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| 2005 MAC FOOTBALL PREVIEW | |
| powered by GREATSEATS.COM | |
| August 5, 2005 | |
| Jonathan, SCS.com Editor | Contact Jonathan |
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| PREVIEW HOME | PREVIEW FAQ |
| PROJECTED STANDINGS | TEAM PREVIEWS |
| CAN'T MISS GAMES | ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM |
| TEAM | MAC | OVERALL |
| EAST | ||
| Bowling Green | 7-1 | 9-2 |
| Miami (Ohio) | 7-1 | 9-2 |
| Akron | 4-4 | 6-5 |
| Ohio | 3-5 | 3-8 |
| Kent State | 2-6 | 4-7 |
| Buffalo | 1-7 | 1-10 |
| WEST | ||
| Toledo | 7-1 | 9-2 |
| Northern Illinois | 6-2 | 7-4 |
| Central Michigan | 4-4 | 5-6 |
| Eastern Michigan | 4-4 | 5-6 |
| Western Michigan | 2-6 | 3-8 |
| Ball State | 1-7 | 1-10 |
BOWLING GREEN
Last Season: 9-3 / 6-2
Starters Returning: 6 offense, 6 defense
Projected wins: at BSU, TEMP, Ohio, at BUF, WMU, Akron, at KENT
Projected losses: at WISC
Toss-Ups: at BOISE, at MIA, TOL
PROJECTED RECORD: 9-2 / 7-1
BOTTOM LINE: QB Omar Jacobs is not only the best QB in the MAC, he is one of the best at his position in the entire country. The Falcon talent at the offensive skill positions is unmatched by any MAC member.
MIAMI (OHIO)
Last Season: 8-5 / 7-1
Starters Returning: 8 offense, 7 defense
Projected wins: CMU, at KENT, CIN, Akron, at EMU, at TEMP, BUF, Ohio
Projected losses: at OSU
Toss-Ups: at NIU, BGSU
PROJECTED RECORD: 9-2 / 7-1
BOTTOM LINE: QB Josh Betts proved a very nice replacement for Ben Roethlisberger last fall and has two dangerous WR targets in Martin Nance and Ryne Robinson. The Hawks avoid Toledo and get BGSU at home.
TOLEDO
Last Season: 9-4 / 7-1
Starters Returning: 5 offense, 8 defense
Projected wins: WIU, WMU, at TEMP, EMU, at BSU, BUF, at CMU, at Ohio
Projected losses: (none)
Toss-Ups: at Fresno, NIU, at BGSU
PROJECTED RECORD: 9-2 / 7-1
BOTTOM LINE: Coach Tom Amstutz has the Rockets winning consistently, and with star QB Bruce Gradkowski back for his senior season, the expectations are high again. West rival NIU must visit Toledo.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Last Season: 9-3 / 7-1
Starters Returning: 7 offense, 6 defense
Projected wins: TNTECH, at Akron, EMU, at KENT, BSU, at CMU, WMU
Projected losses: at MICH
Toss-Ups: at NW, MIA, at TOL
PROJECTED RECORD: 7-4 / 6-2
BOTTOM LINE: Statistically, RB Garrett Wolfe is one of the country's top three returning RBs, and having teammate A.J. Harris behind him doesn't hurt. Replacing QB Josh Haldi keeps this team from winning the division.
AKRON
Last Season: 6-5 / 6-2
Starters Returning: 5 offense, 7 defense
Projected wins: at BUF, Army, at BSU
Projected losses: at PUR, NIU, at MIA, at BGSU
Toss-Ups: at MTSU, CMU, Ohio, KENT
PROJECTED RECORD: 6-5 / 4-4
BOTTOM LINE: The Zips must replace record-setting QB Charlie Frye and a large portion of the offensive line. RB Brett Biggs is a good one and will have to carry much of the offensive load in 2005.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Last Season: 4-7 / 3-5
Starters Returning: 7 offense, 6 defense
Projected wins: at WMU, at BSU
Projected losses: at MIA, at PSU, TOL, NIU
Toss-Ups: IND, EMU, at Akron, at Army, Ohio
PROJECTED RECORD: 5-6 / 4-4
BOTTOM LINE: The Chippewas return thirteen starters from a team that won four games a year ago. Six wins is possible for CMU this year, especially if QB Kent Smith and RB Jerry Seymour continue to improve.
EASTERN MICHIGAN
Last Season: 4-7 / 4-4
Starters Returning: 7 offense, 5 defense
Projected wins: WMU, BSU, at BUF
Projected losses: at MICH, at TOL, at NIU, MIA
Toss-Ups: at CIN, ULL, at CMU, KENT
PROJECTED RECORD: 5-6 / 4-4
BOTTOM LINE: The Eagles hope to make a run at .500 this fall and will count on QB Matt Bohnet to help lead the offensive charge. The defense returns just five starters and was ranked near dead-last in 2004.
