The MAC, in general, gets hit very hard by graduation, and the East is no exception. Returning players may tell the tale in this division.
Kudos to Al Golden and TEMPLE, who were one of the suprise teams in the nation, going 9-4 last season. The good news is that 9 starters return on an offense that finally woke up last season, inluding QB Charlton. The defense returns 7 starters, but gets hit on the line. The non-con schedule includes a home game against UConn and away games at Penn State and Army. A repeat of last years effort should be enough for the Owls to win the MAC East. WAGERING NOTES. Temple covered 8 games last season, the thrid year in a row that they have done that. Temple is 9-2 as a home dog.
Jeff Quinn takes over at BUFFALO, as Turner Gill move on to Kansas. Gill better have more success there than he did last year with Buffalo. The Bulls were a very disappointing 5-7. 7 starters on offense graduate, leaving holes to fill. The defense loses 3 starters, but otherwise retuens intact. Away non-con games at Baylor and UConn, and a home game vs UCF could mean a rough start for the Bulls. WAGERING NOTES. Last year's 4-6-1 ATS record reversed 4 winning years ATS. Use caution wagering on this team.
KENT came close to becoming bowl eligable last season. A 3 game losing streak to end the season cost them. This year they 7 starters on offense, but they have to pick up the scoring slack. They were held to 20 or less points 8 times last year. The defense,which played well at times last season, loses 4 starters and some depth. This unit must develop consistancy. A split in the non-con schedule is possible, with Kent hosting Murray State and Army, but going to Boston College and Penn State. WAGERING NOTES. Kent is 1-9 ATS in the last 2 games of the season for the past 5 seasons. Last years 6-4-1 ATS record was the first over .500 since 2004.
OHIO was the suprise winner in the East last year, but gets hit very hard by graduation. 8 starters and both QB's are gone from an offense that woke up at times last season. The defense, which carried the team, loses 7 starters. The non-con schedule is quite doable, with only a game at Ohio State a sure loss. Solich will have to fill a lot of holes this season to have a chance at a repeat. WAGERING NOTES. Ohio is 9-2-1 ATS as a road dog in the past 3 seasons.
Bowling Green is coming off a 7-6 season including a bowl game, but gets hit hard by graduation. 8 starters are lost on offense, including all of their starting skill players and both QB's. The defense returns the line intact, but loses everyone else who started. The non-con schedule is no help, going to Troy, Tulsa and Michigan. There are so may holes to fill, especially on offense, it is hard to see the Falcons equaling last year's record. WAGERING NOTES. Bowling Green is 16-4 ATS on the road in the past 3 seasons. They are 6-13 ATS at home in the past 4 seasons.
The good news for MIAMI is that they return 10 starters on offense, and 8 starters on defense. The bad news is that this team won 1 game last season. Miami is going to have to replace their starting QB from last year and improve on an offense that scored 7 orless points in 4 games last season. The defense also needs to improve. The level of improvment from all thses returning starters should make Miami more competitive, but they still have a long ways to go. The non-con schedule is absolutely brutal, hosting Colorado State and going to Florida, Cincinnati, and Missouri. OUCH!!! WAGERING NOTES. Miami is 0-6 ATS in their last two games of the season for the past 3 years. They are 0-4 ATS against both Buffalo and Ohio.
Up Next. MAC West.
Kudos to Al Golden and TEMPLE, who were one of the suprise teams in the nation, going 9-4 last season. The good news is that 9 starters return on an offense that finally woke up last season, inluding QB Charlton. The defense returns 7 starters, but gets hit on the line. The non-con schedule includes a home game against UConn and away games at Penn State and Army. A repeat of last years effort should be enough for the Owls to win the MAC East. WAGERING NOTES. Temple covered 8 games last season, the thrid year in a row that they have done that. Temple is 9-2 as a home dog.
Jeff Quinn takes over at BUFFALO, as Turner Gill move on to Kansas. Gill better have more success there than he did last year with Buffalo. The Bulls were a very disappointing 5-7. 7 starters on offense graduate, leaving holes to fill. The defense loses 3 starters, but otherwise retuens intact. Away non-con games at Baylor and UConn, and a home game vs UCF could mean a rough start for the Bulls. WAGERING NOTES. Last year's 4-6-1 ATS record reversed 4 winning years ATS. Use caution wagering on this team.
KENT came close to becoming bowl eligable last season. A 3 game losing streak to end the season cost them. This year they 7 starters on offense, but they have to pick up the scoring slack. They were held to 20 or less points 8 times last year. The defense,which played well at times last season, loses 4 starters and some depth. This unit must develop consistancy. A split in the non-con schedule is possible, with Kent hosting Murray State and Army, but going to Boston College and Penn State. WAGERING NOTES. Kent is 1-9 ATS in the last 2 games of the season for the past 5 seasons. Last years 6-4-1 ATS record was the first over .500 since 2004.
OHIO was the suprise winner in the East last year, but gets hit very hard by graduation. 8 starters and both QB's are gone from an offense that woke up at times last season. The defense, which carried the team, loses 7 starters. The non-con schedule is quite doable, with only a game at Ohio State a sure loss. Solich will have to fill a lot of holes this season to have a chance at a repeat. WAGERING NOTES. Ohio is 9-2-1 ATS as a road dog in the past 3 seasons.
Bowling Green is coming off a 7-6 season including a bowl game, but gets hit hard by graduation. 8 starters are lost on offense, including all of their starting skill players and both QB's. The defense returns the line intact, but loses everyone else who started. The non-con schedule is no help, going to Troy, Tulsa and Michigan. There are so may holes to fill, especially on offense, it is hard to see the Falcons equaling last year's record. WAGERING NOTES. Bowling Green is 16-4 ATS on the road in the past 3 seasons. They are 6-13 ATS at home in the past 4 seasons.
The good news for MIAMI is that they return 10 starters on offense, and 8 starters on defense. The bad news is that this team won 1 game last season. Miami is going to have to replace their starting QB from last year and improve on an offense that scored 7 orless points in 4 games last season. The defense also needs to improve. The level of improvment from all thses returning starters should make Miami more competitive, but they still have a long ways to go. The non-con schedule is absolutely brutal, hosting Colorado State and going to Florida, Cincinnati, and Missouri. OUCH!!! WAGERING NOTES. Miami is 0-6 ATS in their last two games of the season for the past 3 years. They are 0-4 ATS against both Buffalo and Ohio.
Up Next. MAC West.