Week 4: Game Day Saturday, September 26th

Saturday, September 26th, Week 4 of the 2015 College Football season

Purdue freshman RB #36 Richie Worship provides a big back
for third year coach Darrell Hazell in '15.

• Bowling Green at Purdue 11:00 am on BTN - Battle of two 1-2 teams in this MAC @ B1G showdown in West Lafayette, as Boilermakers seek first win against a FBS school in '15, while Falcons seek another B1G win! 
• BYU at Michigan 11:00 am on ABC / espn3 - The Wolverines are undefeated at home, after losing at Utah in Jim Harbaugh's debut as head coach; while the Cougars have one already in B1G country ...
• Central Michigan at Michigan State 11:00 am on BTN - An in-state clash between a MAC and a B1G, but Spartans should take care of business over Chippewas in East Lansing! 
• Georgia Tech at Duke 11:00 am on ESPN2 - Two 2-1 teams open ACC play, looking to rebound, after first season loss in Week 3; Yellow Jackets should prevail over Blue Devils ...
• Kansas at Rutgers 11:00 am on BTN - The Jayhawks are winless, while the Scarlet Knights fell hard in the B1G opener at Penn State last week ...
• LSU at Syracuse 11:00 am on ESPN - Tigers should take down Orange in this SEC-ACC clash!
• Navy at UConn 11:00 am on CBSSN - The Midshipmen are now in the AAC looking to make it two straight in their new conference, as they face Huskies on the road ...
• Southern at Georgia 11:00 am on SEC Network - Yawn, when it is FCS at SEC program ... Bulldogs can't overlook, as they host Alabama back in SEC play in first game in October!
• Southern Miss at Nebraska 11:00 am on ESPN News 
• UCF at South Carolina 11:00 am on ESPNU - The Knights are 0-3, while the Gamecocks have lost two straight, after taking care of Carolina in season opener ...
• Delaware at North Carolina 11:30 am on ESPN Extra / FSN Affiliates / ACC-RSN / espn3 - The Tar Heels host a FCS program ahead of ACC play at GA Tech next week ...
• Indiana at Wake Forest 11:30 am on ESPN Extra / ACC Network / espn3 - Last week there were five B1G-ACC games, as the Hoosiers look to remain undefeated, in season road opener ...
• Nicholls at Colorado 12:30 pm on PAC-12 Network - Nicholls is winless, as Bullaloes look close out non-conference play with three out of four, ahead of Pac 12 play ...
• Florida International at Louisiana Tech 1:30 pm on DTV: 608 / FCSA (cable) - Golden Panthers bring a winning record into match up with Bulldogs ... 
• Maryland at West Virginia 2:00 pm on FS1 - Terps first road test, as they seek to win forth straight in road openers under Randy Edsall ... while Mountaineers seek to remain undefeated ahead of Big 12 play ...
• New Mexico at Wyoming 2:00 pm on RSRM / RSSW - The Lobos are 1-2 heading into MWC play, while the Cowboys are 0-3 ... can New Mexico really win as a road favorite?
• Rice at Baylor 2:00 pm on FSN Affiliates - Two old SWC programs face one another in this C-USA vs. Big 12 showdown ...
• Miami-OH at Western Kentucky 2:30 pm on CBSSN - The RedHawks are 1-2, while the Hilltoppers are 2-1 in this MAC vs. C-USA showdown ...

Iowa State (1-2) and Northern Iowa (2-1) are idle, while Iowa (3-0) wraps up non-conference play by welcoming back Dan McCarney back to Iowa City, as North Texas comes to Kinnick to close out September ...

Dan McCarney vs. Kirk Ferentz - two former Hayden Fry
line coaches square off again as head coaches at Kinnick!

