Predicted Order of Finish-
East Division-
1. Miami Ohio- junior QB Brett Gabbert, who threw 26 TD’s in just 10 games last year returns to lead the offense and will have the luxury of 4 returning starters on the O-line, senior LB Ryan McWood is back on defense after missing almost the entire 2021 season due to injury but both defensive ends and 3 starters in the secondary must be replaced
2. Kent State- both junior Marquez Cooper and senior Xavier Williams are back to lead the Golden Flashes rushing attack which ranked 5th in the nation last year at 248.6 yards per game, defense has been nonexistent in 4 seasons under HC Sean Lewis who lured coordinator Jeremiah Johnson away from Northern Iowa to turn things around
3. Ohio- junior QB Kurtis Rourke returns to guide the offense and will benefit from working alongside a solid offensive line, the program experienced its worst season since 2003 finishing 3-9 in Tim Albin’s first season after longtime HC Frank Solich stepped down last offseason
4. Bowling Green- senior QB Matt McDonald, who threw for 2,555 yards in 2021, is back for a 3rd season along with 8 other starters on offense, the nonconference schedule is brutal with road trips to UCLA and Mississippi State as well as a home date with Marshall which could hinder the Falcons chances at a bowl
5. Buffalo- All-MAC performers senior DT Daymond Williams and senior LB James Patterson are back to anchor the defense, offensively things look bleak after three year starting QB Kyle Vantrease transferred to Georgia Southern and RB Dylan McDuffie who rushed for over 1,000 yards last season left for Georgia Tech
6. Akron- Joe Moorhead, who had successful stints as offensive coordinator at Penn State and Oregon as well as HC at Fordham, hopes to put life back into the Zips offense which finished 119 in scoring in 2021, the schedule is daunting with three straight September road games against Michigan State, Tennessee, and Liberty
West Division-
1. Eastern Michigan- a once doormat program has now played in 4 bowl games in 6 seasons and with home games against MAC West foes Northern Illinois, Toledo, and Central Michigan this could be the year the Eagles finally make it to Detroit, the offense must turn to senior Troy transfer QB Taylor Powell after Ben Bryant left for Cincinnati
2. Northern Illinois- return 15 starters including senior QB Rocky Lombardi from last year’s squad which capped off remarkable turnaround by winning the MAC after going winless in 2020, the Huskies lived on the edge winning 7 games by 8 points or less and lost RB Jay Ducker to Memphis after being named the MAC freshman of the year
3. Toledo- 7 starters return on defense including All-MAC performers in senior DT Jamal Hines and senior DE Desjuan Johnson who helped lead the Rockets to a top 30 ranking in points allowed last season, the offense must replace star RB Bryant Koback left for the NFL after rushing for 1,400 yards and 15 TD’s in 2021
4. Central Michigan- the combination of sophomore QB Daniel Richardson and sophomore RB Lew Nichols III, who combined for 42 TD’s, should make the Chippewas one of the most explosive offenses not only in the MAC but in the nation, defensively there are major question marks heading into this season with only 3 starters returning from last year
5. Western Michigan- the defense was stout in 2021 finishing 18th in total yards allowed and returns a pair of All-MAC performers at linebacker in senior Zaire Barnes and junior Ryan Selig, new Broncos' coordinator Jeff Thorne inherits an offense that lost its starting QB, RB, and top WR from last year
6. Ball State- despite being one of the conference’s biggest disappointments in 2021 the Cardinals still managed to reach the postseason and new starting senior QB John Paddock has 2 reliable receivers to throw to, the defense surrendered 419.4 yards and 28.4 points per game and must break in 7 new starters this season
Buy- Eastern Michigan, Ohio
Sell- Toledo
Best Bet- Eastern Michigan OVER Total Wins
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