2015 MAC Predictions

Here are my Mid-American Conference Predictions.

EAST DIVISION

1. Bowling Green: The only team in the nation to return all five offensive line starters that made every start in 2014, the Falcons should be the favorite for the East Division title this fall. Bowling Green only has to face Western Michigan among the big four of the West Division as well. BGSU has Matt Johnson returning at quarterback and 1,000 yard receiver Roger Lewis back which should result in lots of offense. The only thing holding the Falcons back is a defense that gave up nearly 500 yards per game in 2014. 
2. Massachusetts: The Minutemen, a trendy pick to be the MAC team to make a move from losing record to bowl team is all about passing the football. The Blkae Frohnapfel to Tajae Sharpe connection was one of the best in the nation in 2014. If the Minutemen want to make a run at the east title, the defense must improve. UMass did luck out with only one of the projected top four in the West Division on the slate in Toledo. 
3. Ohio: The Bobcats come into the upcoming season with one better ranked defenses in the MAC but an offense that struggled to move the ball in 2014. If Ohio wants to be any more than an also ran in the MAC East Division, they must find a quarterback to take over full time this fall. AJ Ouellette is a solid running back that will not set the world on fire but solid production should give rest to a defense that was #25 nationally in rushing defense (132.9 ypg) but #104 in passing defense at 261.4 yards allowed per game.  
4. Akron: The Zips were right on the verge of being bowl eligible last fall on the back of the nation's #44 ranked defense. Senior running back Conor Hundley (104/540/2TD) and senior wide receiver Andrew Pratt (27/324/0TD) will both need to step up this for Akron to end the season in a bowl. The Zips avoid Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, and Toledo from the east and get Central Michigan at home for a reasonable conference slate.
5. Buffalo: The Bulls are coming into the 2015 season with a bowl berth on their minds and riding the arm of quarterback Joe Licata (2647/29TD) and the legs of Athone Taylor (282/1403/12TD). The offense ended the season top 40 nationally with 438.2 yards per game. The Bulls defense was decent in giving up only 397.7 yards per game but would like to see that number drop even further this fall. Buffalo did get the short end of the stick with Northern Illinois and Central Michigan on the schedule but the rest is surprisingly manageable.
6. Miami: 2014 was a tough season for the RedHawks with the #85 offense and #94 defense in the nation. The one bright spot from last season, quarterback Andrew Hendrix from the #29 ranked passing attack is gone and the rushing attack couldn't even muster 100 yards per game in 2014. The RedHawks failed to stop anyone on the ground or in the air and will need to figure that out quickly this season. Miami gets Ohio and UMass on the road but miss out on division foe Bowling Green. Seeing West Division foes NIU and Western Michigan in back to back weeks will be tough. 
7. Kent State: The Golden Flashes return several members of the nation's 122nd ranked offense led by quarterback Colin Reardon (2,466/14TD). The passing defense was solid with 233.6 yards per game but the rushing game only put up a paltry 81.8 yards per game. That must be fixed if Kent State even wants to be competitive this fall. With a solid pass defense, the Golden Flashes must figure out how to stop the run  this season. Kent State gets to visit Toledo and UMass in back to back weeks before hosting Bowling Green and Buffalo in the most important four weeks of the 2015 season. 

WEST DIVISION

1. Toledo: Always the bridesmaid, this season, the Rockets are expected to be the bride as an overwhelming choice to win the West Division. A major reason for the bold predictions nationally is the return of running back Kareem Hunt (205/1,631/16TD). Hunt was one of the most dynamic runners in the nation and should be in the running for MAC offensive player of the year this fall. The passing game, led by Logan Woodside, is decent and give defenses just enough pause to open holes for Hunt and the rushing game. A defense that ended the season 76th nationally needs lots of help in the passing game but part of that is due to Toledo forcing opponents into passing with a rush offense that gave up only 116.2 yards per game. The Rockets do get NIU and WMU at home but have to travel to Bowling Green and UMass from the East Division. 
2. Western Michigan: If there were a season for people to feel confident in the Broncos, it is 2015. WMU comes into the season with some of the nation's best performers at quarterback (Zack Terrell: 3,443/26TD), running back (Jarvion Franklin: 306/1,551/24TD), and wide receiver (Corey Davis 78/1,408/15TD and Daniel Braverman 86/997/6TD). The Broncos are very good on defense with a top 50 ranking in passing, rushing, and total defense last season. The biggest issue for WMU is a back to back stretch of Toledo and Northern Illinois on the road to end the regular season. 
3. Northern Illinois: As with any other season, the Huskies rushing attack ranked in the top 20 nationally with quarterback Drew Hare leading the way to 249.1 yards per game. The passing game was suspect with only 192.1 yards per game but not enough to hurt the nation's #36 ranked offense. The Huskies have lots to replace on offense but have proven that with a good quarterback, the offense can roll. The Huskies will need to plug in some new players on defense to keep up with the 2014 version that was #57 nationally. A three week stretch that includes trips to Toledo and Buffalo followed by a visit from Western Michigan will be key to the season.
4. Central Michigan: It is rare to see a coach of a bowl winning team jump ship to become a coordinator but that is what the Chippewas are getting through. CMU was one of the better defenses in the nation last fall in only giving up 355.5 yards per game and only 122.9 yards per game on the ground but are coming off of their worst performance of the 2014 season in the Bahamas Bowl. The CMU offense improved as the season progressed with Cooper Rush proving to everyone that he can handle the load of a starting quarterback. A three week stretch of Michigan State, Northern Illinois, and Western Michigan could derail the season before it ever really gets going.
5. Ball State: The problem with Ball State in 2014 was that they were just not very good at anything. With the #86 defense and the #92 offense in the nation, the Cardinals finished #75 or worse in rushing defense, rushing offense, passing defense, passing offense, total defense, and total offense. That spells major overhauls for the Cardinals program. Ball State has a stretch that includes Northwestern, Toledo, NIU, Georgia State, CMU, UMass, and WMU. That could easily be an 0-6 stretch and kill the season. 
6. Eastern Michigan: The Eagles have been a dark horse candidate to make a run in the MAC this fall but I do not see it. There are good parts like the linebacker corps but finishing #118 in total defense and #121 in total offense cannot be fixed in one offseason. EMU will be much better but not to the level of pulling out of the basement anytime soon. 

MAC Title Game: 

• Toledo versus Bowling Green

MAC Champions: 

• Toledo

MAC Bowl Predictions:

• Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (BOWLING GREEN vs. Mountain West)
• Camellia Bowl (MASSACHUSETTS vs. Sun Belt)
• Boca Raton Bowl (TOLEDO vs. American Athletic Conference)
• Popeyes Bahamas Bowl (NORTHERN ILLINOIS vs. Conference USA)
• Go Daddy Bowl (WESTERN MICHIGAN vs. Sun Belt)