MAC East

[skip-zip]

I thought it might be a good time to see what the other teams in our division have done thus far. Here's my analysis of our competition. I welcome everyone's thoughts and opinions.Can't STATEBeat an Iowa State team that doesn't look very good, and got blown out by Kentucky.Prediction: I still expect them to win 3-4 games in the MAC East.MIAMIBeat what should be a pretty decent Ball State team, and lost in OT to Minnesota.Prediction: I hope Minnesota was not very good, or this Miami team is dramatically improved from last year, and will contend to the MAC East title. We also play them on the road.BUFFALOLost to #16 Rutgers, and throttled Temple.Prediction: They won't be everyone's easy victory this year.BOWLING GREENWon on the road against Minnesota, and played a great game at Michigan State.Prediction: To say that they are improved is an understatement. This team scares me, and we play them on the road.OHIOBeat Gardner-Webb (who?), and won at Louisiana Lafayette (Sun Belt).Prediction: Louisiana Lafatette racked up 534 yards of offense against an Ohio team that won last year by playing defense. If their defense has weakened, this team has little chance to repeat.TEMPLEPrediction: Temple is Temple.I know it's early, but if I had to predict final standings right now, here is what I see.1) Bowling Green2) Miami3) Akron4) Ohio5) Can't6) Buffalo7) TempleSeeing how good both Bowling Green and Miami are looking so far will make it one tall task to beat them on the road. However, having Ohio and Can't at home should give us the wins we need to finish ahead of them in the standings. If this scenario plays out, we win 4 games in the MAC East. This means that with our win over Army, our best chances for that 6th win to become bowl eligible would be the game against Connecticut, or that late season home game against Central Michigan.If not, we'll have to hope for some big upsets on the road this year to get to a bowl game.

[johnnyzip84]

I think this is a pretty good assessment, skip-zip. I wouldn't necessarily conclude that OU has fallen just yet though. Playing those Louisiana schools down there, a northern school is not going to get very many breaks with the officiating crew. I agree about Buffalo. Our game up there scares me. Here is my order, for what it's worth.1. BGSU2. Ohio3. Miami4. Akron5. Can't6. Buffalo7. TempleBesides Temple, I don't have a whole lot of confidence in ANY of these predictions. I expect a wild race, with the typical Einsteinian tie-breakers needed to decide a winner.

[Class of 82]

Excellent post, skipzip. I still like our chances, though. The old saying, "Defense wins championships," is old for a reason. IF our offense can grow and develop over the next few weeks, and if the defense continues to perform like we all believe it can, we have an excellent shot at a MAC title.As for the tough road games, that is a concern,, but there's another old saying about a good defense traveling better than a good offense.GO ZIPS

[skip-zip]

johnnyzip....maybe we shouldn't discard Ohio just yet, but they would probably need to beat us at home to get that done. And gosh, let's home that with only 4 games at home this year, we can win them all.

[Zips Win!]

Unfortunately it looks like Miami is back.Kokal is out and the strong-armed QB from Texas is in....Too bad we couldn't find a Texas H.S. QB to play...

[jeaglet1]

I think this is a pretty good assessment, skip-zip. I wouldn't necessarily conclude that OU has fallen just yet though. Playing those Louisiana schools down there, a northern school is not going to get very many breaks with the officiating crew.

Plus the heat and humidity was probably something most northern teams can't simulate...As for the rankings, I think it's too early to really tell. Its almost like the teams should be 1a, 1b, etc... except of course Buffalo at 6 and Temple 7. I would like to see the East go undefeated against the west (including the MACC) In any event it should be extremely fun to watch.