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Yesterday, the other Mid-American Conference blogs thought that we'd see a repeat of the 2013 MAC Championship Game between the Bowling Green Falcons and Northern Illinois Huskies. Today is MAC Media Day and the best way to celebrate it is by presenting our predictions. The final standings are averaged out and will say how many first place votes each school received for their division.
| East | West | |
| 1 | Bowling Green (12) | Toledo (5) |
| 2 | Akron (2) | Ball State (5) |
| 3 | Buffalo | Northern Illinois (4) |
| 4 | Ohio | Central Michigan |
| 5 | Kent State | Eastern Michigan |
| 6 | Miami | Western Michigan |
| 7 | UMass |
The consensus here is that Bowling Green will, not only win the MAC East, but nine of us said that they'd win back-to-back MAC Championships.
Brandon Hickey:
East Champion: Bowling Green
West Champion: Northern Illinois
MAC Champion: Bowling Green
Player of the Year: Matt Johnson, QB, Bowling Green
Coach of the Year: Dino Babers, Bowling Green
"Falcons have too much firepower and I don't think anybody will be able to figure out Babers' offense the first time around."
Alex Alvarado:
East Champion: Bowling Green
West Champion: Ball State
MAC Champion: Ball State
Player of the Year: Jahwan Edwards, RB, Ball State
Coach of the Year: Chris Creighton, Eastern Michigan
"I know you can't see my entire ballot, but I've got EMU finishing right behind Ball State because this Kool-Aid is awesome. My predictions are always wrong anyways. I don't have enough faith in Buffalo's offense to put them ahead of BGSU and I'm just not quite as sold on Akron as I'd like to be. Screw picking the favorites, Lembo's finally gonna get the job done. I wonder if Keith is reading this."
Jesse Allen:
East Champion: Bowling Green
West Champion: Ball State
MAC Champion: Bowling Green
Player of the Year: Matt Johnson, QB, Bowling Green
Coach of the Year: Dino Babers, Bowling Green
"MAC Champion: BGSU, because defense wins championships. Did you know they gave up 7 total points in the third quarter during all MAC games last year? 9 games, 1 touchdown allowed in the third quarter. This is a coaching staff that knows how to make adjustments and a team that can execute them."
"Brown and Gold":
East Champion: Akron
West Champion: Toledo
MAC Champion: Akron
Player of the Year: Kyle Pohl, QB, Akron
Coach of the Year: P.J. Fleck
"Bowden finds a way to continue brining Akron from the black hole that was the Ianello years. He sneaks by BG, then beats a weaker West champ. Then, in the post-game presser, he pulls out the ole 'FOOTBAWL!!!'"
Keith Scheessele:
East Champion: Bowling Green
West Champion: Toledo
MAC Champion: Bowling Green
Player of the Year: Travis Greene, RB, Bowling Greene
Coach of the Year: Terry Bowden, Akron
"Trust me Cardinals fans, you don't want me picking BSU. I've ruined perfect games, tournament runs, and "sure things" for decades. That said, with Pete Lembo, all things are possible. I'll take Toledo in the West. There's NFL talent on that offensive line. Bowling Green in the East. We knew the Falcons would enter the favorite for 2014 halfway through last season with the offensive numbers they were putting up. Matt Johnson aside, Travis Greene set a school record with 1,594 rushing yards last year. We've all got aerial firepower in the MAC, it is a prerequisite. I'll go with the squad that can do it on the ground to match."
Mike Karpinski:
East Champion: Bowling Green
West Champion: Northern Illinois
MAC Champion: Bowling Green
Player of the Year: Joe Licata, QB, Buffalo
Coach of the Year: Terry Bowden, Akron
"NIU will give Bowling Green all it can handle in the MAC Championship game. In the end BG's stout defense and potent offense will prove to be too much for the Huskies. 31-28 BGSU."
Tom McElgunn:
East Champion: Bowling Green
West Champion: Ball State
MAC Champion: Ball State
Player of the Year: Junior Sylvestre, LB, Toledo
Coach of the Year: Chuck Martin, Miami
"Lembo and the birds chirp all the way tot he MAC Championship."
David Drury:
East Champion: Bowling Green
West Champion: Northern Illinois
MAC Champion: Northern Illinois
Player of the Year: Matt Johnson, QB, Bowling Green
Coach of the Year: Terry Bowden, Akron
"The Huskies get REVENGE!"
Max Lowe:
East Champion: Akron
West Champion: Toledo
MAC Champion: Akron
Player of the Year: Matt Johnson, QB, Bowling Green
Coach of the Year: Matt Campbell, Toledo
Nick Lowe:
East Champion: Bowling Green
West Champion: Ball State
MAC Champion: Bowling Green
"There isn't much of a chance that any other team in the conference will be able to keep up with the Falcons. Defensively, from what we have saw last year, they are a defensive powerhouse. Offensively, they are a huge threat through the air and the ground. Matt Johnson should have an incredible year at quarterback, and I expect to see Travis Greene put up some jaw dropping stats on the ground."
Justin Kruse:
East Champion: Bowling Green
West Champion: Northern Illinois
MAC Champion: Bowling Green
Player of the Year: Matt Johnson, QB, BGSU
Coach of the Year: Terry Bowden, Akron
"Message to Dino Babers: 'DO NOT CRASH THE BUS!' Dave Clawson did all the heavy lifting to set up BGSU for a repeat performance at Ford Field. The league's top Quarterback in Matt Johnson alongside one of the league's best offensive weapons in Travis Greene should make BGSU the heavy favorite in the MAC East. The defense needs to fill some holes, but I don't see NIU or Toledo standing up to BG on a neutral field."
Ian Davis:
East Champion: Bowling Green
West Champion: Toledo
MAC Champion: Bowling Green
Player of the Year: Phillip Ely, QB, Toledo
Coach of the Year: Terry Bowden, Akron
"BG and Toledo play again for the MAC Championship. BG takes the win after losing to Toledo on a last-second field goal during the regular season. BG's offensive gets rolling early and never stops."
Kaleb Carter:
East Champion: Bowling Green
West Champion: Toledo
MAC Champion: Bowling Green
Player of the Year: Matt Johnson, QB, Bowling Green
Coach of the Year: Jeff Quinn, Buffalo
"Babers offensive system terrorizes the MAC as the skill position players create havoc for the Falcons and the defense tears apart all in their paths. BGSU wins in a high-scoring bout in MAC championship against a group of Rockets who just don't have enough fuel."
Al Burke:
East Champion: Bowling Green
West Champion: Ball State
MAC Champion: Bowling Green
Player of the Year: Travis Greene, RB, Bowling Green
Coach of the Year: Terry Bowden, Akron
"Bowling Green- head and shoulders above the rest."