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Well, it was certainly an interesting week this week. Our prior top team, Buffalo, promptly lost both games although both were tough road games. Kent State just keeps winning but their week wasn't enough to propel them to the top of the rankings, even though they have the best record. Central Michigan won both games this week as well and look to be a real contender.
| Rank | Team | Record | Previously | Last Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Akron | 13-6 (4-2) | 2 | L - at Northern Illinois, W - at Western Michigan |
| 2 | Western Michigan | 13-6 (4-2) | 3 | W - at Miami, L - Akron |
| 3 | Kent State | 14-5 (5-1) | 7 | W - Toledo, W - at Ball State |
| 4 | Bowling Green | 12-5 (4-2) | 5 | W - Eastern Michigan, L - at Toledo |
| 5 | Central Michigan | 14-3 (4-2) | 6 | W - Buffalo, W - Eastern Michigan |
| 6 | Toledo | 11-8 (3-3) | 4 | L - at Kent State, W - Bowling Green |
| 7 | Buffalo | 12-6 (3-3) | 1 | L - at Central Michigan, L - at Ohio |
| 8 | Ohio | 7-10 (2-4) | 12 | W - at Ball State, W - Buffalo |
| 9 | Ball State | 7-10 (2-4) | 9 | L - Ohio, L- Kent State |
| 10 | Eastern Michigan | 12-7 (1-5) | 8 | L - at Bowling Green, L - at Central Michigan |
| 10 | Northern Illinois | 8-9 (2-4) | 10 | W - Akron, L - Miami |
| 12 | Miami | 7-12 (2-4) | 11 | L - Western Michigan, W - at Northern Illinois |
Even with a loss at one of the worst teams in the league (and NIU really isn't even that bad), the Zips take over the number one spot after sweeping the season series against #2 Western Michigan. That was a Bronco team that had just come off beating Toledo on the road. Akron has two wins over the #2 team and a victory over both the #4 and #5 teams as well.
Kent State is doing what they need to do this year: hold serve at home and pick up the winnable games on the road. That tactic has propelled them to the best record in the league at 5-1. Their best win though is Toledo, and they haven't played Akron, Western Michigan or Central Michigan yet.
Buffalo did not have a good week, losing both their games away from home. While winning on the road is not easy in this league, the Bulls really should have picked up a victory over Central Michigan or Ohio. They're now two games back, and could be in danger or missing out on a top-four seed.
Ohio makes a huge jump after going from no wins at this time last week to 2 right now. The win over Buffalo at home was impressive, and it showed that you can't count out the Bobcats just yet.
I have a feeling that some voters think Eastern Michigan is going to make their run sometime soon, which is why they aren't last. It's really unthinkable that they would be even close to the worst team in the league, even though they have so much talent. The Eagles were #1 in our rankings for a couple of weeks after beating Michigan, now they're smelling the bottom.
Give us your thoughts in the comments!