Michigan's Big Ten schools, and a late-season win over the Spartans could be huge for deciding where Western Michigan plays its bowl game.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, WMU Will Beat: Hofstra on Sept. 26. The Broncos only non-conference home game should be a walk through, even if everything else comes unraveled this season.
Honest Outlook: Tim Hiller is back for his senior campaign, but he's lost a lot of his offensive weapons. How quickly the WMU offense comes together will play a major factor in how the year plays out. The biggest break that WMU got this year is that both Ball State and Central Michigan are home games. If the Broncos can win those two games and continue to pick up wins in the games that they should, then this team should go 10-2 and take the MAC West crown.
pschinkai@themacdaily.com
A new season is upon us, and here is a look at every Mid-American Conference team.
East
Akron Zips
2008 Record: (5-7, 3-5 T-4th)
Looking Back At 2008: The Zips had some nice wins, including a 42-28 upset of Syracuse in the Carrier Dome and a 30-27 double-overtime thriller against Kent State. Sadly though, a three-game losing streak to end the year kept Akron from going bowling for the third consecutive season.
Let's Talk About A BCS Bid When: Akron beats Penn State on Sept. 5. The Zips are opening up the year with their biggest test, and a win over Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions would go a long way towards legitimacy.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Akron Will Beat: Morgan State on Sept. 12. The Zips are bringing in a I-AA program for the christening of InfoCision Stadium, and it should be a good night, and lopsided victory, for the UA faithful.
Honest Outlook: Akron's offense, which is returning nine starters, should be able to put up points in bunches. The real question is going to be whether or not the defense can slow anyone down. With only three seniors projected to start on defense, the Zips are going to have to rely on youth to up-end some good teams. Still, with a little bit of luck in non-conference play, Akron may be able to pull off a 6-6 record and get a sniff at the postseason.
Bowling Green Falcons
2008 Record: (6-6, 4-4 2nd)
Looking Back At 2008: Bowling Green might have peaked in Week 1 of the season, but it was such a nice high, that it may have been worth it. The Falcons opened up the season by playing Pittsburgh at Heinz Field on national TV. Bowling Green pulled off the upset that day, beating the No. 25 Panthers 27-17 thanks to a big second half. The rest of the year was very back-and-forth for BGSU as they missed out on a bowl game despite going .500.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Bowling Green rolls through the non-conference schedule at 4-0. Bowling Green has a schedule very similar to Ball State's last year. There are some good opponents, specifically Missouri and Boise State, but there is no wow factor game. Bowling Green's biggest test might be a trip to Muncie, Ind. on Oct. 17 to play the Cardinals.
Even If The Year Is a Disaster, Bowling Green Will Beat: Troy on Sept. 3. Give the Falcons credit. There might not be a Top 25 powerhouse on the docket, but there isn't a I-AA team either. Bowling Green's easiest game might be opening day against last year's Sun Belt champions.
Honest Outlook: There was a lot of turnover at BGSU this year. The Falcons have a new coach in Dave Clawson and they're replacing seven starters on defense. With that said, Clawson is a proven program-builder at the I-AA level, turning around programs at Fordham and Richmond. There is enough talent and the schedule is soft enough that Bowling Green could find itself going 8-4 and competing for the MAC East title. Realistically, this team should be playing in a bowl game this year.
Buffalo Bulls
2008 Record: (8-6, 5-3 1st)
Looking Back At 2008: Every team wants to win the MAC Championship, but for Buffalo, the 42-24 win it had over Ball State was a little more special. For a perennially poor team, and one that started the year 2-4, the second half of the year was simply a dream. Turner Gill and Drew Willy created something magical, that the local community should be proud of.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Buffalo upends Pittsburgh at home on Sept. 12. The Bulls home-opener should be a dandy, and if Buffalo can pull off an upset like Bowling Green's last year, it would go a long way towards legitimacy.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Buffalo Will Beat: Gardner-Webb on Oct. 10. This I-AA tune-up, will be slated between tough MAC home games against Central Michigan and Akron and should be a good game for the Bulls to make any necessary tweaks.