• North Texas at Iowa 2:30 pm on ESPNU - The Mean Green are win less in two outings to open '15; while the Hawkeyes seek to go 4-0 to open season for first time, since '09. Our Pick: Iowa 31, North Texas 3, as Mean Green QB Andrew McNulty and head coach Dan McCarney come home to Iowa City ... 
• Ohio U at Minnesota 2:30 pm on BTN - Could this be a trap game for the Golden Gophers? The Bobcats under Frank Solich look to open 4-0 this season, while Jerry Kill's Minnesota team seeks to stay about .500 to close out non-conference play in '15 ...
• Oklahoma State at Texas 2:30 pm on ESPN - It is a Big 12 opener as the Cowboys (3-0) head to Austin, as the Longhorns (1-2) work to get on track, as a home underdog in Year 2 of the Charlie Strong era at Texas! 
• San Diego State at Penn State 2:30 pm on BTN - The Nittany Lions opened B1G play last week with a 28-3 win over Rutgers, while the Aztecs come to Happy Valley for the first time
• Tennessee at Florida 2:30 pm on CBS - The Volunteers vs. the Gators in a SEC opener for Tennessee, while the Gators seek to make it two wins early in the East 
• UMass at Notre Dame 2:30 pm on NBC - No surprise this is the first meeting in the series, as Fighting Irish seeks a 6-0 all-time record vs. current MAC programs
• Virginia Tech at East Carolina 2:30 pm on ABC/ESPN2 / ESPN Extra / espn3 - The Hokies hit the road to face a Pirates team that is seeking to get to .500 in the early season 
• Western Michigan at Ohio State 2:30 pm on ABC/ESPN2 / espn3 - The Broncos face a Buckeyes team that need to clean up things, after a Labor Day hang over in the season opener at Blacksburg
• California at Washington 3:00 pm on PAC-12 Network - Pac 12 showdown as the Golden Bears seek to close out September undefeated, in the conference opener ...
• Louisiana Monroe at Alabama 3:00 pm on SEC Network  
• Middle Tennessee at Illinois 3:00 pm on ESPN News - The Blue Raiders only loss was against Power 5 Alabama, so visit to Champaign should be an interesting one ...
• TCU at Texas Tech 3:45 pm on FOX - The Horned Frogs and Red Raiders each open Big 12 play undefeated in the non-conference ... this was an ugly loss for Tech last season ... 82-27
• Akron at Louisiana Lafayette 6:00 pm on ESPN Extra / espn3 - The Zips travel to Lafayette to face the Ragin' Cajuns in this MAC-Sun Belt showdown, in the return date of the '13 match up, where Akron fell 35-30 at home ...
• Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (Arlington, TX) 6:00 pm on ESPN / espn3 - The Aggies have opened the season 3-0, while the Razorbacks have fallen in two straight, in this SEC opener for each team ...
• Arkansas State at Toledo 6:00 pm on ESPN Extra / espn3 - The Rocket have started '15 with back to back Power 5 wins; while the Red Wolves opened with back to back Power 5 losses then a blowout win over Missouri State ...
• Colorado State at UTSA 6:00 pm on CBSSN 
• Florida Atlantic at Charlotte 6:00 pm on NESN2 / ASN (affiliates) / CSCA - The Owls are win less heading into the C-USA opener; while the 49ers are 0-1 in conference, but undefeated out of conference to open '15 ...
• James Madison at SMU 6:00 pm on ESPN Extra / espn3 - The Mustangs seek to get back to .500 before beginning AAC play in '15 ...
• Vanderbilt at Ole Miss 6:00 pm on ESPNU - The Rebels took care of business at Bama to open SEC play, as they seek to close out September undefeated, against a Vandy team 0-1 in the conference and only one win against a FCS program ...
• Mississippi State at Auburn 6:30 pm on ESPN2 - The Bulldogs have two wins vs. non-Power teams in '15, but are 0-1 in the SEC West, as they hit the road against the Tigers, who also are 0-1 after a loss at LSU ...
• Missouri at Kentucky 6:30 pm on SEC Network - Mark Stoops has his Wildcats playing their third SEC game in September, as the Tigers open conference play ...
• Ball State at Northwestern 7:00 pm on BTN (alternate) - The Wildcats need to take care of business against the Cardinals to start 4-0 ahead of Big Ten play ...
• Hawaii at Wisconsin 7:00 pm on  BTN - The Badgers seek to win third straight at home, ahead of the Big Ten opener at home against the Hawkeyes in October ...
• North Carolina State at South Alabama on 7:00 pm ESPN News -
• Texas State at Houston 7:00 pm on ESPN Extra / espn3 -
• UCLA at Arizona 7:00 pm on ABC / espn3 (also in Spanish) - 
• Utah at Oregon 7:45 pm on FOX -
• Fresno State at San Jose State on 9:30 pm CBSSN -
• USC at Arizona State 9:30 pm on ESPN -
• Appalachian State at Old Dominion 2:30 pm on ASN (affiliates) -
• Army at Eastern Michigan 5:00 pm on espn3 -
• Georgia Southern at Idaho 8:00 pm on espn3 (possible for ALT2) / SWX TV (cable) -
• Idaho State at UNLV 8:00 pm - The Rebels seeking their first win, as the return home against the Bengals ...
• Incarnate Word at UTEP 7:00 pm - The Miners looking to get to a .500 record vs. a 2-1 FCS program ...
• Marshall at Kent State 2:30 pm on espn3 / ASN (affiliates) - The Thundering Herd didn't fare well the last trip into the State of Ohio vs. a MAC program, so can the Golden Flashes turn the ship around and get a W, for a change in a FBS match up?
• Nevada at Buffalo 2:30 pm on espn3 - The Wolf Back are 1-2, so the game against the Bulls becomes even bigger on the road, as a one point favorite ...
• Northern Illinois at Boston College 12:00 pm on espn3 - The Huskies gave Ohio State an exciting game, while the Eagles fought hard against Florida State last week, in the ACC opener .. 
• Samford at Louisville 5:00 pm on espn3 - The Cardinals are 0-3, 0-1 in conference play to kickoff '15, so a loss against a FCS program would be close out a terrible September ...

