The Mid-American Conference is one of the more exciting conferences to watch throughout the season, mostly because of it’s high scoring offensive teams and unpredictability. The East division has had five different champions in the past five seasons. In ’08, Ball State went to the MAC Championship Game with a prefect 12-0 record and a top 10 ranking in both polls but was upset by Buffalo (7-5). This season, 4 of the conferences 13 programs will have new head coaches. Will the ’09 season have the same zaniness in Country’s most volatile conference?

In the East Division, defending champions Buffalo shocked fans during the winter by holding onto highly seeked out head coach Turner Gill, who was candidate at major conference schools like Auburn and Iowa State. Also, remember that the East has 7 schools so a few teams will play 6 divisional opponents and play only 2 Western divisional teams while others will skip a division foe and face 3 teams from the West, which seems to have led to a bit of a scheduling inequity this season. For example, what team would want to skip playing the worst team in the division to play Central Michigan? Without a heavy favorite, this veteran division that has 5 teams with 14 or more returning starters and 5 schools with returning seniors at QB. Meaning the MAC will be very interesting to watch this year.

There more clarity in the West Division. Central Michigan ended their run of consecutive conference titles at 2 last season as their D failed them in the final 2 contests of conference play. But, senior QB Dan LeFevour is back for his final year and the Chippewas have 16 returning starters a league-high , including 10 returning on the defensive side of the ball. Moreover, the other 5 teams have a new coach or limited returning starters. These factors combine to make the Chippewas the number one favorite to return to the MAC Title Game.

OUR 2009 MAC STANDINGS PREDICTIONS

EAST:
1. Akron Zips
2. Ohio Bobcats
3. Temple Owls
4. Bowling Green Falcons
5. Kent State Golden Flashes
6. Buffalo Bulls
7. Miami of Ohio Redhawks

WEST:
1. Central Michigan Chippewas
2. Eastern Michigan Eagles
3. Western Michigan Broncos
4. Toledo Rockets
5. Northern Illinois Huskies
6. Ball State Cardinals

MAC – EASTERN DIVISION

Akron Zips

The Zips were really close to a 7-5 record instead of a 5-7 record. They lost 4 games by a TD or less, including an incredible 4 OT thriller vs Buffalo. But as it is, Akron lost the final 3 games of the season and once again failed to become bowl eligible team. Coach J.D. Brookhart has not taken the Zips to a bowl game since ’05 and that streak will end this year.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 6-2)

Akron 2009 Season Preview – Akron 2009 Season Schedule

Ohio Bobcats

The big problem for Ohio last year was turnovers. And that is why this team finished 4-8. If the turnover margin was plus one instead of negative one, Ohio could have been 8-4. Coach Frank Solich is still a very good coach and his club is an experienced team that will compete for MAC East title.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 6-2)

Ohio 2009 Season Preview – Ohio 2009 Season Schedule

Temple Owls

Head Coach Al Golden has continued to move his Owl team in the right direction after some horrible seasons prior to his arrival at Temple. The ’07 team won only 4 games and in ’08 they improved that total to 5 games. The next goal is to get to 6 wins and go to a bowl game for the first time since the 1979 season. And this year it looks like that can be an achievable goal.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 4-4)

Temple 2009 Season Preview – Temple 2009 Season Schedule

Bowling Green Falcons

The Falcons had some close losses in conference play last season. That 4-4 record in the MAC could have easily been 8-0. Bowling Green lost to Eastern Michigan by 3 points, Miami by 7, Northern Illinois by 3 and Buffalo by 6 in double overtime. That is how close this team was to being really good. This year they have a new Coach Dave Clawson who has to do a little rebuilding to get this program back on track.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 3-5)

Bowling Green 2009 Season Preview – Bowling Green 2009 Season Schedule

Kent State Golden Flashes

In ’09, Quarterback is the big question for the Kent State Flashes. Julian Edelman was not a great passer, but he did rush for 1,370 yards and thirteen TD’s. The competition to replace Edelman is fierce between Anthony Magazu and Giorgio Morgan. Both of them have showed that they could bring a consistent passing attack to one of the worst passing offenses in the country in ’08 during spring practices and this battle for the starting QB position should last until the fall.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 3-5)

Kent State 2009 Season Preview – Kent State 2009 Season Schedule

Buffalo Bulls

If Buffalo Head Coach Turner Gill is on the sidelines, they will be hanging around the top of the MAC. Buffalo won the conference last year by giving Ball State their 1st loss of the year in the MAC title game. Their bowl game did not go well, but with that said winning the MAC championship is an amazing accomplishment considering where this program was 2 years ago.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 2-6)

