2008 CFN MAC Preview
Team Previews &
Predictions
East
Akron |
Bo. Green
|
Buffalo
|
Kent St
|
Miami Univ.
| Ohio
|
Temple
West
Ball State
|
Central
Mich
|
Eastern
Mich
|
No
Illinois
|
Toledo
| Western
Mich
-
CFN All-MAC Team &
Top 30 Players
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Predictions
By
Pete Fiutak
This is a bad, bad year
to be a rebuilding team in the MAC. There will always be programs that
return a ton of experience, but is it possible to have a year when
every team comes back loaded with veterans and every team
thinks it has an honest shot to win the conference title? In this year’s
MAC, yes.
Northern Illinois has a lot of work to do after a two-win season, but
new head coach Jerry Kill gets 11 starters back on defense. Western
Michigan also gets everyone back on D. Ball State gets all 11 starters
back on offense. Nine starters are back on Miami’s great defense. Temple
had just one senior on the two-deep depth chart at the end of last year.
It goes on and on like that for every team, and every program can go
into the season believing it can win the championship meaning this could
be the most wild and unpredictable MAC season ever.
Along with all the returning experience, one of the biggest keys to the
league’s resurgence are the coaches. For the first time in a long time,
the conference didn’t lose any of its hot coaches to a bigger, better
program. Enjoy it while it lasts as Central Michigan’s Butch Jones,
Buffalo’s Turner Gill and Temple’s Al Golden are destined to be gone in
the next year or two, but for now, the coaching is better than it’s ever
been from top to bottom.
Yeah, die-hard MAC fans are going to love the league this season, but
it’s going to take several big upsets to get on the map again and earn
more national respect. No, Central Michigan might not beat Georgia and
Toledo might not beat Michigan, but the MAC had better throw a huge
scare or two into the big boys and there needs to be a not-that-shocking
win like Ball State over Indiana or Miami over Cincinnati. The teams are
in place to do it, but even if there aren’t the big non-conference wins,
this is the year pay attention to the league.
Team That'll Surprise
Eastern Michigan - There were several signs of life throughout the
season with the offense showing late in the year it could keep up in a
few shootouts. QB Andy Schmitt is a good veteran who knows the offense
and should come up with more big plays, while the defense has the
potential to be the best in the Jeff Genyk era with almost everyone
returning, including LB Daniel Holtzclaw. P Zach Johnson is back after
leading the nation's sixth best punting game.
Team That'll Disappoint
Bowling Green - All the skill players are back, but the line, which
wasn't exactly a strength to begin with, loses three starters including
all-star C Kory Lichtensteiger. The run defense stunk, and now it loses
top tackle Sean O'Drobinak. Before October hits, the Falcons have to go
on the road to face Pitt, Wyoming and Boise State and host a resurgent
Minnesota.
MAC Game of the Year
Ball State at Central Michigan, Nov. 19 – Toledo and Western Michigan
will have something to say about the West race, but the late November
battle between the Cardinals and Chippewas should decide the division
title, and it could possibly be the MAC championship. If nothing else,
the quarterback battle between BSU’s Nate Davis and CMU’s Dan LeFevour
will be one of the best of 2008.
One Bold Prediction
Temple will turn the corner and will be special ... next year. The
offense might have been the worst in the MAC, but ten starters return
and all the young players who took their lumps over the last few years
should be ready to shine. And then there’s the other side of the ball.
11 starters return along with a ton of backup experience to one of the
MAC's top defenses. However, the team is still a year away when everyone
comes back.
5 Big-Time Players Who Deserve a Bigger Spotlight ...
1. LB Daniel Holtzclaw, Sr. Eastern Michigan
2. LB Caleb Bostic, Jr. Miami Univ.
3. RB Justin Anderson, Jr. Northern Illinois
4. FS Louis Delmas, Sr. Western Michigan
5. NT Andre Neblett, Jr. Temple
Coach on the Hot Seat
Tom Amstutz,
Toledo – While there’s no threat of being fired, he needs a bounceback
season after two straight losing seasons. Toledo used to be the MAC’s
steadiest powerhouse and 5-7 doesn’t cut it. The offense should be
explosive again, and the defense has the talent to be far better.
5 Non-Conference Games MAC opponents had better take very, very
seriously
1. Central Michigan at Georgia, Sept. 6
2. Central Michigan at Purdue, Sept. 20
3. Miami Univ. at Michigan, Sept. 6
4. Toledo at Michigan, Oct. 11
5. Western Michigan at Nebraska, Aug. 30
5 Best Pro Prospects
1. SS Barry Church, Jr. Toledo
2. QB Nate Davis, Jr. Ball State
3. QB Dan LeFevour, Jr. Central Michigan
4. TE Darius Hill, Sr. Ball State
5. CB Londen Fryar, Sr. Western Michigan
5 Biggest Shoes to Fill
1. OT Mike
VanDerMeulen for
John Greco, Toledo
2. RB
DaJuan Collins for
Jalen Parmele, Toledo
3. RB
Chris Garrett for
Kalvin McRae, Ohio
4. DT
Brandon Slater for
James Jones, Eastern Michigan
5. C
Ben Bojicic for
Kory Lichtensteiger, Bowling Green
Team Previews &
Predictions
East
Akron |
Bo. Green
|
Buffalo
|
Kent St
|
Miami Univ.
| Ohio
|
Temple
West
Ball State
|
Central
Mich
|
Eastern
Mich
|
No
Illinois
|
Toledo
| Western
Mich