MAC 2009

The little sister to the B10, the MAC. I think this stands for Mason's Annual Cupcakes, or something like that. I miss our classic clashes with Toledo, Bowling Green, No.Illinois - give me our new philosophy any day of the week. With that - here's your preview:

I can't remeber the division names, but once again I have my own...OHIO SIDE - MICHIGAN SIDE

OHIO DIVISION (because 5 of the 7 schools are in OHIO

#1 OHIO U - PR 6
A tough luck 5-7 last season should drastically turn around in 09. Returning Sr. QB, 3 OL, and 5/7 on D = a better team. Couple that with the fact that they were a -12 in TO last year and this team should be much improved. I like them to beat UCONN in week 1 and roll through most everyone except that pesky one in Knoxville. (10-2)

#2 TEMPLE - PR 6
I know, this isn't hoops, but the Owls are on their way up. This used to be the worst D1 progrum around, but things have changed. They went 5-7 in 2008, and return most everyone from that team. So they should be better, and they went 2-4 in one score games last year, so they'll probably be luckier as well. I like this club to go bowling this year at (8-4).

#3 BUFFALO - PR 4.5
7-5 MAC champs of 2008. They return a nice coach in Turner Gill, for probably just one more season. They lose a lot of their firepower on offense and have 2 new coordinators. Not a good story, but they should be respectable (5-7).

#4 AKRON - PR 4.5
Lots of offense coming back, but the D will continue to be dreadful. (4-8)

#5 BOWLING GREEN - PR 4
They posted fairly nice numebrs last year but only went 6-6. New coach, Clawson, who was TN OC in 2008, will be starting over. QB and 3 OL are back, but it's a new offense, which is always scary. Nothing back on D...1/7 up front. Should be really ugly (3-9).

#6 KENT - PR 3.5
Not good, really ever. 4 OL are back, new QB, same bad D. Ick. (2-10)

#7 MIAMI OHIO - PR 3.5
New coach, Haywood, the old ND DC (doesnt' anyone in the MAC realize that they need defense to win?) He has a Sr. QB coming back but everything else looks thin. Very bad team last year at 2-10...I think they could be worse in 2009...(1-11).


MICHIGAN DIVISION (3 of 6 from MICH)

#1 CMU - PR 6
CMU returns LeFevour, the star of the league. They also have a loaded D, but only 2 OL back. They should run away with this half of the MAC...(9-3)

#2 WMU - PR 5.5
Lots of O-fence back for this crew, too...I'm sensing a theme in the MAC. D will be in trouble once again. (8-4)

#3 BALL ST - PR 5.5
America's sweetheart for most of last season, until the collapse against BUFF, this team looks nothing like that crew. New coach, new DC/OC, new FR QB, 4 new OL...not a good combo. But it is the MAC, so even a team with this much turnover gets the benefit of the doubt in a lot of these games. (7-5)

#4 NORTHERN ILLINOIS - PR 5
A nice team that surprised a lot of people last year. I think I bet on their games every week...and housed! Nice QB and OL, but a brand new D could hurt them. (7-5)

#5 TOLEDO - PR 5
A once proud progrum is trying to get back to the top of the MAC. Another new coach, Beckman, the OKST DC from 2008, takes over. He hired the OC from Bowling Green, which was probably a good move. He has a Sr. QB returning and 5 OL back on a strong unit, the D has 5 of 7 back as well. Kind of a sleeper team in the MAC, watch them early. (6-6)

#6 EMU - PR 3.5
The near lock to be a cellar dweller once again this year. Ron English finally gets a head job, but wow does he have his hands full. He hired an OC from Toledo, who knows the MAC, and brought his DC with him from his one year stint in LOU. There's a Sr. QB and 4 OL returning, so once again a nice looking offense in the MAC - but the D gave up 36 ppg last year. Not a lot of wins when you are that bad on D. English is a D guy, so maybe it will improve eventually, but my hunch is he's a nice DC but not HC material. (2-10)

MAC Title Game
OHIO - CMU
they don't play in the regular season, and I'll give the edge to CMU. They have the marquee player, which counts for something in post-season time.

Only 3 conferences left - MWC, SBC, WAC...then we're good. You should all be super knowledgable and ready to bet for the upcoming season. I was looking ahead to week 1, and what a great teaser they have planned for us on THUR night. Not one or two games to wet the appetite...5 games, all on TV! The one on FRI for good measure. Now I've been off the parlay drug for a year, but I've never seen a 5-teamer opportunity like this one.

GOPHERS

Just a quick note here - sounds like the stadium is ready to rock. The snow fence is down and people are able to explore the plaza area.

Sounds like the Orange are leaning toward Paulus as the QB for game #1 right now (which is funny since the coaches aren't supposed to be in contact really until practice starts...hmm) But I would love for that to happen. How many times have you been so annoyed/angry with the Duke Hoops players in the past (we're all DUKE haters right? how can you not be?) and actually had a chance to go and hit him in the mouth. I know I'm the eternal optimist when it comes to the Maroon and Gold, but I'm feeling a 38-10 beatdown coming on Sept. 5th.

To close, a sneak peek at some new PJ coming in September...The Fixer

When somethings dark, let me shed a little light on it
When somethings cold, let me put a little fire on it
If somethings old, I wanna put a bit of shine on it
When somethings gone, I wanna fight to get it back again