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.
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