Mid-American and Mountain West Previews
Last season, the MAC was a very competitive conference that in some games provided quality opposition for teams from larger conferences along with stiff challenges for some FCS teams. At the end of the season, Miami (OH) and Northern Illinois grabbed bowl wins while Toledo had a close loss to Florida International and Ohio was beaten by a very good Troy team.
The conference will face several ESPN Top 25 teams in September with Oklahoma, Alabama, Boise State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Ohio State, Missouri and West Virginia challenging MAC teams and providing chances for those teams to “shock” the big boys.
In the MAC East Division, Miami (OH) is coming off of a huge turn around season where they were the most improved team in the country after a 1-10 mark in 2009. The Redhawks travel to Missouri and Minnesota for their first two games with a solid chance for a win at Minnesota. Later in the schedule, Miami (OH) travels to Temple and finishes the season at Ohio, two games that will go a long way in determining the division’s rep in the conference championship game.
Ohio will need to avoid a three game losing streak like last season’s early one to return to bowl contention.
Temple will need to get a better result against Miami (OH) or Ohio, preferably both, to get them to the conference title tilt. Two losses in a row to end the season in 2010 put a damper on the Owls bid for a bowl berth. This year, they will look to upset either Penn State or Maryland on consecutive weekends in September to boost the teams’ credibility with bowl selectors.
The West Division of the conference will again be Northern Illinois’ to lose. Toledo will be solid and may go bowling again.
This year I will go with Temple and Northern Illinois to meet in Detroit for the title with Temple upsetting the Huskies for the title.
Mountain West Conference (http://www.themwc.com)
Utah has moved out and Boise State has moved into the conference this season. The Broncos will get to renew acquaintances with TCU again for a season until the Horned Frogs move into the Big East Conference. Brigham Young has also flown the coup to become an Independent this season.
I will give Boise State the edge for the conference title but do not see the Broncos or TCU as national contenders this season. TCU is vulnerable in week one at Baylor as is Boise State when they visit Georgia. Air Force will again be a tough opponent for anyone and San Diego State should go bowling again.
Boise State is my pick for the conference champion and should be joined by TCU, Air Force and San Diego State in the Bowl season of 2011-2012.
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