MAC Random Chatter

• Pick6

  

  We have a solid MAC fan base on here, so I figured Id start a thread with the conference schedule getting into full swing today.
  
  Im torn between my pick to win the conference. I dont see anyway OU can NOT win the East. West should be between NIU and Toledo. I think I'll go with NIU to repeat as champs.
  
  Most improved team this year: Akron. I predict .500 in conference play, with an upset over one of the big 3 (NIU, OU,Toledo).
  
  Today:
  Buffalo @ Uconn
  Ball State @ Cant State
  MIami @ Akron
  Ohio @ UMAss
  Rhode Island @ BGSU
  CMU @ NIU
  Toledo @ WMU
• ts1227

  

  At this point, if Ohio goes anything short of 13-0 or 12-1 it will be a disappointment, given their talent and their fortunate schedule avoiding the likes of Toledo, NIU, and WMU until the MAC title
  
  They always blow one they shouldn't during the year, but anything beyond that won't really be acceptable. Akron is very much improved and that game that should have been a blowout is now a trap game. Second to last game at Ball State is the big worry for the Bobcats IMO.
  
  I got my tickets already for the Black Friday game at Kent, they better be at least 10-1 going into it.
• believer

  

  MAC definitely playing more competitive football of late. A lot more fun to follow.
  
  I'm going with Ohio in the East and NIU in the West.
• believer

  

  ts1227;1282885 wrote:They always blow one they shouldn't during the year,....

  True and it's usually against middle of the pack MAC teams. You're right. If the Bobcats are to have a banner year, this would be it.
• Pick6

  

  Agreed, the conference is much improved. It was nice to see teams outside the norm in the nonconference making some noise.
• Pick6

  

  Zips lost a tough one today against Miami. 49-56. The passing defense was shit, but honestly some of the worst refereeing I may have ever saw. I thought it was illegal to review a penalty? They didnt even just review the penalty, they called a penalty on the Zips instead! Total bull shit.
• gerb131

  

  OU struggling with UMass
• believer

  

  Bobcats dodge a bullet. I'm seriously hoping this was the wake-up call. If they think going 12-0 this season will be a cakewalk, UMass just told them otherwise. whew
• ts1227

  

  ts1227;1282885 wrote: Akron is very much improved and that game that should have been a blowout is now a trap game.

  As Ohio pisses away a 20-0 lead, Akron has the ball down 20-14...
• ts1227

  

  Ohio escapes with a 34-28 win, and moves to 7-0.
• believer

  

  Bobcats have some serious issues on defense. Good thing Ohio has a bye week this weekend. Really need to make some adjustments.
  
  The ESPN3 crew was talking about Ohio cracking the Top 25 but I'm not so sure. Yeah we're 7-0 but not looking very dominating against lesser MAC competition.
  
  I really hope Solich has some answers going forward because just about any of the upcoming games could be losses with the exception of Eastern Michigan.
• ts1227

  

  believer;1294167 wrote:Bobcats have some serious issues on defense. Good thing Ohio has a bye week this weekend. Really need to make some adjustments.
  
  The ESPN3 crew was talking about Ohio cracking the Top 25 but I'm not so sure. Yeah we're 7-0 but not looking very dominating against lesser MAC competition.
  
  I really hope Solich has some answers going forward because just about any of the upcoming games could be losses with the exception of Eastern Michigan.

  AP had us 3 points out of the poll last week, so if enough teams that ae barely ranked lose (I'm looking at you La. Tech) it will happen there.
  
  The coaches don't seem to like Ohio, so they'll probably still fall short there.
• sportchampps

  25 baby
• Enforcer

  

  OU has the same problem OSU has , They play to the level of their competition instead of stomping on lesser teams
• vball10set

  Not a BG fan, but watch out for their 11/7 matchup--this game could really screw up their season.
• grodt

  

  The BG and Kent games are going to be huge tests for the Bobcats hopes of an undefeated season. Kent has kind of flown under the radar so far but they definitely have a chance to take down Ohio. There is a great chance that game will decide the East representative in the MAC Championship.
  
  In the West, it will once again come down to the NIU/Toledo game to decide who gets to go Detroit. NIU has won the past two matchups, topping the 60 point mark in both affairs. Toledo's defense took a huge step back last week against a terrible EMU squad. Hopefully they can right the ship or else we might see a sequel to last years 63-60 slug fest.
• Pick6

  

  My opinion is that NIU is the best team in the MAC right now.
  
