MAC Media Picks BG #5

So, the MAC Media made its predictions as part of media day, which is an annual tradition.  They have picked BG #5 in the East, and not especially close to #4, which is Akron.

The good thing is that the Media is often wrong.

Having said that, there's no rational basis to pick BG any higher than this.  The Falcons might well exceed expectations and do better than this--in fact, a lot is riding on just that happening--but if you're making predictions on what's most likely to happen, #5 is the place to go and that's mostly because Kent would be expected to be completely awful.

You might have had us checked in for a slight increase at the end of last year, what with these young players moving into position, but given the off-season issues it's hard to predict anything higher than this.  For it to happen, Doege has to really click (and stay healthy) and Pellini has to make a significant improvement to the defense with about what Eliano had to work with, if not less.  BG scored 31 and allowed 39 in MAC play last year.  At a minimum, those two numbers need to be reversed for BG to have a chance to be anything other than 5th.

More previews will be coming as the season nears.  In the meantime, though, the consensus on the program is clear and will stay that way until BG performs its way out of it.

Other notes.  First, Ohio has very high expectations this year, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.  Phil Steele thinks they will have one of the most productive offenses in the country.  They have clearly established themselves as the strongest program in the East, with Buffalo and Miami trying to get into that mix.  I was surprised Miami wasn't higher.

I was a little surprised at NIU being picked to win the West by 15 out of 22 voters.  Toledo seems to me to be loaded, but the Huskies are consistently good.  They host UT but look to me to have the tougher cross-over schedule.

MAC EAST DIVISION
1 - Ohio (21 first place votes), 140 points
2 - Buffalo (1 first place vote), 112 points
3 - Miami (2 first place votes), 95 points
4 - Akron, 74 points
5 - Bowling Green, 58 points
6 - Kent State, 25 points

MAC WEST DIVISION
1 - Northern Illinois (15 first place votes), 133 points
2 - Toledo (7 first place votes), 125 points
3 - Western Michigan (1 first place vote), 87 points
4 - Eastern Michigan, 67 points
5 - Central Michigan (1 first place vote), 58 points
6 - Ball State, 34 points