Buffalo 2009 Season Preview – Buffalo 2009 Season Schedule

Miami Redhawks

The Redhawks knew they would have to rebuild after winning the East division in ’07, but fans did not expected them to be this bad. Miami only managed to win 2 games all season and the result was the firing of Shane Montgomery. New coach Michael Haywood spent the last four 4 leading Notre Dame’s offense and, if you remember back then, the unit was pretty good.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 2-6)

Miami 2009 Season Preview – Miami 2009 Season Schedule

MAC – WESTERN DIVISION

Central Michigan Chippewas

The Chippewas once again were in the mix for a MAC title in ’08 and they will do the same this year. This Central Michigan team will have the same look as last year’s squad and there is no reason for this team not to win the conference title. And anything less would be a huge disappointment for the Chippewas.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 8-0)

Central Michigan 2009 Season Preview – Central Michigan 2009 Season Schedule

Eastern Michigan Eagles

Eagles Head Coach Jeff Genyk went 16-42 during his 5 seasons at Eastern Michigan. It was time for a big change and Eastern Michigan hired Ron English a great coach. English was the defensive coordinator for Michigan under Coach Lloyd Carr and spent 1 season at Louisville. While Coach English’s record has not been that impressive over the last 2 years, he is a quality coach who is exciting the fan base in Ypsilanti.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 5-3)

Eastern Michigan 2009 Season Preview – Eastern Michigan 2009 Season Schedule

Western Michigan Broncos

There is no shame in losing to Nebraska, Central Michigan and Ball State, on the road. But the ’08 season could have been a special one in Kalamazoo. Instead, Western Michigan ended up getting demolished in the Texas Bowl against Rice and was left wondering what could have been. And now the Broncos D has to start from scratch.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 5-3)

Western Michigan 2009 Season Preview – Western Michigan 2009 Season Schedule

Toledo Rockets

The Rocket’s upset Michigan in the Big House last season. Toledo almost pulled off another huge upset earlier in the year vs Fresno State. They ended up losing by 1 point in two overtimes. Besides those two games, Coach Tom Amstutz’s last season was not very memorable for Rocket fans. But looking forward to the 2009 season new Coach Tim Beckman’s and Toledo can stir things up and it could be very memorable.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 4-4)

Toledo 2009 Season Preview – Toledo 2009 Season Schedule

Northern Illinois Huskies

During his first year at Northern Illinois, Coach Jerry Kill exceeded all expectations. He took over a 2-10 team from the previous season and transformed them the next by taking Northern Illinois to a bowl game. The offense was not always pretty, but the bottom line is they got the job done. Now it is the offense that has to take it to the next level, since they will have to carry a defense that has replaces some superstars.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 3-5)

Northern Illinois 2009 Season Preview – Northern Illinois 2009 Season Schedule

Ball State Cardinals

The Cardinals captured the attention and imagination for 12 games last season. Ball State looked unbeatable in the MAC until they lost to Buffalo in the championship game. Then the Cardinals got exposed in the GMAC Bowl by Tulsa. Ball State’s success got former coach Brady Hoke a job in the MWC and replacement Stan Parrish stepped in for the bowl game and will take over the club full time this season.

(Our Predicted 2009 Conference Record: 1-7)

Ball State 2009 Season Preview – Ball State 2009 Season Schedule

MAC – 2009 Football Season Overview

The Mid-American Conference looks like it will be literally do a 180 this season. Ball State and Buffalo, last year’s divisional winners seem destined for 6th place finishes this season. 4 teams will open the season with new head coaches in charge and new philosophies, so the balance of power could shift dramatically. While, the Chippewas continue to stay above the pack and appears to be a huge favorite to win its third conference championship in four years thanks to deep talent and its program continuity. Standing opposite Central Michigan in Detroit will likely be Akron, but the Zips will have trouble containing the explosive senior LeFevour in what could be a record setting year.

The Mid-American Conference is one of ESPN’s most televised conferences during the week towards the end of the season. In fact, most of the games in November will take place on Tuesday through Friday nights so the drama will play out in front of national viewers. After all the dust has cleared in early December, we fully expect the Chippewas to defeat the Zips in the MAC Championship Game and win their third conference title in the last 4 years.