Honest Outlook: The Bulls have earned a share of the MAC East title each of the past two seasons and things are looking up. The biggest hurdle that Buffalo will have to overcome this year is the loss of Willy. He's likely going to be replaced by Zach Maynard, who has completed a single pass for seven yards. The schedule won't be too kind to Buffalo either, with some tough non-conference games and a pair of road games to close out the year. Buffalo may take a step back this season. Look for Buffalo to finish the year 5-7 and in the middle of the MAC East.
Kent State Golden Flashes
2008 Record: (4-8, 3-5 T-4th)
Looking Back At 2008: A 24-3 win over I-AA Delaware State was all the separated Kent State from an 0-7 start. Things started clicking for the Golden Flashes in the second half of the year, and they won three of their final five games.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Kent State wins at Boston College on Sept. 12. Last year, the Golden Flashes lost to the Eagles 21-0 in Cleveland Browns Stadium. An upset in Chestnut Hill would go a long way towards building a good season.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Kent State Will Beat: Coastal Carolina on Sept. 3. The Golden Flashes are looking to get off to a good start, and a Thursday-night season opener against the Chanticleers should be a great way to do just that.
Honest Outlook: The Golden Flashes are bringing back 15 starters from last season. But, the obstacle that they face is overcoming the players that they lost. Gone is three-year starting quarterback Julian Edelman. Also gone is talented receiver Shawn Bayes. The top eight wide outs on this season's depth chart caught just 29 balls last year. That translates to 10 less than Bayes caught by himself. If Kent State is going to gel, then it needs to solve the passing game in a hurry. If the passing game clicks and the defense improves from last year, Kent State could finish as good as 5-7. Still, 2009 looks like one more year without a bowl game.
Miami RedHawks
2008 Record: (2-10, 1-7 7th)
Looking Back At 2008: Last season was not a good one in Oxford. The RedHawks beat just one I-A team, a 27-20 win over Bowling Green. The rest of the year was filled with lopsided defeats. Perhaps, Miami's most impressive loss, was the RedHawks' 16-6 loss to Michigan.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Miami wins at Boise State on Sept. 12. There are not many places harder to win at than on the Broncos' blue turf. A win in Boise, especially if it comes after an opening day win over Kentucky would go a long way to overcoming last season's debacle.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Miami Will Beat: Toledo on Oct. 31. The RedHawks Halloween date with Toledo might be their best chance to avoid an 0-fer if everything unravels.
Honest Outlook: First year head coach Michael Haywood has been working hard to get Miami back on track and it will all come down to offense. Last year, the RedHawks were outscored 215-106 in the first half, meaning that many of MU's games were over before halftime. If Miami wants to be competitive, they'll have to start games better. Unfortunately, Miami will play six of its first eight games on the road, and if things don't click, it could get ugly in Oxford in a hurry. Likely, Miami will go 4-8, struggling at first, but winning some home games on the tail end to build for 2010.
Ohio Bobcats
2008 Record: (4-8, 3-5 T-4th)
Looking Back At 2008: Ohio started the 2008 season with a 1-5 record, but also against some very good competition. After falling 21-20 to Wyoming to open up the year, the next four Ohio losses were all against teams that went bowling last season. Ohio also finished strong, winning its final two games.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Ohio wins at Tennessee on Sept. 26. This is the typical coaching master plays up-and-comer game. Oh yeah, and Ohio has the coaching master. If Frank Solich can lead his team to a victory in Knoxville, it would be cause for a celebration.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Ohio Will Beat: Cal Poly on Sept. 19. The Mustangs are a dangerous I-AA opponent that nearly upset Wisconsin last year (they lost 36-35 in overtime) but Ohio is going to use this game as a tune-up for Tennessee and they should be focused on the task at hand.
Honest Outlook: Once again, Ohio is playing a brutal non-conference slate and a .500 record there could go a long way towards determining whether the Bobcats go bowling this season. Saying it splits the non-conference slate, I see Ohio going 8-4 and possibly playing in the MAC Championship game at Ford Field.
