2022 MAC Predictions
Photo by Keith Srakocic from AP Sports
It’s #MACtion time!
Our favorite conference that gives us something to do on Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s in the fall is set up for another strange and chaotic season.
Last season, the MAC title game was Northern Illinois vs Kent State.
Will either of those teams make it back? Or will the typical, chaotic MAC give us something new?
Let’s find out.
MAC East
1. Bowling Green Falcons
Offense is fun. I love offense.
But defense is what wins titles.
And while Bowling Green’s offense isn’t really much to write home about, their defense is the best in the East.
The Falcons are going to get into some slugfests, and I think they’ll power through, especially now that they have experience with a strong returning cast.
2. Miami Redhawks
And here we have the best offensive team in the East.
We’ve seen this game before.
In battles of the best offense vs the best defense, the best defense typically comes out on top.
But Miami is still going to be very good, and they’ll likely finish 2nd running away from the rest of the East.
3. Kent State Golden Flashes
Kent State also has quite a good offense.
But where Miami has continuity, Kent State has a new quarterback, new receivers and new offensive linemen.
That’s a lot of changes to overcome.
4. Buffalo Bulls
Has anyone discussed that Buffalo has the Bulls and the Bills in football?
That really doesn’t make it easy on people.
Regardless, Buffalo had a weird year where they went into the season with Lance Leipold at coach before the Les Miles scandal at Kansas sent Leipold to Lawrence and new head coach Maurice Linguist was thrown into the meatgrinder.
Now, Linguist has a full season under his belt plus a full offseason to go with it.
Last year was year 0. This should be year 1, and it should be an improvement.
5. Ohio Bobcats
Ohio can run the ball well. That’s good!
They can’t really pass or play defense.
So. Yeah.
6. Akron Zips
Anybody who knows me knows that I believe Joe Moorhead could have succeeded if he was given more time at Mississippi State. His first year he had a great running QB who simply could not throw, which hindered his offense, and then his second year he had to make up for the loss of 3 first round draft picks.
The point is, I believe Moorhead can coach.
But this Akron team is in shambles right now.
As long as they show patience that Mississippi State didn’t, Moorhead will get it fixed.
It just won’t be this season.
MAC West
1. Toledo Rockets
It’s safe to say that Toledo is far and away the best team in the conference, with an extremely good defense that returns most of its starters.
I don’t think anyone comes close, frankly.
2. Central Michigan Chippewas
The Chippewas have a great offense but their defense is full of new faces.
3. Western Michigan Broncos
The Broncos have a great defense but their offense is full of new faces.
Central and Western are very similar teams in different ways, but I feel replacements to the defense are easier to implement than offensive replacements, so Central gets the edge.
4. Northern Illinois Huskies
Northern Illinois won the MAC last year, and that’s awesome!
But their defense was atrocious, and 7 of their 9 wins were won by one score.
Unless their defense magically improved, that’s not sustainable.
5. Eastern Michigan Eagles
Eastern Michigan is the most average team the MAC has.
They are the team you will watch at 8 P.M. Tuesday night when you’re at a sports bar for trivia night and they just happen to be on.
They are therefore the pinnacle of #MACtion, and I love them for it.
6. Ball State Cardinals
Ball State isn’t very good.
But that’s ok. You’ll still watch them.
#MACtion baby!
MAC Championship Game Prediction
The MAC title game will be between a team who will consider this a great season after going 4-8 last year (Bowling Green) vs a team who feels like it’s title or bust (Toledo).
This year, it’s going to be title.
Toledo wins the MAC
Tomorrow, we mourn the loss of #PuntGod and go over the Mountain West.
