The MAC gave drama at the end of the year, when Mike Haywood's Miami OH team upset Jerry Kill and Northern Illinois in the championship. Both coaches are gone, Jerry Kill to Minnesota and Mike Haywood to jail, via Pittsburgh, so the conference should have some fresh faces in 2011.
2010 Champion: Miami OH
2010 Runner-Up: Northern Illinois
2011 Championship Prediction: Ohio over Northern Illinois
Predicted Order of Finish:
East Division:
1. Ohio (10-2, 7-1 MAC)
2. Temple (9-3, 7-1 MAC)
3. Miami OH (7-5, 5-3 MAC)
4. Bowling Green (4-8, 2-6 MAC)
5. Buffalo (3-9, 2-6 MAC)
6. Akron (3-9, 2-6 MAC)
7. Kent State (3-9, 1-7 MAC)
West Division:
1. Northern Illinois (11-1, 8-0 MAC)
2. Toledo (7-5, 6-2 MAC)
3. Central Michigan (7-5, 6-2 MAC)
4. Western Michigan (5-7, 4-4 MAC)
5. Ball State (2-10, 2-6 MAC)
6. Eastern Michigan (2-10, 0-8 MAC)
Surprise Team: Ohio
Ohio has been at or near the top of the East Division for the last 6 years, but this year, behind a strong running attack and the most veteran O-Line in the conference, the Bobcats will get it done, giving Coach Frank Solich his first conference championship in 12 years.
Upset Alert:
Ohio over Rutgers
I would say NIU over Kansas, but, actually, it's likely Northern Illinois will be favored in that game. So unless Buffalo or Western Michigan overcome UConn, there really aren't a whole lot of opportunities for an upset out of the MAC this year. Northern Illinois is probably the top team in the league, and will get a chance to show it in a non-con matchup with Wisconsin in Chicago... but of the rest of the teams, Ohio will be the most upset-primed. Remember, they almost did it a couple years ago against Ohio State. Rutgers will be weak, and a strong defense and rushing attack could take the Scarlet Knights off-guard.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
2011 Preview: Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference finished 2010 ranked #11, and there is no reason to believe any significant change is in order in 2011. The biggest change this season may be the conference champion hailing from somewhere other than Troy, Alabama....
2010 Champion: Troy
2011 Champion Prediction: Florida International
Florida International had a stupendous year, breaking out of a string of sub-500 finishes to reach the Little Caesar's Bowl, defeating Toledo 34-32. The Panthers almost upset both Rutgers and Texas A&M, and finished the season strong, winning 7 of their last 9. This year's team faces an easy, easy nonconference schedule (@ Louisville, vs UCF, vs Duke, @ Akron).Yes, Louisville and UCF are programs on the rise, but Florida International can hang with the middle-of-the road Big East and cream of C-USA. 2-2 is probable, but 4-0 is not out of the question. The conference slate sets up nicely, getting Troy at home, though the Panthers do have to travel to Middle Tennessee in the season finale.
2011 Sun Belt Predicted Finish:
1. FIU (9-3, 7-1 Sun Belt)
2. Troy (8-4, 7-1 Sun Belt)
3. North Texas (7-5, 6-2 Sun Belt)
4. UL Monroe (6-6, 5-3 Sun Belt)
5. Florida Atlantic (4-8, 4-4 Sun Belt)
6. Middle Tennessee (4-8, 3-5 Sun Belt)
7. Western Kentucky (3-9, 3-5 Sun Belt)
8. Arkansas State (1-11, 1-7 Sun Belt)
9. UL Lafayette (1-11, 0-8 Sun Belt)
Biggest Surprise: North Texas.
Dan McCarney is well known for taking Iowa State from floormat to within a game of playing for the Big 12 title, and has a hard-nosed rushing attack that may be out of place in the Sun Belt. The Mean Green should have the best rushing offense in the conference, and perhaps one of the best in the nation.
Upset Special: North Texas over Indiana. North Texas put a scare into Kansas State last year, and Indiana isn't any better than the Wildcats. Dan McCarney gets a signature win just a month into the season.
2010 Champion: Troy
2011 Champion Prediction: Florida International
Florida International had a stupendous year, breaking out of a string of sub-500 finishes to reach the Little Caesar's Bowl, defeating Toledo 34-32. The Panthers almost upset both Rutgers and Texas A&M, and finished the season strong, winning 7 of their last 9. This year's team faces an easy, easy nonconference schedule (@ Louisville, vs UCF, vs Duke, @ Akron).Yes, Louisville and UCF are programs on the rise, but Florida International can hang with the middle-of-the road Big East and cream of C-USA. 2-2 is probable, but 4-0 is not out of the question. The conference slate sets up nicely, getting Troy at home, though the Panthers do have to travel to Middle Tennessee in the season finale.
2011 Sun Belt Predicted Finish:
1. FIU (9-3, 7-1 Sun Belt)
2. Troy (8-4, 7-1 Sun Belt)
3. North Texas (7-5, 6-2 Sun Belt)
4. UL Monroe (6-6, 5-3 Sun Belt)
5. Florida Atlantic (4-8, 4-4 Sun Belt)
6. Middle Tennessee (4-8, 3-5 Sun Belt)
7. Western Kentucky (3-9, 3-5 Sun Belt)
8. Arkansas State (1-11, 1-7 Sun Belt)
9. UL Lafayette (1-11, 0-8 Sun Belt)
Biggest Surprise: North Texas.
Dan McCarney is well known for taking Iowa State from floormat to within a game of playing for the Big 12 title, and has a hard-nosed rushing attack that may be out of place in the Sun Belt. The Mean Green should have the best rushing offense in the conference, and perhaps one of the best in the nation.
Upset Special: North Texas over Indiana. North Texas put a scare into Kansas State last year, and Indiana isn't any better than the Wildcats. Dan McCarney gets a signature win just a month into the season.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
The Eyes of Texas....
There is a chance that Texas Tech fans will have to pay Texas to subscribe to the "Longhorn Network" to watch their Red Raiders play against the Longhorns, and listen to UT-approved announcers calling the game. This is bad for college sports. And incredibly annoying, if you happen to be a Red Raider.
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