Seemingly about a month behind their colleagues from other leagues, the MAC’s 13 coaches have released their predictions for the 2015 season. And they don’t look that different from years past.
League coaches see Northern Illinois and Bowling Green clashing for the conference championship in what would be the third straight meeting between the two programs. Bowling Green upset Northern Illinois 44-27 in the 2013 MAC championship, and Northern Illinois returned the favor with a 51-17 whipping last season.
Northern Illinois has won the MAC West Division five years running and leads all active members with six all-time appearances in Detroit.
Toledo was a close second in the West with five first-place votes and 67 total points to the Huskies’ seven and 70, respectively. Western Michigan garnered one first-place vote and 55 total points.
In the East, Ohio came in second with 64 points, 25 behind Bowling Green, but fourth-ranked Massachusetts received the only pair of first-place votes not bestowed upon the Falcons.
Full rankings below:
East
1. Bowling Green - 89 total points (11 first-place votes)
2. Ohio - 64
3. Akron - 60
4. Massachusetts - 57 (2)
5. Buffalo - 43
6. Miami (Ohio) - 30
7. Kent State - 21
West
1. Northern Illinois - 70 (7)
2. Toledo - 67 (5)
3. Western Michigan - 55 (1)
4. Ball State - 36
5. Central Michigan - 32
6. Eastern Michigan - 13
The 2015 MAC championship will take place Friday, Dec. 4 at Detroit’s Ford Field.