Four bowls are in the books: Beef O'Brady's from St. Pete is Next!

St. Petersburg Bowl:

East Carolina (9-3) vs. Ohio U (7-5) at 1:00 p.m. on ESPN (HD)

It is the Beef O'Brady's Bowl from St. Petersburg, Florida, as the Pirates from C-USA face off against Frank Solich's Bobcats out of the MAC. The Pirates put up offense, so will the Bobcats keep pace?

http://www.stpetersburgbowl.com/

The 2011-12 Bowl Season kicks off on Saturday with 3 Bowl Match Ups

The FBS kicks off the first of 35 bowl games in 2011-12, with the first three bowl games on Saturday. Too many? Sure, but when one considers 68 teams make the NCAA Basketball Tournament, is it that far fetched that 70 teams finish the season with a bowl game?

Big Ten leads with ten bowl spots. The Big Ten has a record ten teams in bowl games this year, including first-year member, Nebraska. The University of Iowa is playing in its tenth bowl in eleven years, under Kirk Ferentz, who is in his 13 season as head coach. Wisconsin will represent the Big Ten for the second straight year in the Rose Bowl.

Three other college football games play on Saturday. The Division II Championship Game and the NAIA Championship Game are played on Saturday, as well as the second semi-final game on the road to the FCS title game. On Friday, the first semi-final game in FCS was played, with Sam Houston State defeating Montana 31-28 at home.

