2023 MAC Football

[LoyalZIP]

Should be an interesting year in the league, as they all are. 

 

My tiers of the MAC teams so far look as follows:

 

Tier 1: Toledo

Tier 2: EMU, Ohio, Miami

Tier 3: Akron, Ball State, BGSU, Buffalo, CMU, NIU

Tier 4: WMU, Kent

 

While I am optimistic about Akron, I would not put them on the level of "contender" yet, but that could change after an impressive first four games. It wouldn't shock me to see anybody in the first 3 tiers representing their respective division in Detroit. Kent and WMU are way down there for obvious reasons, though I feel WMU has much more talent. However, the bodies that remain in Kalamazoo will be playing an entirely different style than before, so its a natural rebuilding year. It's far more likely that WMU is better than Kent than vice-versa. I'm really unsure of the whole Kent-Grit thing. Playing the Flash Fast style still? But Kent Grit? Does not make sense, as Burns is from a ground-and-pound background. But anything is possible, I suppose.

 

Ohio, with Rourke, is as close to Toledo as anyone can get. Their receiving corps is also one of the best in the league, and Bangura is one of the best backs in the MAC. For some reason, Albin let their backup throw something like 40 passes in their loss last week. We'll see what Rourke's health is like going forward. He takes them from average to championship good. That Ohio defense is the real deal no matter what, though.

 

NIU's success hinges on staying healthy. I am not going as far as most MAC followers and saying they will win the west, but I do expect them to be much better--as long as Lombardi is healthy and can have a big impact. With that said, 2021 was certainly an outlier year for Hammock after going 5-7, 0-6, and then 3-9 last year. After all, their 2021 was essentially the opposite of Akron's 2022. They won all the close games 2 years ago, Akron lost them all last year.

 

If I were to break down into more tiers, I would put UB, BSU, CMU, and Akron in the same boat. All of them with decent floors and decent ceilings. All brought in some decent talent too. BG, on the other hand, is all over the place. Their 2022 was a lot like the 2017 Zips. They weren't that good, but somehow came out with a lot of wins--at least a lot more than expected. I expect this to be Loeffler's final season there if they do not make a bowl game.

 

Some interesting week one matchups, here's the full list

 

Thursday 8/31: Kent @ UCF, WMU vs. St. Francis (PA)

 

Friday 9/1: EMU vs. Howard, CMU @ Michigan State, Miami U @ UMiami

 

Saturday 9/2: Ball State @ Kentucky, Ohio vs. Long Island, NIU @ Boston College, BGSU @ Liberty, Akron @ Temple, Buffalo @ Wisconsin, Toledo @ Illinois

Edited August 29, 2023 by LoyalZIP

[Section210Zip]

2 MAC games today as mentioned above

Kent @ UCF 7pm on FS1  UFC -35.5  ou 54.5

SFU @ WMU 7pm on ESPN+

[Let'sGoZips94]

Dear Football Gods,

 

Please let KSUcks look like the flaming pile of dog doo doo that they are.

 

Amen.

[Zipmeister]

On 8/29/2023 at 12:45 PM, LoyalZIP said:

My tiers of the MAC teams so far look as follows:

 

Tier 1: Toledo

Tier 2: EMU, Ohio, Miami

Tier 3: Akron, Ball State, BGSU, Buffalo, CMU, NIU

Tier 4: WMU, Kent

 

Most of these teams have a lot in common this week.

EMU, Ohio and WMU are playing non FBS opponents so let's focus on the others.

 

Your tier 1 team is a 9.5 underdog

Your remaining 1 tier 2 team is a 16.5 underdog.

Your 6 tier 3 teams are an average 16 underdog.

Your remaining tier 4 team is a 35.5 underdog.

Not a lot of respect from the books in week one.

They say the MAC finishes week 1 with an 0-9 (5 of which fall into the money game category) record against FBS teams. Ouch.

Edited August 31, 2023 by Zipmeister
.

[LoyalZIP]

Sloppy and disjointed game in Orlando. UCF leads Kent 28-3. WMU up 21-10 on St. Francis at the break. 