  Jeremy Guy ‏@JGuyMAC FUN FACT: The #MAC has the second most bowl eligible teams (3) in the country as of today -- only behind the SEC (5). #RespectTheMAC
• goosebumps

  

  Can anyone tell me how the atmosphere up at Toledo is for a game? I'm heading up this weekend to watch the Toledo/Cincinnati game. I've heard the glass bowl is a pretty good venue. How is parking?
• vball10set

  goosebumps;1297918 wrote:Can anyone tell me how the atmosphere up at Toledo is for a game? I'm heading up this weekend to watch the Toledo/Cincinnati game. I've heard the glass bowl is a pretty good venue. How is parking?

  Plenty of (cheap) parking, lots of tailgating, especially in the lot just north of the stadium, and great sight lines inside the stadium....GO ROCKETS!!!
• believer

  

  Pick6;1297911 wrote:My opinion is that NIU is the best team in the MAC right now.

  I'd agree with that.
  
  Again, Ohio has the potential to be a dominating team, but right now they're playing just good enough to win especially on defense.
  
  In all fairness Ohio has been a bit banged up on the defensive side of the ball so I'm hoping the bye week will help.
  
  Solich has made the the Bobcats respectable. I guess I'm just hoping to see at least one Ohio team go undefeated and finish ranked in the Top 25 before I die!
  
  
• Pick6

  

  believer;1298029 wrote:I'd agree with that.
  
  Again, Ohio has the potential to be a dominating team, but right now they're playing just good enough to win especially on defense.
  
  In all fairness Ohio has been a bit banged up on the defensive side of the ball so I'm hoping the bye week will help.
  
  Solich has made the the Bobcats respectable. I guess I'm just hoping to see at least one Ohio team go undefeated and finish ranked in the Top 25 before I die!
  
  

  agree with all of that. They will need some guys in the secondary back if they want to beat Miami IMO.
• Heretic

  

  believer;1298029 wrote:I'd agree with that.
  
  Again, Ohio has the potential to be a dominating team, but right now they're playing just good enough to win especially on defense.
  
  In all fairness Ohio has been a bit banged up on the defensive side of the ball so I'm hoping the bye week will help.
  
  Solich has made the the Bobcats respectable. I guess I'm just hoping to see at least one Ohio team go undefeated and finish ranked in the Top 25 before I die!
  
  

  Yeah. And at times, they get too lame on offense. I was just paying attention to the Akron game on Yahoo, since it wasn't on TV or anything cool like that, but it seemed that they got a 34-14 lead, then gave up a score to make it 34-21. Then, they seemed to be run-only and vanilla on offense, punted quickly, gave up another score and then had to recover the onside kick before they could clinch the game. They'd given up 400+ yards when they went conservative, which made me wonder why a team that has struggled on defense and needed the two picks they got off Akron's QB would essentially play on offense in a way designed to keep the other team in the game.
• believer

  

  Heretic;1298260 wrote:Yeah. And at times, they get too lame on offense. I was just paying attention to the Akron game on Yahoo, since it wasn't on TV or anything cool like that, but it seemed that they got a 34-14 lead, then gave up a score to make it 34-21. Then, they seemed to be run-only and vanilla on offense, punted quickly, gave up another score and then had to recover the onside kick before they could clinch the game. They'd given up 400+ yards when they went conservative, which made me wonder why a team that has struggled on defense and needed the two picks they got off Akron's QB would essentially play on offense in a way designed to keep the other team in the game.

  Exactly. I watched it live on ESPN3 and I agree with everything you said.
  
  Seems Solich's game plan is creative when the Bobcats are feeling some heat but right when you think Ohio has the opponent on the ropes they get conservative.
  
  Just need some sense of urgency for the whole game not just when it's needed.
• Crimson streak

  

  goosebumps;1297918 wrote:Can anyone tell me how the atmosphere up at Toledo is for a game? I'm heading up this weekend to watch the Toledo/Cincinnati game. I've heard the glass bowl is a pretty good venue. How is parking?

  
  Pretty much every seat there has a great view. I haven't been there in 5-6 years so I can't tell ya how the atmosphere is
• vball10set

  Crimson streak;1298566 wrote:Pretty much every seat there has a great view. I haven't been there in 5-6 years so I can't tell ya how the atmosphere is

  Season ticket holder here--it'll be rockin', I promise