2011-12 Bowl Games kick off on Saturday

(Printable Bowl Schedule w/ DirecTV channels)
Saturday, December 17th

D2 Final: Pittsburg State vs. Wayne State (MI)
10:00 a.m.
ESPN2 (HD) / espn3

New Mexico Bowl: Temple vs. Wyoming
1:00 p.m.
ESPN (HD) / espn3

DI-AA Semifinals: Georgia Southern at North Dakota State
1:30 p.m.
ESPNU (HD) / espn3

NAIA Championship: Carroll (MT) vs. Saint Xavier (IL)
3:30 p.m.
CBSSN (HD)

Idaho Potato Bowl: Ohio vs. Utah State
4:30 p.m.
ESPN (HD) / espn3

New Orleans Bowl: LA Lafayette vs. San Diego State
8:00 p.m.
ESPN (HD) (3D) / espn3

Cidsports Thoughts and Predictions on the three opening bowl games:

Temple (8-4, 5-3 MAC East) vs. Wyoming (8-4, 5-2 MWC) in New Mexico Bowl

• First year coach Steve Addazio's Owls vs. third year coach Dave Christensen's Cowboys


• Both teams last bowl games were in 2009, Christensen's Cowboys won in New Mexico over Fresno State, while the Owls lost to UCLA in the EagleBank


• Owls are 1-2 lifetime in bowls, while Cowboys are 6-6


• We will take the Cowboys, as a +7 underdog in this bowl game

Ohio U (9-4, 6-2 MAC East) vs. Utah State (7-5, 5-2 WAC) in Idaho Potato Bowl

• Seven year coach Frank Solich's Bobcats vs. third year coach Gary Anderson's Aggies


• Solich is leading the Bobcats to third straight bowl game, fourth in six years, while Anderson has the Aggies in their first bowl game, since '97 season


• Ohio U is 0-5 in bowls, while Utah State is 1-4 over the years


• Again, we will take the underdog, Ohio U as a +1.5 underdog in this bowl game

Louisiana-Lafayette (8-4, 6-2 Sun Belt) vs. San Diego State (8-4, 4-3 MWC) in New Orleans Bowl

• Battle of first year coaches: Mark Hudspeth's Ragin' Cajuns vs. Rocky Long's Aztecs


• Ragin' Cajuns have never played in an FBS bowl, while the Aztecs beat Navy last season 35-14 in the Poinsettia Bowl


• San Diego State is 2-4 lifetime in bowl games, while it is the first postseason appearance in 41 years for the Ragin' Cajuns


• San Diego State is a -4.5 favorite in this bowl game: Go Aztecs!

The 2010-11 Bowl Season begins with a Trifecta of Blow Outs to start off Bowl Play

The New Mexico Bowl kicked off the 2010-11 Bowl line up with the soon to be FBS Independent, BYU from the Mountain West Conference, taking on a C-USA West opponent, UTEP. The Gazette headline in the Sunday print newspaper said it all: "BYU caps a big turnaround", as the BYU Cougars (7-6) defeated the UTEP Miners (6-7) 52-24. More news on the New Mexico bowl win from Albuquerque.

It was a coming out party for the BYU Cougars , after a sub prime start with 1-4 start in 2010. Next year, the BYU Cougars will be an Independent, no longer affiliated with the MWC. The Cougars will join Army, Navy and Notre Dame as the four FBS Independents in Division I.

The independent BYU Cougars will kick off the 2011 season at Ole Miss (4-8, 1-7 SEC East in '10). BYU's 2011 schedule

The Cougars were lead in 2010 by freshman QB Jake Heaps. There should be a lot of excitement for BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall in 2011, with a young signal caller back and the hype entering College Football as the newest FBS Independent.

In 2012, the BYU-Notre Dame series will begin, among the top two FBS Independents, outside Army-Navy.

Next up in the opening day Trifecta of college bowl games took place in Boise, ID with the 2010 Humanitarian Bowl. The MAC runner-up Northern Illinois faced off from team WAC fourth place team, Fresno State, on the Smurf blue turf, home of the Boise State Broncos.

Northern Illinois 40, Fresno State 17 - news

With the win, the NIU Huskies (11-3, 8-0 MAC West), who lost their head coach, Jerry Kill, to the Minnesota Golden Gophers for the Humanitarian Bowl and the 2011 season, finish an outstanding 2010 season. Tom Matukewicz lead the Huskies as the interim head coach for the bowl game and 40-17 win over Pat Hill and Fresno State.

