The MAC West does not get hit nearly as hard by graduation as their counterparts in the East do, but key departures could make this a tight race.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN loses it's HC and it's #1 player, QB LeFevour. The good news for new HC Dan Enos is that 8 starters return on a high scoring offensive squad. The defense, which was sporatic at best, loses 5 starters and some depth. THe Chip's 12-2 record may have been misleading, seeing as their two losses came to BCS middle of the pack teams Arizona and Boston College. This year, going to Va. Tech, Nowthwestern, and Navy will not be easy. WAGERING NOTES: Central Michigan is 33-15-4 ATS overall and 24-8-1 ATS against conference foes in the past 4 seasons.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS suprised a few teams last seasn and ended up in a bowl game. This season all of the skilll players on offense return, but the Huskies lose 3 starters on the line. The defense returns 7 starters, but gets hit at LB. They also lose PK-K Salerno. The non-con schedule inclues games at Iowa State, Illinois, and Minnesota, but the Huskies have a history of playing the Big 10 tough, defeating Purdue last season. WAGERING NOTES: Northern Illinois is 5-1 ATS va non-con teams in the past 2 seasons. They are 5-10 as home favorites in the past 4 sesons.
WESTERN MICHIGAN had a disappointing 5-7 season last year, and the loss of QB Hiller and 3 others on offense will not help this season. The defense, which struggled at times last season, returns 8 starters, but must improve. The non-con schedule helps. The Broncos lost to three Big 10 teams last year, but only play Michigan State and Notre Dame on the road this season, getting Idaho and Nicholas State at home. WGERING NOTES: Western Michigan is 10-21-3 ATS in the past 3 seasons. They are 1-5 ATS vs Ball Sate, and 1-7-1 ATS vs Northern Illinois.
First year HC Parrish had a tough year at BALL STATE, only winning two games. This season looks to be more promising, with 8 starters returning and QB Page having a year under his belt. The defense, which played well at times, returns 6 starters, but needs some help on the line. The non-con schedule starts out with two FCS teams at home, before going to Purdue and Iowa. If the offense can gell a bit more, look for major improvment this season. WAGERING NOTES: Ball State is 15-8-1 ATS in the past two season. They are 5-1 ATS vs W. Michigan.
TOLEDO had a decent year under yet another 1st year HC, Tim Beckman, but gets hit hard by graduation. 5 starters leave the offense including their backfield. The defense, which was a siv last season and gave up 30 or more points 9 times, loses 7 starters to graduation. The non-con schedule inclues games at Boise State and Purdue, and games at home vs Arizona and Wyoming. If Toledo wants to improve on their 5 win season last year, the defense must start playing. WAGERING NOTES: Toledo is 7-1 ATS vs Eastern Michigan, and 1-5 ATS vs Central Michigan and Bowling Green.
EASTERN MICHIGAN failed to win a game last year despite 8 starters returning on both sides of the ball. This year's prospects are not very bright for 2nd year HC English. The offense, which scored upon occcasion, loses 7 starters and 5 of it's skilled players. The defense, which gave up 45 or more points 5 times last season, returns 8 starters, but will need vast improvment. The non-con schedule includes games at Virginia, Ohio State, and Vandy and a home game against Army. If English can get something out of his new offense, and improvment out of his defense, he may win a few games this season. WAGERING NOTES: The Eagles are 11-22-1 ATS in the past 3 years. They are 3-10-1 ATS vs non-con teams in their past 4 seasons.
Next Up. Sun Belt Conference.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN loses it's HC and it's #1 player, QB LeFevour. The good news for new HC Dan Enos is that 8 starters return on a high scoring offensive squad. The defense, which was sporatic at best, loses 5 starters and some depth. THe Chip's 12-2 record may have been misleading, seeing as their two losses came to BCS middle of the pack teams Arizona and Boston College. This year, going to Va. Tech, Nowthwestern, and Navy will not be easy. WAGERING NOTES: Central Michigan is 33-15-4 ATS overall and 24-8-1 ATS against conference foes in the past 4 seasons.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS suprised a few teams last seasn and ended up in a bowl game. This season all of the skilll players on offense return, but the Huskies lose 3 starters on the line. The defense returns 7 starters, but gets hit at LB. They also lose PK-K Salerno. The non-con schedule inclues games at Iowa State, Illinois, and Minnesota, but the Huskies have a history of playing the Big 10 tough, defeating Purdue last season. WAGERING NOTES: Northern Illinois is 5-1 ATS va non-con teams in the past 2 seasons. They are 5-10 as home favorites in the past 4 sesons.
WESTERN MICHIGAN had a disappointing 5-7 season last year, and the loss of QB Hiller and 3 others on offense will not help this season. The defense, which struggled at times last season, returns 8 starters, but must improve. The non-con schedule helps. The Broncos lost to three Big 10 teams last year, but only play Michigan State and Notre Dame on the road this season, getting Idaho and Nicholas State at home. WGERING NOTES: Western Michigan is 10-21-3 ATS in the past 3 seasons. They are 1-5 ATS vs Ball Sate, and 1-7-1 ATS vs Northern Illinois.
First year HC Parrish had a tough year at BALL STATE, only winning two games. This season looks to be more promising, with 8 starters returning and QB Page having a year under his belt. The defense, which played well at times, returns 6 starters, but needs some help on the line. The non-con schedule starts out with two FCS teams at home, before going to Purdue and Iowa. If the offense can gell a bit more, look for major improvment this season. WAGERING NOTES: Ball State is 15-8-1 ATS in the past two season. They are 5-1 ATS vs W. Michigan.
TOLEDO had a decent year under yet another 1st year HC, Tim Beckman, but gets hit hard by graduation. 5 starters leave the offense including their backfield. The defense, which was a siv last season and gave up 30 or more points 9 times, loses 7 starters to graduation. The non-con schedule inclues games at Boise State and Purdue, and games at home vs Arizona and Wyoming. If Toledo wants to improve on their 5 win season last year, the defense must start playing. WAGERING NOTES: Toledo is 7-1 ATS vs Eastern Michigan, and 1-5 ATS vs Central Michigan and Bowling Green.
EASTERN MICHIGAN failed to win a game last year despite 8 starters returning on both sides of the ball. This year's prospects are not very bright for 2nd year HC English. The offense, which scored upon occcasion, loses 7 starters and 5 of it's skilled players. The defense, which gave up 45 or more points 5 times last season, returns 8 starters, but will need vast improvment. The non-con schedule includes games at Virginia, Ohio State, and Vandy and a home game against Army. If English can get something out of his new offense, and improvment out of his defense, he may win a few games this season. WAGERING NOTES: The Eagles are 11-22-1 ATS in the past 3 years. They are 3-10-1 ATS vs non-con teams in their past 4 seasons.
Next Up. Sun Belt Conference.
