Three MAC teams had last week off. Fortunately, all 13 conference members are back at it Saturday. Twelve square off in MAC action, while Ball State bounces off its bye week for a matchup at Army. Last Saturday’s was the first big week for MAC vs MAC action, but one of the biggest jump’s in this week’s rankings followed the Akron Zips’ victory at Pitt.
Let’s take a look at where the Zips and others landed this week.
Let’s take a look at where the Zips and others landed this week.
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1. Northern Illinois (3-2, 2-0 MAC) – Let’s see … the Huskies have a home game, following a bye week, with Kent State coming to town. There’s a pretty good chance the Huskies could be right back up here at least through next week.
2. Bowling Green (3-2, 1-0 MAC) – The Falcons posted a win last week, but it was hardly impressive unless you were looking at it through “offense-colored” glasses. The win over VMI in Week Two was the only time this season when a BG opponent hasn’t scored at least 42 points. It wasn’t all that many years ago that defense was the Falcons’ forte.
3. Toledo (3-2, 2-0 MAC) – The Rockets offense is alive and well. With Western Michigan on the schedule for this week, the offense should be busy again.
4. Buffalo (3-2, 1-0 MAC) – The Bulls are coming off an impressive win over Miami. Why so impressive against a winless team? The Bulls flexed their muscle in a ground game that would be a great compliment to Joe Licata’s passing.
5. Akron (2-2, 1-0 MAC) – The Zips make a big jump in this week’s power rankings after an impressive 21-10 road win over Pitt. If UA can stop the vaunted Pitt run game, they should be able to handle Eastern Michigan Saturday.
6. Western Michigan (2-2, 0-0 MAC) – The Broncos fell to Virginia Tech last week, 35-17. Rushing was a problem – in two ways. WMU gained just 19 yards on the ground and surrendered 308!!! Given that this week’s opponent – Toledo – can run the ball very well, that could be a problem. The Broncos are on home turf, so if they can get their game going again and win the turnover margin … who knows?
7. Ohio (3-2, 1-0 MAC) – Despite some injuriy issues, he Bobcats are on a two-game winning streak!!! This week’s road game at Central Michigan should be a big test.
8. Central Michigan (2-3, 0-1 MAC) – See above!!! CMU is on a three-game losing streak. The worst of the three might be the 24-10 loss at Kansas. The coming weeks have more challenges, so Central needs to capitalize on every opportunity. This week’s home tilt is within grasp.
9. Ball State (1-3, 0-1 MAC) – It’s really hard to believe the Cardinals have won just once in four outings. Last week’s bye week might have been well-placed in at least one respect. Playing an academy option attack is tough work. BSU needs a win to get some momentum before it resumes MAC play.
10. UMass (0-5, 0-1 MAC) -- Don’t look now, but the Minutemen have somehow managed to forge a potent offense. It revolves around quarterback Blake Frohnapfel, who leads the MAC in passing (294.2 ypg). UMass gave Bowling Green all it could handle last week. It has three very winnable games in the coming weeks.
11. Miami (0-5, 0-1 MAC) – The RedHawks have displayed significant progress from last year. Last week’s performance against Buffalo, however, highlighted some weaknesses. Success by Joe Licata was certainly predictable, but the Bulls gashed MU’s undersized D-line for 273 rushing yards.
12. Kent State (0-4, 0-1 MAC) -- The Flashes scored first and last against Virginia Saturday. In between the Cavaliers dominated, especially during a 31-0 scoring spree in the third and early fourth quarters. It won’t get much easier this week when the Flashes travel to Northern Illinois. NIU ranks first in rushing offense and Kent State is 11th in defending the run. That doesn’ bode well for the Flashes.
13. Eastern Michigan (0-0, 1-3) -- The Eagles get back into action Saturday or the first time since the 73-14 debacle at Michigan State. Waiting for them is an Akron team fresh off a big win at Penn State. EMU is next to last in scoring offense and last in scoring defense.
2. Bowling Green (3-2, 1-0 MAC) – The Falcons posted a win last week, but it was hardly impressive unless you were looking at it through “offense-colored” glasses. The win over VMI in Week Two was the only time this season when a BG opponent hasn’t scored at least 42 points. It wasn’t all that many years ago that defense was the Falcons’ forte.
3. Toledo (3-2, 2-0 MAC) – The Rockets offense is alive and well. With Western Michigan on the schedule for this week, the offense should be busy again.
4. Buffalo (3-2, 1-0 MAC) – The Bulls are coming off an impressive win over Miami. Why so impressive against a winless team? The Bulls flexed their muscle in a ground game that would be a great compliment to Joe Licata’s passing.
5. Akron (2-2, 1-0 MAC) – The Zips make a big jump in this week’s power rankings after an impressive 21-10 road win over Pitt. If UA can stop the vaunted Pitt run game, they should be able to handle Eastern Michigan Saturday.
6. Western Michigan (2-2, 0-0 MAC) – The Broncos fell to Virginia Tech last week, 35-17. Rushing was a problem – in two ways. WMU gained just 19 yards on the ground and surrendered 308!!! Given that this week’s opponent – Toledo – can run the ball very well, that could be a problem. The Broncos are on home turf, so if they can get their game going again and win the turnover margin … who knows?
7. Ohio (3-2, 1-0 MAC) – Despite some injuriy issues, he Bobcats are on a two-game winning streak!!! This week’s road game at Central Michigan should be a big test.
8. Central Michigan (2-3, 0-1 MAC) – See above!!! CMU is on a three-game losing streak. The worst of the three might be the 24-10 loss at Kansas. The coming weeks have more challenges, so Central needs to capitalize on every opportunity. This week’s home tilt is within grasp.
9. Ball State (1-3, 0-1 MAC) – It’s really hard to believe the Cardinals have won just once in four outings. Last week’s bye week might have been well-placed in at least one respect. Playing an academy option attack is tough work. BSU needs a win to get some momentum before it resumes MAC play.
10. UMass (0-5, 0-1 MAC) -- Don’t look now, but the Minutemen have somehow managed to forge a potent offense. It revolves around quarterback Blake Frohnapfel, who leads the MAC in passing (294.2 ypg). UMass gave Bowling Green all it could handle last week. It has three very winnable games in the coming weeks.
11. Miami (0-5, 0-1 MAC) – The RedHawks have displayed significant progress from last year. Last week’s performance against Buffalo, however, highlighted some weaknesses. Success by Joe Licata was certainly predictable, but the Bulls gashed MU’s undersized D-line for 273 rushing yards.
12. Kent State (0-4, 0-1 MAC) -- The Flashes scored first and last against Virginia Saturday. In between the Cavaliers dominated, especially during a 31-0 scoring spree in the third and early fourth quarters. It won’t get much easier this week when the Flashes travel to Northern Illinois. NIU ranks first in rushing offense and Kent State is 11th in defending the run. That doesn’ bode well for the Flashes.
13. Eastern Michigan (0-0, 1-3) -- The Eagles get back into action Saturday or the first time since the 73-14 debacle at Michigan State. Waiting for them is an Akron team fresh off a big win at Penn State. EMU is next to last in scoring offense and last in scoring defense.
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