The Fresno State Bulldogs (8-5, 5-3 WAC), under coach Pat Hill for his 15Th season in 2011, will regroup and face a solid OOC schedule next season, with Cal, @ Nebraska, Ole Miss and @ San Diego State among FBS opponents. The Bulldogs will head to the MWC in time, but remain in the WAC for 2011, due to a $5 million buyout clause.

The finale of the blowout first weekend of the 2010-11 college bowl line up was live from New Orleans in the 2010 New Orleans Bowl. The MAC representative, Ohio U. Bobcats vs. the Sun Belt co-champion, Troy Trojans. It was all Troy (8-5, 6-2 Sun Belt), in a 48-21 win over Frank Solich's boys from Athens, OH. The Trojans lead 38-7 at the half over Ohio U. (8-5, 6-2 MAC East). More news on the Troy win over Ohio U.

Next Bowl Game in 2010-11:

Beef O' Brady's Bowl from St. Petersburg

Southern Mississippi (8-4, 5-3 C-USA East) vs. Louisville (6-6, 3-4 Big East)
St. Petersburg, Fla. at Tropicana Field
Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. Central Time on ESPN

peace

The Christmas fest is complete; now, more College Bowls to digest for the season!

Hopefully, everyone had a very, merry Christmas with family and friends ...

We were pleased with both Utah and SMU in their respective bowl wins in the Poinsettia and Hawaii bowls, respectively ...

Wed., Dec. 23: Poinsettia in San Diego, Mountain West vs. Pac-10, Utah 37, California 27
Thu., Dec. 24: Hawaii in Honolulu, C-USA vs. WAC, SMU 45, Nevada 10

Saturday, December 26, 2009, there three more bowl games up for display, all on ESPN ...

• Sat., Dec. 26 at 12 p.m. Central Time
  Little Caesars Bowl from Detroit
  MAC vs. Big Ten (C-USA fills the Big Ten void): Ohio U vs. Marshall
• Sat., Dec. 26 at 3 p.m. Central Time
  Meineke Car Care Bowl from Charlotte
  ACC vs. Big East: North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh
• Sat., Dec. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Central Time
  Emerald Bowl from San Francisco
  Pac-10 vs. ACC: Southern California vs. Boston College

Our Picks for Saturday, December 26, 2009:

• Ohio U. 30, Marshal 24
• North Carolina 33, Pittsburgh 28
• Boston College 28, USC 25

peace

College Football '09: A look at the Mid-American Conference

Don't look for the Mid-American Conference to make any BCS noise with a surprise candidate in '09? That would be a first for this conference. How does the conference breakdown in '09 for MAC?

• The MAC is ranked #11 by Jeff Sagarin as a conference in FBS
• The MAC is a spoiler conference at best in '09
• Central Michigan looking for fourth straight bowl in '09
• Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, Ball State and Buffalo also all bowled in '08
• Buffalo attended first bowl ever under coach Turner Gill in '08

Ranked teams in the AP and Coaches' preseason polls:

none, but Central Michigan received votes in each poll ...

Preseason magazines don't like the MAC in the Top 25 preseason:

none

Teams rebuilding in the MAC in '09

• Ball State

Teams rated below the FBS mark of #120 in 2009?

• Temple
• Miami-Ohio
• Kent State
• Eastern Michigan

Will the MAC East Division finish this way in 2009??

1. Buffalo * (5-3 in '08) (0-1 in bowls)
2. Ohio U. (3-5) (0-3)
3. Akron (3-5) (0-1)
4. Bowling Green (4-4)
5. Temple (4-4) (1-1)
6. Kent State (3-5) (0-1)
7. Miami-Ohio (1-7) (4-4)

Will the MAC West Division finish this way in 2009?

