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MAC EAST PREVIEW 2017

Buffalo:

Can it get much worse for the Bulls? Lance and crew had another disappointing year finishing 2-10; while also laying claim to the worst offense in the country, posting 354 yards and 16.5 ppg on average. Look, here is the bottom line for Buffalo... Tyree Johnson must come to play. The bulls lose their leading rusher Jordan Johnson which doesn't help the cause either. However let us focus on the pros instead of bashing the buffalo offense... Tyree is coming back and with a 6 foot 7 frame, added muscle, and a more in depth of his players and playbook he can only continue to improve. The best part about this Bulls offense and is what will keep them afloat is the fact they are returning 4 starters on the offensive line while also adding a transfer tackle from Rutgers. Defensively they return their top six tacklers which does spell good for a unit who struggled last year. Adding to that, nearly all of the back 7 return for Buffalo, besides Boise Ross who is a huge loss for the secondary. Ultimately Khalil Hodge is going to be the anchor of this defense and is what will keep them in games. Maybe. Lastly touching on special teams, punter Kyle Deween posted below a 40 yard average which put buffalo's defense in bad spots most of the year- he'll need to improve on that in his senior campaign. Mitcheson posted sub 60% on FG tries last year and really struggling from 40 on out. They'll need him to turn that misfortune around as I predict the offense to stall out a large majority of the time.

Akron:

A let down year for the Zips last year after coming off their first bowl victory in program history; 5-7. Coming into last year many had picked Akron to be a contender in winning the MAC East crown, however the injuries to Akron's quarterbacks halted that expectation. What a disappointing finish to the year as well...starting off 5-3 they only needed to win one of their final four games, in which they failed to do so. Looking ahead, it could be bright. Akron returns Woodson and Chapman at quarterback which should spell for success as they compliment each others weaknesses. Moving headed, literally, they get back Warren Ball, Ohio State transfer running back who sat last year due to injury. Listen, Akron is a team who likes to sling the ball all over the field to their shifty wide outs; but this year they will have a 2 dimensional attack which may be shockingly one of the best offenses in the conference. Defensively, they better hope they don't face a good passing attack... They'll have to replace 3 guys from the secondary. However they return stud linebacker Ulysees Gilbert which will be their leader. This will be Akron's weak point- which has not seem to recover from their dominate defense back in 2015. Moving on to the specialist, Akron better find themselves a punter, otherwise if i were them i would just go for it on fourth down. However they do have a weapon in Thomas O'leary who was 90% last season, however 8 of his 10 makes came inside of 39 yards.

Bowling Green:

Does Matt Johnson have any eligibility left?! Last year Bowling Green started out very poor, however managed to finish out the season 4-8 which gives him hope for this coming season. Offensively they return only 6, while losing 3 on the offensive line. Let me start off by saying this... James Morgan might be the most under rated gun slinger in our league. Yeah, yeah, yeah, i know he is a sophomore but the kid has talent. I really like this offense BG has this year with Morgan, star WR Scott Miller, dual running backs Cleveland and Wilson, all anchored by future NFL'er Tim McAuliffe at center. Now, for the bad. BG's defensive was pitiful in just about every game last year besides when they played Kent. A struggling defense may get worse as they will have to replace 5 starters, along with great tackler Alvarez leaving. The good news is that not many teams in the MAC play defense, so BG is just following suite. Special teams wise BG is home to a future DRAFTED PUNTER Joe Davidson. They should let this kid play every position... He will be what can help the weak defensive out by giving them good field position.

Ohio:

When was the last time OU was bad? I can't remember either. Former first team all-drunk Frank Solich has built something the MAC lacks- consistency. Really the only thing the offense loses in two starters on the line. The one thing i would like to see OU do is stop kicking so many damn field goals and turn those into touchdowns. The offense stalled out way too many times last year forcing them to kick FGs; lucky enough for them Louie Zervous is automatic, even if 22 of his 29 field goals came from inside 39 yards. Defensively they return the bulk of what was a stellar defensive last year. The only losses really come on the line which theyll have to replace but after watching a few games last year when they were blowing teams out, they look to have the depth to do so. Lastly, besides Davidson at BGSU, OU has the next most lethal punter in Michael Farkas.

Kent State:

Is Darrell Hazell coming back?! If Paul Haynes doesn't make it to a bowl game this year I will be speculating that... (Spoiler alert, he's not coming back). Taking a step back for a second, this is a Kent team which should have been bowl eligible last year, and yes I am serious. They finished 3-9, losing to D1-AA (What the hell Kent..) NC A&T in triple OT, lost to Akron on a last minute drive, and lost to Miami on another last minute drive, which all should have brought them to 6-6. THIS TEAM WAS ALRIGHT! Okay, enough of what could have been. Kent offensively doesnt really have a quarterback for starters...It is kind of a quarterback by committee deal. Nick Holley, their best player is the likely option again. He brings more of a running style/wildcat in which they have difficulty in converting on third down passing downs. He throws just as good as a freshmen high schooler. However, they are returning 10 starters which could spell for some success. The main loss in LT Reno Reda. Lastly, they do also return stud sophomore running back Justin Rankin; when healthy, Holley and Rankin in the back field was deadly. Defensively Kent is usually one of the best in the conference. Look for that to continue again this year, especially against the pass. CB Jerrell Foster and Demetrius Monday will cause havoc for opposing quarterbacks. Special teams wise, they return both Hynes and Adams. Adams last year posted just below 41 yards per punt as a freshmen, which I would believe to improve for the coming year. As for Hynes, he may be the most clutch kicker in the league, hitting 2 FGs in overtime from 40+ and then hitting a game winner @ CMU; however he needs to improve his kick offs.


Miami:

From the depths of 0-6 to a 6-7 year last year, almost beating SEC power Mississippi State. Can Gus Ragland who is likely the second best QB in the league pick up where he left off? Or was last years finish just luck? Ragland will be in good company as the offense returns 8 starters including 4 from the line, their leading rusher Alonzo Smith, and Ragland's favorite target in James Gardner. I would say behind Toledo, Miami might put up the most ypg, however will have a more balanced attack. Overall, this may be the best offense in the league. The one downside to their offense will be the kicking game, as they need to replace Nick Dowd as he transferred to Ball State (what the heck?). Moving forward to Chuck Martin's defense, it gets even better... They also return 8. More so they return who I think will be the defensive player of the year in the league, Junior McMullen. Really the only downside you could say to this defense is that they will need to replace their edge rushers who combined for nearly half their sacks in 2016. It just keeps getting better... Miami will also return Kyle Kramer who averaged nearly 42 yards per punt which will put their defense in even better spots; as if they need it... The big test for Miami will come in week one, when they travel to Marshall. That is where I think we will see if Miami's finish was luck, or if they are for real this year.

2017 Standings

1. Miami

2. Ohio

3. Kent State

4. Akron

5. Bowling Green

6. Buffalo

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