Odds to Win MAC

OHIO BOBCATS

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 6
Defense: Starters Returning: 8
Ohio has completely turned around its program thanks to head coach Frank Solich. This season should be even better than last for the Bobcats as their star QB Tyler Tettleton (3,306 pass yds, 28 TD) has matured. Tettleton is also a phenomenal athlete as he rushed for 658 yards and 10 TD as well. Tettleton lost his top three targets from a year ago, which is something that could end up derailing the Bobcats. Ohio has a very good run defense, but it will need its talented linebackers to be more aggressive because this team struggled to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. They have a very strong secondary with the return of FS Gerald Moore and CB Travis Carrie, and Solich thinks that this defense has the potential to be his best one yet.

WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 7
Defense: Starters Returning: 6
Western Michigan has made slight improvements over the last two years, but now it’s time for head coach Bill Cubit to lead them to a MAC Championship. They return a solid number of players on both sides of the ball including star QB Alex Carder (3,873 pass yds, 31 TD). Carder could be the best player in his conference and thrives under pressure, having better road statistics than he did at home. He’s losing a lot of his weapons on offense, but WR Josh Schaffer (241 rec yds, 2 TD) is looking to emerge as a playmaker this coming season. The Broncos defense has caused Cubit to take a lot of heat, so they must improve on that side of the ball. They’re getting back two of their biggest playmakers in S Johnnie Simon (114 tackles) and DE Freddie Bishop (5.5 sacks). Outside of these two, the play has been very inconsistent for this Western Michigan team. If this team wants to be part of the MAC’s elite, they must be able to stop the pass; something they struggled doing in 2011.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 3
Defense: Starters Returning: 8
Northern Illinois had a high-flying offense last season that revolved around QB Chandler Harnish, but Harnish is no longer around. Now it’s QB Jordan Lynch’s turn to run an offense that will be tailored to fit his play style as a running quarterback. Junior RB Akeem Daniels (303 rush yds, 3 TD) is looking to step in and be the next great Huskies rusher after seeing only limited playing time in 2011. Daniels will be up for the challenge as he is also going to be a pass-catching option for Lynch, who can dump the ball off to Daniels if he can’t find his No. 1 WR Martel Moore (747 rec yds, 7 TD). Northern Illinois is, however, only returning one starter from its offensive line, which doesn’t bode well for this offense. The Huskies’ defense was banged up last year, but these injured players will all be back and ready to go this year. Last season they struggled against the run, but if they can stay healthy they may be able to overcome their inexperience on the defensive line with the talent of players like DE Alan Baxter (4.5 sacks) and a great group of linebackers.

TOLEDO ROCKETS

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 4
Defense: Starters Returning: 4
Toledo is going to be sporting one of the most unique offenses in college football that features two very talented quarterbacks. Austin Dantin (1,404 pass yds, 15 TD) is the more traditional pocket passer, while Terrance Owens (2,022 pass yds, 18 TD) is a threat to run as well as throw. The quarterbacks switch off based on different situations, but these Rockets have an explosive offense and that shouldn’t change in 2012, even with new head coach Matt Campbell taking over for Tim Beckman, who left for the Illinois job. Toledo has a quality RB in David Fluellen and if the offensive line can create holes and protect the pass, the Rockets offense should be no different than last year. On the defensive end, they’ll need to do a better job. Last season the Rockets struggled to stay healthy and it caught up with them, as they were often involved in high-scoring affairs. They’ll need to be at full strength in order to win the MAC, otherwise they’ll just be an exciting team to watch lose. They do have hope with the arrival of Michigan transfer Vladimir Emilien, who will play LB for Campbell, and LB Dan Molls, who was out for half of the 2011 season after a huge 2010 campaign.

BOWLING GREEN FALCONS

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 7
Defense: Starters Returning: 10
The Falcons are fortunate enough to be returning most of their starters from last year and that experience should be a major factor in the 2012 season. QB Matt Schilz (3,024 pass yds, 28 TD) has the talent to be one of the best players in the conference and he’ll need to limit his mistakes to get the Falcons to turn over a new leaf. Sophomore RB Anthon Samuel (844 rush yds, 5 TD) is another player that could help take the Falcons’ offense to a new level. The wide receiver position is an area of concern, but the protection Schilz will be getting from a solid offensive line should buy whoever is running routes some time to get open. Bowling Green had a major issue stopping the run last year, but with 10 starters returning on the defensive side of the ball, Dave Clawson has to be confident that the team’s experience will help solve that problem.

MIAMI-OHIO REDHAWKS

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 8
Defense: Starters Returning: 8
The RedHawks are one of many MAC teams returning most of their starters and they’ll need the extra year of experience these guys got last season. Miami Ohio showed signs of the team they can be this season with a nice streak of wins in the middle of the year, but they ultimately pick and choose when they’d give their best effort too often. The offensive line is spotty and they’ll need it to improve as they have a very talented QB in Zac Dysert (3,513 pass yds, 23 TD), but absolutely no running game. The RedHawks were the worst rushing team in the country last season (74 rush YPG). On the defensive end, Miami was very average, but a lot of that has to do with the unit being on the field for too long. This defense has playmakers in CB Dayonne Nunley (58 tackles, 3 INT) and DL Jason Semmes (4.5 sacks), so an improved running game on offense could help the defense out a whole lot.

KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 8
Defense: Starters Returning: 6
The Golden Flashes will have no problem defending teams this season, but then again that wasn’t their problem last season when they posted a losing record yet again. It’s been over 10 years since Kent State posted a winning record and it will again be up to the offense to help them do that. QB Spencer Keith must take care of the ball and finally get an offense moving that struggles to put points on the board. RB Trayion Durham turned some heads this spring when he showed up 15 pounds lighter than he was a year ago. They’ll need contributions from him and WR Tyshon Goode if they are going to come anywhere close to matching the production of their defense. The defense gets back its leading tackler, Luke Batton (102 tackles), its leading pass rusher, Jake Dooley (5 sacks) and its best pass defender, S Luke Wollet (4 INT).

EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 9
Defense: Starters Returning: 7
The Eagles could be heading in the right direction, as they will be returning most of their starters on a team that showed a lot of promise in 2011. Dual-threat QB Alex Gillett (1,504 pass yds, 14 TD; 736 rush yds, 3 TD) is going to need to be every bit as versatile as he was last season while continuing to improve his accuracy after cutting down his interceptions from 13 in 2010 to just seven in 2011. Javanti Greene must improve, as it’s crucial for a team’s top running back to do his job and rush for more yards than the quarterback. The Eagles were one of the best teams in the nation at stopping teams on third down, something all teams wish they could do. The secondary was an issue for them last year, but all of their starters are back and that bodes well for a team that needed experience last season. This defense lost three important players, but has players returning that are more than ready to step in their absence.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 8
Defense: Starters Returning: 8
A questionable move was made when the Chippewas gave an extension to head coach Dan Enos after two years in a row of horrendous football. This season, all the success of the team is going to land on the shoulder of QB Ryan Radcliff (3,286 pass yds, 25 TD). Radcliff will have a dynamic offense to work with as he is getting back all of his targets. He’ll have to limit his turnovers this year, as his 16 picks didn’t give Central Michigan a chance to win games. Defensively, this team needs to change a lot as its linebackers and defensive line failed to produce much of anything a year ago. The defensive backs on this team led the team in tackles, which means that opponents had their way up the middle against the Chippewas. They have a lot of talent in their secondary, but they will continue to look below average unless the linebackers on this team start making plays.

BALL STATE CARDINALS

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 8
Defense: Starters Returning: 4
The Cardinals are looking to break out of their three-year streak of winning only six games and this could be the year they do that. QB Keith Wenning (2,786 pass yds, 19 TD) is back and looking to improve on a year in which he showed glimpses of how good he can be, but also made tons of errant passes (12 INT). RB Jahwan Edwards (786 rush yds, 11 TD) is also looking to avoid a sophomore slump after a brilliant freshman campaign. Ball State could also have one of the best offensive lines in the country. They return most of their starters from a unit that allowed only 11 sacks last season. The defense is in a very troubling position, as it wasn’t a capable bunch last season and returns only four of those starters. A lot of young players are going to need to contribute for this team to win seven or more games.

BUFFALO BULLS

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 8
Defense: Starters Returning: 8
The one thing Buffalo has going for itself is a good running game. Last season, RB Branden Oliver (1,395 yds, 13 TD) was the only bright spot for the Bulls. Head coach Jeff Quinn faces a difficult decision with no standout starting QB on the roster. Without a decent passing game, teams will be able to stack eight in the box and stop Oliver in his tracks. The Bulls have a good offensive line, but if Alex Zordich or Joe Licata can’t provide stability at the QB position, that won’t mean a thing. The Bulls also have weak linebackers and an underwhelming defensive line. Last season they struggled getting after the quarterback and couldn’t stop the run even if they knew it was coming. They are, however, getting back 16 starters to work with.

AKRON ZIPS

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 8
Defense: Starters Returning: 6
The Zips made a surprising move hiring Terry Bowden as head coach this offseason, who brought along Chuck Amato to take over a defense that allowed 119 points in the final two games of its 1-11 season. Akron has some talented players returning this season including QB Clayton Moore (1,655 pass yds, 9 TD, 9 INT). Once Moore improves his accuracy, the offense will move the ball a lot more efficiently. Also returning is RB Jawson Chisholm (961 rush yds, 5 TD) and WR Keith Sconiers (639 rec yds, 5 TD). On the defensive side of the ball, the Zips weren’t as bad as they were offensively last year. Amato is a great defensive mind and will get back LB Troy Gilmer (71 tackles). Gilmer will need another big season if the Zips are to claim their first conference win in two years.

MASSACHUSETTS MINUTEMEN

2012 Preview:
Offense: Starters Returning: 9
Defense: Starters Returning: 7
UMass transitions to the FBS with returning QB Kellen Pagel and an experienced offensive line running a no-huddle, spread scheme. They have very little experience at the other skill positions. The defense is in better shape, with senior Perry McIntyre (6.5 sacks , 11.5 TFL) set to play middle linebacker with UMass switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3. NT Hafis Williams is a transfer from Notre Dame who will help fortify an experienced defensive line, and senior safety Darren Thellen (5 INT) returns to lead the secondary.

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