1. Central Michigan (6-2 in '08) (1-4 in bowls)
2. Western Michigan (6-2) (0-4)
3. Toledo (2-6) (7-3)
4. Ball State * (8-0) (0-5)
5. Northern Illinois (5-3) (2-2)
6. Eastern Michigan (2-6) (1-0)

* denotes 2008 MAC division champs (source for above list)

Last BCS title winner

No MAC team has ever participated in a BCS bowl.

Kickoff Game of the Season

Thursday, September 4Th
Troy @ Bowling Green

Bowling Green, Ohio
TV: none

Final Look at the MAC teams, using the preseason Jeff Sagarin NCAA football ratings:

1. Ball State (#81 in Sagarin ratings) - Veteran coach Stan Parish remains head coach after taking over for departed Brady Hoke, who moved onto San Diego State. Parish lead the Cardinals in the 13-45 loss to Tulsa in the GMAC. The Cardinals return 36 letterwinners, with 4 OFF 7 DEF and their placekicker from their 12-2 season in '08. OOC games with North Texas, New Hampshire, @ Army and @ Auburn take place before the MAC schedule.


2. Central Michigan (#87) - Coach Butch Jones is entering his 3rd season for the Chippewas, after an 8-5 campaign in '08. The Chippewas return 44 letterwinners, including 6 OFF and 10 DEF plus both kickers from their team that lost 21-24 to Florida Atlantic in the Motor City. The Chippewas open '09 with @ Arizona, @ Michigan State, Alcorn State, then begin MAC play. Final OOC game is @ Boston College on Halloween.


3. Western Michigan (#88) - Coach Bill Cubit enters his 5Th season for the Broncos, after a 9-4 record in '08 and a disappointing 14-38 loss to Rice in the Texas. The Broncos return 32 letterwinners, including 7 OFF and 3 DEF plus both kickers for '09. They open '09 @ Michigan, @ Indiana, MAC opener at home, vs. Hofstra, then @ Michigan State on 11/7.


4. Bowling Green (#92) - The Falcons replace Gregg Brandon with new coach Dave Clawson, who was a successful HC at FCS Richmond after finishing 6-6 in '08. Clawson has 39 returning letterwinners, 7 OFF and 3 DEF and their punter back. The Falcons open in the OOC hosting Troy, @ Missouri, @ Marshall and hosting Boise State before opening MAC play for '09.


5. Northern Illinois (#99) - Coach Jerry Kill enters his 2Nd season at the Huskies helm. The Huskies finished 6-7 in '08 and return 45 letterwinners, with 7 OFF and 4 DEF plus returning PK will handle both duties this year. The Huskies lost 10-17 to LA Tech in the Independence. The Huskies open '09 in the OOC @ Wisconsin, vs. Western Illinois, @ Purdue and vs. Idaho before opeing MAC play on HC vs. Western Michigan.


6. Akron (#111) - Coach JD Brookhart is coming into his 6Th year at Akron and coming off 5-7 season. The Zips return 45 letterwinners, with 9 OFF and 6 DEF plus both kickers. The Zips open @ Penn State, vs. Morgan State, and vs. Indiana before opening MAC play. The final OOC game will be 10/24 at Syracuse.


7. Toledo (#113) - The Rockets have replaced coach Tom Amstutz with first year coach Tim Beckman, who is a former assistant at BG, but last 4 years at Ohio State and last 2 as DC at Okie State. The Rockets return 57 letterwinners, with 9 OFF and 7 DEF plus both kickers from the 3-9 '08 team. Toledo opens OOC play @ Purdue, vs. Colorado, vs. Ohio State in Cleveland and at FIU before opening on the road in MAC play.


8. Ohio U. (#114) - Former Nebraska head coach Frank Solich is entering his 5Th season for the Bobcats and they are coming off a 4-8 season in '08. They return 47 letterwinners, with 7 OFF and 7 DEF plus their punter in what could be a season to watch for the Bobcats. The Bobcats open in OOC play vs. UConn, @ North Texas, vs. Cal Poly and @ Tennessee, before opening conference play with back to back road games.