Temple Owls
2008 Record: (5-7, 4-4 T-2nd)
Looking Back At 2008: The Owls were 5-7. That's not great. But, it was the most wins that they've had in 18 years. So, that's improvement. The Owls didn't make a bowl game. But they finished second in the MAC East. The best way to look back at 2008 was to say that it was a season of continuous growth.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Temple wins at Penn State on Sept. 19. The Owls will get 16 days to prepare for this in-state game and a win against Pennsylvania's best would be earth-shattering for the up-and-coming Owls.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Temple Will Beat: Villanova on Sept. 3. Temple opens up the 2009 campaign by hosting it's Philadelphia rival and, no matter what happens the rest of the way, the Owls should start 1-0.
Honest Outlook: Every year, the Owls are overlooked, and often times, this would not be the worst team to ignore. But, this year, that could prove costly. For opposing teams, ignoring Temple will almost certainly end in a loss. For fans, ignoring the Owls means that they'll be missing an exciting product. Temple needs to replace three-year starting quarterback Adam DiMichele, but it is returning 17 starters from a year ago. It's been 30 long years since Temple last played in a bowl game (a 28-17 win over Cal in the Garden State Bowl) and that's a streak I think will end this year. At worst, Temple should go 6-6 and deserves some discussion for a December game.
West
Ball State Cardinals
2008 Record: (12-2, 8-0 1st)
Looking Back At 2008: Last year was one of the greatest in Ball State history. A 12-0 start was incredible, with some thrilling wins along the way. The 31-24 win over Central Michigan all but settled the MAC West crown and a 42-20 win over Indiana filled the Ball State community with a sense of early-season pride. The only sad part was that the Cardinals' season ended with two bad losses. To Buffalo (42-24) in the MAC Championship and to Tulsa (45-13) in the GMAC Bowl.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Ball State wins at Auburn on Sept. 26. The non-conference slate is relatively soft, but a win over the Tigers would be a huge statement.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Ball State Will Beat: New Hampshire on Sept. 12. The Cardinals have nine days to prepare for UNH and they should have no problem leaving with a victory.
Honest Outlook: Ball State didn't just lose stud quarterback Nate Davis in the offseason, but four offensive linemen to go with him. At the same time, the defense might take some steps back. Ball State should be able to start 3-0, but they'll have some bumps this year. Most likely, this team will go 8-4 and swipe an at-large bid to a bowl game.
Central Michigan Chippewas
2008 Record: (8-5, 6-2 T-2nd)
Looking Back At 2008: Three tough losses to close out the year might take away some of the luster from 2008, but it was a very good year in Mount Pleasant. The Chippewas started 6-0 in the MAC and won a tough-fought game against arch rival Western Michigan (38-28). A 31-24 loss to Ball State ended CMU's title hopes though, and a 56-52 stunner by Eastern Michigan the next week piled onto it. The Chippewas closed out the year by losing 24-21 to Florida Atlantic in the Motor City Bowl.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Central Michigan wins at Michigan State on Sept. 12. Say what you will about programs adding easy Ws to the schedule. Central Michigan won't hear of it, as it also plays at Arizona and Boston College. This is the big one though. A win over Michigan's best Big Ten team would would be huge for the Chippewas in the rankings and also, in recruiting.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Central Michigan Will Beat: Eastern Michigan on Oct. 10. It's tempting to pick Central Michigan's home opener against Alcorn State, but if CMU is going to beat anyone, it better be on homecoming against the rival that embarrassed them a year ago.
Honest Outlook: A couple of things really stand out for CMU. First, Dan LeFevour is back for his senior campaign. Second, the defense only lost one starter from a year ago and third, the Chippewas schedule is a nightmare. CMU travels to Arizona, Michigan State and Boston College in the non-conference season. In the MAC, it plays at Ball State in November again and has a brutal three-game road trip at mid season. With all that said, Central Michigan should go 7-5 and will earn every one of its wins. It will also go to a bowl game, probably the International Bowl.
Eastern Michigan Eagles
2008 Record: (3-9, 2-6 T-5th)
Looking Back At 2008: The highlight of Eastern Michigan's year was without a doubt, it's 56-52 win over Central Michigan as the 2008 campaign came to a close. Up to that point, things really didn't go well for the Eagles. They had a 52-0 win over I-AA Indiana State but then got man-handled in their next four games. As the year came to a close though, this team started to mesh and, despite a lot of losses, Eastern Michigan was competitive at the end.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Eastern Michigan wins at Northwestern on Sept. 12. A lot of people are talking about the Sept. 19 game against Michigan, but NU may be the better Big Ten foe, and, even it it isn't, that win will get people talking one week earlier than the trip to the Big House.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Eastern Michigan Will Beat: Kent State on Oct. 17. With a new coach in Ron English, this team might take a will to connect. With how the schedule is set up though, the Kent State game will be a good test on where EMU is at. A win will show progress.
