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Quote:NIU had a case of dumb luck.

UT QBs stay healthy NIU loses.

Franklin doesn't fumble at the goal line , the blowout begins. NIU struggled to beat EMU, and was crushed by Central.

In the season, yes, they had dumb luck in terms of being not as good as their record. Of course, nothing's PURE luck, good or bad. Dumb luck provided them to have a comeback to win, even though they still would have had a comeback shutting us down for a good amount. They needed both, and they got both -- and much to blame is on US. Not just a Franklin fumble (dumb luck). Struggling to beat EMU, among other "wtf why is that even close?" shows that.

But the win @WMU though -- it still is what it is and one can't get around that. And their blowout (out of angst from year prior) win in the MACC against BGSU made me think they'd put up a darn good fight against Marshall. However, I remembered that NIU wasn't as good as their record indicated. Kind of like a girl who can look hot one night, but man, the next Saturday afternoon at the mall and she's Not good looking... but sometimes not bad. Sometimes kinda cute, etc. Depends what she's wearing and how she does herself up. Man, I should have gotten laid by her. Oh wait, I'm going off topic... anyway...

They'll be Improved this season. They're LUCKY that last reloading season wasn't 8-4 or 7-5 which it could have easily been. They'll be more FITTING, although still not set, to be a 10-win team this year.

And Matt Johnson for BGSU barely played last season -- he was injured. THIS year he'll be back -- which is why BGSU is my pick on top of the East. Ohio will challenge them though. Ohio could win it. Will depend on how good of a coach BGSU's 2nd year coach is.

As far as WMU, I'm expecting improvement this season. We have the pieces in place, no reason not to expect it. The record may not be better, because our OOC schedule is brutal. But we should advance in conference. And 2016 should be the year we win it-no more excuses.

I expect three teams in the MAC to have 10+ wins this season and another 2-3 teams to have 8-9 wins. I think this upcoming season will be a huge rebound compared to last.

(05-27-2015 01:46 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  I expect three teams in the MAC to have 10+ wins this season and another 2-3 teams to have 8-9 wins.

Assuming losses to MSU and OSU - not exactly a big reach there - WMU would have to run the table the rest of the way to get to 10. Highly unlikely.

An eight-win season for the Broncos against this schedule would be a very good season. Anything above and beyond that would be outstanding.

(05-27-2015 11:21 PM)The Colonel Wrote:  

(05-27-2015 01:46 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  I expect three teams in the MAC to have 10+ wins this season and another 2-3 teams to have 8-9 wins.

Assuming losses to MSU and OSU - not exactly a big reach there - WMU would have to run the table the rest of the way to get to 10. Highly unlikely.

An eight-win season for the Broncos against this schedule would be a very good season. Anything above and beyond that would be outstanding.

I was putting WMU in the 8-9 win range

10+ wins: NIU, Toledo, BGSU
8-9 wins: WMU and potentially the following few teams who could have a breakout season (Ball St, Ohio, Buffalo, Akron)

I'd be alright if we finished the season with 8 wins. Personally, I think 9 is our max. We aren't beating MSU and OSU, and between @GSU, @Toledo, and @NIU, I expect us to win 1 of those games.

(05-27-2015 11:40 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  10+ wins: NIU, Toledo, BGSU
8-9 wins: WMU and potentially the following few teams who could have a breakout season (Ball St, Ohio, Buffalo, Akron)

BG's non-conference schedule: Tennessee (in Nashville, IIRC), at Maryland, Memphis, at Purdue. In addition to that, their West crossover games include a road game at WMU and hosting Toledo, who they haven't beaten in a millennium. Could they run the table in the East? Possible, but no way will they get to 10. (If they do, Babers will be MAC COY and coaching at a P5 school next season.)

Both NIU and Toledo could have a shot. Both have one probable nonconference loss (NIU at OSU; Toledo at Arkansas) and one challenging but winnable P5 game (NIU at Boston College; Toledo hosting Iowa State). I like NIU's chances better, based on a) NIU is king of the hill and, regarding preseason predictions, deserves to be treated as such until proven otherwise on the field; b) NIU's large number of returning young players; and c) as talented as Ely and Hunt are, when it comes to Toledo, it's impossible to overlook this major issue:



(Seeing Georgia Southern on this chart makes me feel a little more optimistic about our chances against them in September.)

The East is wide open, and because that's the case, many teams (including UMass and maybe even Miami, though I think Miami is still a year away) will be capable of piling up victories. I don't see any East teams getting to 10, though.

I see Ball State & Ohio being the Dark Horses of the West & East. The MAC will be improved this season in performance, no doubt. I'm geeked about non-conf season.

I expect us to go 7-5, *maybe* 8-4.

(0-2) : MSU, @OSU [givens]
(1-1) : @NIU, @Toledo [good luck winning 1 of those]
(3-1) : Bowling Green, Ball State, @Ohio, @GA-Sourthern [good luck winning 3 out of 4 on those]
(4-0) : Miami-OH, CMU, @EMU, Murray State [OKAY, that's to be expected]
8-4 : Optimistic but not fantasy. A risky bettor's pick

I see 7-5 more realistic. Namely, us going 2-2 vs BGSU, BSU, Ohio, and GA-Southern... or going 3-1 and doing Well on that, but dropping both @NIU and @Toledo.

I agree, my dark horses are also Ball State and Ohio (UMass as well as others have pointed out).