9. Buffalo (#115) - Coach Turner Gill is back for year four leading the Bulls. The Bulls return 53 letterwinners, with 6 OFF and 8 DEF plus both kickers from a 8-6 team that finished with a 20-38 loss to UConn in the International. Coming off the MAC title, the Bulls will not likely sneak up on anyone in '09. Buffalo opens '09 in OOC play @ UTEP, vs. Pittsburgh, @ UCF, then begin MAC play. HC is 10/10 vs. Garder Webb.


10. Temple (#125) - Coach Al Gordon is entering his 4Th season with the Owls and is coming off a 5-7 season in '08. The Owls return 51 letterwinners, with 6 OFF and 9 DEF plus both kickers. Could this be the breakout year after climbing from 1-11 to 4-8 to 5-7 the first three seasons? Temple opens '09 vs. Villanova, then bye week to prepare for @ Penn State. They open MAC play for 3 games, then HC vs. Army, with later trip @ Navy.


11. Miami-OH (#126) - The early part of the decade was successful for the Redhawks ('00 to '05), but new head coach Mike Haywood moves in after serving at Notre Dame under Charlie Weis. The past four years under Shane Montgomery have been a roller coaster, with a 2-10 record in '08. The Redhawks return 45 letterwinners, with 7 OFF and 5 DEF. The Redhawks open '09 with Kentucky in Cincinnati, then @ Boise State, 2 MAC road games, vs. Cincinnati and a road game @ Northwestern in a challenging OOC slate.


12. Kent State (#132) - Coach Doug Martin enters his 6Th year coming off a 4-8 record in '08 for the Flashes. The Flashes return 59 letterwinners, with 8 OFF and 7 DEF plus both kickers. The Flashes have one bowl game in their history and that was in '72 at the Tangerine. The '09 season opens with vs. Coastal Carolina, @ Boston College, vs. Kent State, MAC opener vs. Miami-OH, then final OOC game @ Baylor.


13. Eastern Michigan (#141) - The Ron English era begins in '09 for the Eagles. The former Michigan and Louisville DC will work with 45 letterwinners, with 9 OFF and 8 DEF plus both kickers back from last year's 3-9 squad. EMU has not had a winning season since '95 and there only bowl game was in '87. The Eagles open '09 with OOC games vs. Army, @ Northwestern, @ Michigan and a OOC game @ Arkansas on Halloween.

A look back at last year's statistics in the MAC.

peace

Is the MAC ready for a breakout season in football in '08?

Like the Sun Belt Conference, the Mid-American Conference doesn't have a major 'mid-major' like the WAC or MWC that is likely to make noise for a BCS bid. But, is the MAC ready for a breakout season in football in '08?

There is no preseason consensus favorite for 13 member MAC in '08, which is broken into two divisions: East and West. Bowling Green and Miami-OH get the most love in the East, while Central Michigan and Ball State get the most love in the West. Western Michigan may be a sleeper to watch out for?

Central Michigan (6-1 in '07 in the West) beat Miami-OH (5-2 in the East in '07) in the '07 MAC Title Game 35-10. CMU has won back to back MAC titles games, so will '08 make it three in a row?

When I wrote my comments on the Sun Belt Conference yesterday, I failed to point out Phil Steele's Top 40 and Top 50 spots for the Sun Belt and MAC. Looking over page 29 of Phil Steele's 2008 College Football Preview: FAU was rated ahead of three MAC teams in the Top 50 nationally. Remarkably, Phil Steele had FAU #37 nationally and though Phil Steele doesn't pick Western Michigan to win the West, they are ranked #40 nationally. Rounding out the Top 50: Central Michigan #44 and Ball State #46 are in.

As PFW/College Football News speaks to on page 8 of their '08 Season Preview,
"Which conference other than your own should you care about. The MAC."