[Spin]

6 hours ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

Dear Football Gods,

 

Please let KSUcks look like the flaming pile of dog doo doo that they are.

 

Amen.

At halftime (UCF) so far so good 😁

Edited September 1, 2023 by Spin

[Let'sGoZips94]

26 minutes ago, Spin said:

At halftime (UCF) so far so good 😁

 

I want UCF to cover the 35 pt spread. Just really bury the arts & crafts school.

[akzipper]

Kent State has to have the ugliest branding/uniforms across all sports in Division 1. Just atrocious. 

 

Also Kent celebrating an interception down 42-6? 😂

Edited September 1, 2023 by akzipper

[LoyalZIP]

Kent did look the part for a little bit, and by that I mean just like a bad MAC team. But it’s gotten ugly, you can tell that roster isn’t very deep. Lucky for them they have a trip to Arkansas next week 🤣

 

WMU has trouble wit SF for a bit but pulls away late. 

[Section210Zip]

3 games tonight 

Howard @ Eastern 6:30 pm on ESPN + Eastern - 21

Miami @ Miami FL 7pm on ACC network M(FL) -16

CMU @ Mich St. 7pm on FS1 Mich St. -13.5

[catdaddyp]

16 hours ago, LoyalZIP said:

Kent did look the part for a little bit, and by that I mean just like a bad MAC team. But it’s gotten ugly, you can tell that roster isn’t very deep. Lucky for them they have a trip to Arkansas next week 🤣

 

WMU has trouble wit SF for a bit but pulls away late. 

UCF is a good team and Kent’s lack of depth shone through. It’s just one game, but they seem worse off on the OL and DL than we were last year.
 

WMU is going to need to figure out a way to push the ball downfield. Teams are going to stack the box and take their chances in man on the backend if the Broncos don’t develop more of a passing game than what we saw last night. I’m guessing the QB transfer from Old Dominion will get a shot sooner or later.

[LZIp]

Central Michigan's QB isn't going to wow you as a passer, but he's a heck of a player. Down 3 vs MSU in the 3rd. They are hanging tough.

[akzipper]

26 minutes ago, LZIp said:

Central Michigan's QB isn't going to wow you as a passer, but he's a heck of a player. Down 3 vs MSU in the 3rd. They are hanging tough.

 

Being one-dimensional definitely hurt them in the 4th and the game will end up seeming more lopsided than it was. 

 

Not a great few nights for the MAC. Even though Eastern will win, a 10 point lead over Howard isn't impressive. 

[AKSportsFan]

MAC not looking great week 1. Hope we look great tomorrow.

[catdaddyp]

I thought Virginia would be the worst team in the ACC, but it may be Boston College. NIU should win this game.

[InTheZone]

Bowling Green getting absolutely pummeled by Liberty

[catdaddyp]

8 minutes ago, InTheZone said:

Bowling Green getting absolutely pummeled by Liberty

Bazelak seems to be having the same issues that plagued him elsewhere. Big arm and can hit some deep balls, but otherwise struggles with accuracy.

[InTheZone]

BG ends the half blocking a FG for a TD, taking it from potential 27-7 at half to 24-14. Huge.

[Let'sGoZips94]

NIU starts second half with a TD. 14-0 over ACC (academic) powerhouse BC.

[csims0917]

Hey we will take any P5 win when we get them. The goal is 2 if the MAC got 3-4 it’d be a statement 😤🤣

[Let'sGoZips94]

NIU beats BC in OT.

[LZIp]

Good sh!t NIU.

Edited September 2, 2023 by LZIp

[LoyalZIP]

Fly the flag

[AKSportsFan]

Toledo almost pulls it off against Illinois but comes up short handed. 

[LoyalZIP]

19 minutes ago, AKSportsFan said:

Toledo almost pulls it off against Illinois but comes up short handed. 

 
 

That was an instant classic. Toledo had them dead to rights, and in a bit play where Toledo could have ended it, they got a hit in the QB and blanket coverage in the receiver and Illinois still came down with it somehow. Gut-wrenching.