Honest Outlook: I believe that given time, Ron English is going to turn Eastern Michigan around. Unfortunately, it will not be over night. The Eagles schedule is brutal, and they'll be scraping for wins all year. Give this team another year or two and they'll beat you. Right now though, EMU is about 2-10.
Northern Illinois Huskies
2008 Record: (6-7, 5-3 4th)
Looking Back At 2008: For the Huskies, the losses last year were almost more impressive than the wins. Northern Illinois began the season by losing a hard-fought 31-27 decision to Minnesota, lost 13-9 to Tennessee and nearly beat both Central Michigan (losing 33-30) and Western Michigan (losing 29-26). Perhaps, the best thing was that despite all these close losses, NIU, at 6-6, made a bowl game, falling 17-10 to Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Northern Illinois beats Wisconsin on Sept. 5. The Huskies open up under the lights in Madison, Wisc. and a win over UW would be a head-turner.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Northern Illinois Will Beat: Western Illinois on Sept. 12. The Leatherheads are slotted into the schedule between a couple of Big Ten foes. This one should be an easy win for the Huskies.
Honest Outlook: Northern Illinois is in a tough spot because the top of the MAC West is still loaded with talent. The Huskies are one of those talented teams and they'll play both Western Michigan and Ball State at home. If they can take one of those games, and play out the rest of the schedule as expected, NIU should improve to 8-4. The Huskies are likely looking at an at-large bowl again too.
Toledo Rockets
2008 Record: (3-9, 2-6 T 5th)
Looking Back At 2008: Fifty years from now, the one game that the Toledo players might still be telling their grandkids about took place on a cool Saturday in October. The 1-4 Rockets went to Ann Arbor, Mich. and stunned the Michigan Wolverines, 13-10. That game was far-and-away the highlight on what was otherwise a forgetful season.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Toledo beats Ohio State on Sept. 19. This neutral site game (it's being played in Cleveland Browns Stadium) is already getting people in northern Ohio excited. An upset of four-time defending Big Ten champs would overshadow the win over Michigan last year. It would be pure euphoria.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, Toledo Will Beat: Eastern Michigan on Nov. 20. The Rockets are playing a tough schedule this year and senior day will probably be Toledo's easiest game.
Honest Outlook: Tim Beckman is the new man at Toledo, and he's been given the task of rebuilding a once proud program. The early schedule is a nightmare, but this team is bringing back 20 starters from last year. If the Rockets came survive some early bumps, they could be the surprise team in the MAC this year. There will be some improvements this year, but UT is looking at a 4-8 campaign.
Western Michigan Broncos
2008 Record: (9-4, 6-2 T 2nd)
Looking Back At 2008: Last year, Western Michigan earned a Texas Bowl appearance by winning the games that it was expected to win. The Broncos best moment might have been their 23-17 win over Illinois at Ford Field. Unfortunately, in all of WMU's other big games, the Broncos came out on the short end. That included losses to Central Michigan (38-28) and Ball State (45-22) in the MAC and to Rice (38-14) in the Texas Bowl.
Lets Talk About A BCS Bid When: Western Michigan wins at Michigan State on Nov. 7. The Broncos will play both of Michigan's Big Ten schools, and a late-season win over the Spartans could be huge for deciding where Western Michigan plays its bowl game.
Even If The Year Is A Disaster, WMU Will Beat: Hofstra on Sept. 26. The Broncos only non-conference home game should be a walk through, even if everything else comes unraveled this season.
Honest Outlook: Tim Hiller is back for his senior campaign, but he's lost a lot of his offensive weapons. How quickly the WMU offense comes together will play a major factor in how the year plays out. The biggest break that WMU got this year is that both Ball State and Central Michigan are home games. If the Broncos can win those two games and continue to pick up wins in the games that they should, then this team should go 10-2 and take the MAC West crown.
