On the long list of thoroughly entertaining aspects of college football, #MACtion is close to the top. Sure, the MAC will never produce a national champion. But there’s something uniquely spectacular about turning on ESPN on a random Tuesday in November and watching two MAC rivals play.
The MAC West has been the better division in the last few years, though the East has produced four champions in the last 10 years.
This year, the MAC East might have the best team in the conference in Ohio. The bottom of the division was pretty bad last season, but even teams like Kent State and Bowling Green should be slightly improved.
Throughout July, we are giving out our over/under picks for every team in college football. We are also giving out best bets for each division and conference. Check out our best bets from the ACC Atlantic and ACC Coastal.
Note: all win totals are for regular season only. Conference championship games and bowl games do not count towards a team’s over/under projection.
Once that @KingJames banner comes down, we have the perfect replacement… #MACtion pic.twitter.com/vlKwvkBLSG
— #MACtion (@MACSports) July 3, 2018
MAC East Over/Under
Ohio (8.5)
The Bobcats won eight games in 2017, but a couple of late unfortunate losses to Akron and Buffalo sent them into second place in the East standings.
However, Frank Solich has a very talented team returning, specifically quarterback Nathan Rourke and running back AJ Ouellette. They also have the best special teams in the MAC. Ohio has made the MAC Championship Game four different times during Solich’s 13 seasons, but they haven’t won a conference title since 1968.
This year, the MAC East might come down to a showdown between Ohio and Miami. The RedHawks host that game, and then Ohio travels to Buffalo the next week before hosting Akron to finish the season. That three-game stretch will likely decide the division.
The Bobcats cross with Northern Illinois and Western Michigan, and they have to travel to both places. They also travel to Cincinnati and Virginia.
The Pick: Ohio UNDER 8.5.
Buffalo (6.5)
Despite winning six games a season ago, Buffalo wasn’t invited to a bowl game. It was a tough break for Lance Leipold and the Bulls, but he returns a veteran team capable of having another successful season.
Tyree Jackson is one of the best quarterbacks in the MAC, and he has two very talented receiver to throw to in receiver Anthony Johnson and tight end Tyler Mabry.
Aside from the talented skill position players, the Bulls have a very reasonable schedule. They have non-conference games versus Delaware State, Army, at Temple and at Rutgers. All four of those are winnable, but they do travel to Toledo and Ohio.
The Pick: Buffalo OVER 6.5.
Miami (6)
It’s been a slow climb up the ladder for Chuck Martin at Miami, but his teams have made steady improvements in each of his four seasons.
The RedHawks just missed out on earning a bowl bid in 2017. Nonetheless, they return 16 starters from last year’s team, including quarterback Gus Ragland and receiver James Gardner.
Additionally, Miami has a favorable schedule. All four non-conference games are winnable. They host Marshall and Cincinnati, while they travel to Army and Minnesota. A cross-division game at Northern Illinois will be tough, but the rest of the conference schedule is manageable.
After stumbling to a 5-7 record a season ago, the RedHawks should be back in a bowl game this fall.
The Pick: Miami OVER 6.
Bowling Green (5.5)
It’s hard to believe Bowling Green was the best team in the MAC just a few years ago. Head coach Mike Jinks is 6-18 through two years, and he needs a breakthrough season to feel safe about earning a fourth year.
However, Jinks didn’t inherit an experienced roster in 2016, and he should have a much improved team this season. The defense returns seven starters, and the offense will be led by one of the best backs in the conference in Andrew Clair.
Bowling Green RB Andrew Clair fielded the fifth-highest average yards after contact per attempt among all returning FBS RBs pic.twitter.com/GS4uAa9XJt
— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 20, 2018
Like most MAC schools, Bowling Green plays three tough games out of conference. The Falcons travel to Oregon and Georgia Tech, but they do get to play Maryland at home. They cross with Toledo and Western Michigan from the West, and they also have to travel to Ohio. This should be a better squad, but reaching a bowl game might be too much to ask.
The Pick: Bowling Green UNDER 5.5.
Akron (4)
Terry Bowden guided the Zips to seven wins and a East division title last year. Akron has made two bowl games under Bowden, but they have to replace most of the production on offense from last year’s team.
On the flip side, the Zips should have one of the better defenses in the MAC. Linebacker Ulysses Gilbert is one of the best defensive players in the conference, and this should be a stout defensive unit.
Out-of-conference games at Nebraska, Northwestern and Iowa State are all likely losses. They also have to travel to Ohio at the end of the season. However, there are enough opportunities on the schedule for Akron to win five or six games again.
The Pick: Akron OVER 4.
Kent State (2.5)
Not even Kent State alum Nick Saban could have won with the Golden Flashes in 2017. Kent State was arguably the worst team in the MAC last year, and they only won one game in conference play.
Former Auburn quarterback Woody Barrett will likely be the starter at quarterback, and the Flashes should be better overall offensively. It might not show in the win-loss column, but this should be an improved team.
Unfortunately, the schedule does Kent State no favors. Non-conference games at Penn State, Ole Miss and Illinois are likely all losses. They also cross with Toledo from the West division. Former head coach Paul Haynes was fired after going 14-45 in five seasons. New coach Sean Lewis will have some time to build the program, but he will likely be in for a rough start.
The Pick: Kent State UNDER 2.5.
MAC East Best Bets