Top 21 OOC MAC football games in '08:

1. Central Michigan at Georgia
2. Central Michigan at Purdue
3. Miami-OH at Michigan
4. Toledo at Michigan
5. Western Michigan at Nebraska in season opener
6. Illinois vs. Western Michigan (in Detroit)
7. Bowling Green at Pittsburgh in season opener
8. Minnesota at Bowling Green
9. Kent State at Iowa State
10. Ball State at Indiana
11. Ohio U at Northwestern
12. Central Michigan at Indiana
13. Northern Illinois at Minnesota
14. Temple at Penn State
15. Ohio U at Ohio State
16. Boston College vs. Kent State (in Cleveland) in season opener
17. Eastern Michigan at Michigan State
18. Vanderbilt at Miami-OH
19. Northern Illinois at Tennessee
20. Akron at Wisconsin in season opener
21. Akron at Syracuse

Phil Steele (page 19) didn't have any Sun Belt teams among his 2008 Most Improved Teams, but the MAC has four teams on the list: #3 Northern Illinois, #8 Western Michigan, #14 Kent State, and #20 Miami-OH. Northern Illinois welcomes the conference's only new coach in Jerry Kill, who moves over from FCS Southern Illinois. Kill has coached at the Division II level, the FCS level and now the FBS level.

Miami-OH coach Shane Montgomery is entering his fourth season and it would be good to continue moving up the MAC ladder and find a way to garner a bowl game or MAC title in the near term. The RedHawks haven't bowled, since hiring their former OC to replace the late Terry Hoeppner, after the '04 season.

Who are the top teams in '08 for the MAC in football (my picks):

MAC East:

1. Miami-OH RedHawks (4-2 division, 5-2 MAC in '07) continue the move up the MAC ladder in '08.
2. Bowling Green Falcons (4-2 division, 6-2 MAC in '07) will battle to spoil the RedHawks climb.
3. Kent State Golden Flashes (1-5 division, 1-7 MAC in '07) makes the move back into top half of the MAC East.
4. Temple Owls (3-3 division, 4-4 MAC in '07) enter year two as a member of the MAC in football and third year with promising Al Gordon as head coach.
5. Buffalo Bulls (4-2 division, 5-3 MAC in '07) enter third season under coach Turner Gill and look to continue to build on improving as a football program.
6. Ohio U Bobcats (3-3 division, 4-4 MAC in '07) enter fourth season with former Husker head man Frank Solich at the helm.
7. Akron Zips (1-5 division, 1-7 MAC in '07) haven't had a winning season, since '05 title year.

MAC West:

1. Western Michigan Broncos (2-3 division, 3-4 MAC in '07) enter fourth season under coach Bill Cubit have talent, but lost three MAC games by less than 7 points in '07. My Surprise Pick
2. Central Michigan Chippewas (4-1 division, 6-1 MAC in '07) look for third straight MAC title, with everyone gunning for them in '08.
3. Ball State Cardinals (4-1 division, 5-2 MAC in '07) is becoming solid under coach Brady Hoke, who enters 6th season.
4. Northern Illinois Huskies (0-5 division, 1-6 MAC in '07) have a lot of ground to make up after downturn last year, but new coach should provide some fresh opportunities.
5. Toledo Rockets (2-3 division, 3-5 MAC in '07) last solid year was in '05.
6. Eastern Michigan Eagles (3-2 division, 3-4 MAC in '07) broke out of the cellar in '07, but will it hold in '08?

• Biggest Game in '08: Oct. 18th - Western Michigan at Central Michigan
• Biggest Game in MAC East: Oct. 18th - Miami-OH at Bowling Green
• MAC Title Game Prediction: Miami-OH over Western Michigan
• Coach of the Year: Shane Montgomery, Miami-OH

Do I agree that the MAC is a conference to watch other than the Big Ten and Big Twelve? Defense wins championships and I am not ready to say defense has become a trend in the MAC. The MAC plays some exciting football, but when your top team loses to a FCS division team (i.e. North Dakota State over Central Michigan, 14-44 in '07)... there is a chink in the armour.

peace