OHIO
Last Season: 4-7 / 2-6
Starters Returning: 6 offense, 7 defense
Projected wins: BSU, at BUF
Projected losses: at NW, PITT, at VT, at BGSU, TOL, at Akron, MIA
Toss-Ups: KENT, at CMU
PROJECTED RECORD: 3-8 / 3-5
BOTTOM LINE: The Bobcats will be under the guidance of first-year head coach Frank Solich in 2005, a man that led to Nebraska to an average of almost ten wins per season. Winning will take time here, however.
KENT STATE
Last Season: 5-6 / 4-4
Starters Returning: 6 offense, 7 defense
Projected wins: SEMO, at WMU, BUF
Projected losses: at MICHST, MIA, at Navy, NIU, BGSU
Toss-Ups: at Ohio, at EMU, at Akron
PROJECTED RECORD: 4-7 / 2-6
BOTTOM LINE: QB Joshua Cribbs has moved on, and after winning just five games under his leadership in 2004, things don't look promising this fall. Coach Doug Martin will have trouble matching his first-year win total.
WESTERN MICHIGAN
Last Season: 1-10 / 0-8
Starters Returning: 8 offense, 6 defense
Projected wins: SIU, BUF, BSU
Projected losses: at VA, at TOL, at BGSU, KENT, EMU, CMU, at NIU
Toss-Ups: at TEMP
PROJECTED RECORD: 3-8 / 2-6
BOTTOM LINE: After several years as one of the annual front-runners in the MAC, the Broncos have fallen to the back of the pack. Look for some improvement over last year's 1-10 season that saw no league victories.
BALL STATE
Last Season: 2-9 / 2-6
Starters Returning: 6 offense, 9 defense
Projected wins: (none)
Projected losses: at Iowa, BGSU, at AUB, at BC, TOL, at NIU, Akron, at EMU, CMU
Toss-Ups: at WMU, at Ohio
PROJECTED RECORD: 1-10 / 1-7
BOTTOM LINE: Star WR Dante Ridgeway, a highlight reel waiting to happen, has moved on. Coach Brady Hoke has won just six games in two seasons on campus, and it doesn't look like 2005 will be a breakout year.
BUFFALO
Last Season: 2-9 / 2-6
Starters Returning: 6 offense, 9 defense
Projected wins: (none)
Projected losses: at CONN, at SYR, RUT, Akron, BGSU, at TOL, at MIA, at KENT
Toss-Ups: at WMU, Ohio, EMU
PROJECTED RECORD: 1-10 / 1-7
BOTTOM LINE: The Bulls have struggled since moving to Division I status. Fifteen starters return from a year ago, but winning more than a couple games will be a huge challenge. The defense could be a positive.
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| November 15 | Bowling Green at Miami (Ohio) |
| November 22 | Toledo at Bowling Green |
| November 16 | Northern Illinois at Toledo |
| October 5 | Miami (Ohio) at Northern Illinois |
| September 3 | Bowling Green at Wisconsin Miami (Ohio) at Ohio State Northern Illinois at Michigan |
| OFFENSE | |||
| OL | Brian Van Acker | SR | Northern Illinois |
| OL | John Greco | SO | Toledo |
| OL | Kory Lichtensteiger | SO | Bowling Green |
| OL | Ben Lueck | JR | Northern Illinois |
| OL | Todd Londot | SR | Miami (Ohio) |
| RB | Garrett Wolfe | JR | Northern Illinois |
| RB | P.J. Pope | SR | Bowling Green |
| WR | Charles Sharon | SR | Bowling Green |
| WR | Eric Deslauriers | JR | Eastern Michigan |
| TE | Tony Scheffler | SR | Western Michigan |
| QB | Omar Jacobs | JR | Bowling Green |
| DEFENSE | |||
| DL | Marcus Johnson | SR | Miami (Ohio) |
| DL | Dan Bazuin | JR | Central Michigan |
| DL | Devon Parks | JR | Bowling Green |
| DL | Quince Holman | SR | Northern Illinois |
| LB | Terna Nande | SR | Miami (Ohio) |
| LB | Anthony Jordan | SR | Toledo |
| LB | Javan Lee | SR | Northern Illinois |
| DB | Darrell Hunter | SR | Miami (Ohio) |
| DB | Keon Jackson | SR | Toledo |
| DB | Ray Smith | SR | Northern Illinois |
| DB | Usama Young | JR | Kent State |
| SPECIAL TEAMS | |||
| K | Andrew Wellock | JR | Eastern Michigan |
| P | Matthew Miller | SR | Ohio |
| AP | Ryne Robinson | JR | Miami (Ohio) |
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Photos Courtesy: scfl.net, collegefootballnews.com, emu.edu, fansonly.com, dekalb-chronicle.com, gozips.com, kentstatesports.com, cmuchippewas.com, ohiobobcats.com, buffalo.edu, showmenews.com
