The top 5 teams in the MAC are a combined 31-4. Two of those losses are to teams that are currently in the top 5 in the country. If we extend it to the top 6 teams, the record moves to 37-6, for a winning percentage of 86%. I would say that is a pretty good start for the top half of the conference. All this winning is making this particular power rankings rather difficult.

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#12 Ball State Cardinals

(2-6 overall)

The Cardinals were going to struggle with the departure of Carmen Grande. They also have had a rather tough schedule. Coach Brady Sallee has talent to work with, so I wouldn’t circle the wagons in Muncie just yet.

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#11 Western Michigan Broncos

(2-4 overall)

Breaking News! It is very difficult to win basketball games when you cannot score. The Broncos are in rebuilding mode with the loss of Breanna Mobley and Marley Hill. Deja Wimby has missed some games, too. This team will improve on the season as the ball starts falling in the basket, as they are consistent on defense.

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#10 Bowling Green Falcons

(3-4 overall)

This team has been stumbling as of late, but there are marked signs of improvement from last season.

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#9 Kent State Golden Flashes

(3-4 overall)

Kent opened with North Carolina and 17th ranked North Carolina State and dropped both. They then went on a winning streak before dropping their last 2 in close games. Like the Broncos, the Flashes need the ball to fall into the bucket for the good times to start rolling.

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#8 Northern Illinois Huskies

(4-3 overall)

This team has the opposite problem. They are capable scorers, but their run and fun style leads to some defensive problems. The Huskies are relatively deep with some talented players I expect to see more of later in the season. I expect them to be around .500 in league play, which considering the depth of this league is pretty impressive, really.

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#7 Eastern Michigan Eagles

(4-2 overall)

Lost in all the fun of last season, the Eagles were much better than the previous season. With all the great teams, the record really did not reflect just how much they improved. I am not quite ready to call the Eagles contenders in this loaded league, but that day may becoming soon.

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#6 Toledo Rockets

(6-2 overall)

6-2 overall and ranked 6. Let that sink in. This league is absolutely loaded this season. Like much of the last few years, the Rockets are a streaky team. Up next they have number 2 Notre Dame. If they catch a hot streak in that game, they could certainly shoot(yhoops) up our rankings.

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#5 Akron Zips

(5-1 overall)

Point guard Shaunay Edmonds is one of my favorite players in this league The Zips suspended her for a violation of team rules. In the first game of that suspension, the Zips lost. They then recovered quite nicely, winning their next two. With, or without her, this team is really good, and in past seasons would be much closer to number 1. 5-1 overall and 5th. Wow.

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#4 Central Michigan Chippewas

(7-1 overall)

If I were in a click bait type of mood, I would have put the Chippewas at number 4 in the title. These ladies still might be the favorite of the league. However, they dropped a game to an unranked (though still talented) team. For that, I punished them. If the playoff committee can do that, there is no reason I can’t! Maybe I shouldn’t have done that. Oh well, what is done is done. Sue Guevara and company are just fine. Presley Hudson is averaging 23.3 points and 6.25 assist per game. Reyna Frost is averaging 16.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. Micaela Kelly is still a burning ball of energy and averaging 14.3 points. While the bench isn’t used much, just like last year, there is a solid core that is as talented as any team in the country.

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#2 (Tie) Buffalo Bulls and Miami RedHawks

(6-1 overall each, or 12-2 combined)

I really struggled to rank these two teams. Both teams look impressive and both team’s only loss was to a top 5 team. Each team has a legit player of the year candidate. Each team has a fantastic coach. I started to put Buffalo higher, because their loss was longer ago, and then I thought, “That’s silly, we can have a tie!”

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#1 Ohio Bobcats

(7-0 overall)

“You play to win the game!” said Herm Edwards. The Bobcats have yet to lose, and looked impressive beating a solid Purdue squad. Do I think the Bobcats are the best team in the MAC? Not so fast. I can’t sit here and say they are, or they are not. However, they have yet to lose, so they will sit at number 1 until they do.

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Last season, I jumped on the two bid league train quite early in the season. I told you so. There, I said it. Well this season, with these non-conference records early, coupled with the success of Central Michigan and Buffalo in the tournament last season...Three bid league. There, I said it. Let Toledo shock Notre Dame and I might guarantee it.