Nick Gerogosian of VandelaySports.com is the MAC Daddy – for years he has covered the Mid-American Conference with all a fanatic’s passion and a beat reporter’s attention to detail. You might recall his post-spring MAC briefing – Nick again joins Fantasy College Blitz to prepare you for your draft like no one else can.

Overview

Buffalo knew they could not hold on to Head Coach Turner Gill for long. Before he departed to Kansas he took this annual punching bag of a football program and legitimized UB as a real DI-A football team.  The Bulls did hit a home run landing Cincinnati’s Jeff Quinn to take over the controls and continue a positive new direction – the  change to the spread offense will help UB in the long run.

The Team

The QB position is unsettled since Zach Maynard transferred to Cal; Jerry Davis is the only player with any experience while true freshman Alex Zordich could be ‘the guy’ in the near future.  The Bulls are loaded at running back with Brandon Thermilius, Jeffvon Gill, Ike Nduka and hot-shot recruit James Potts (once he gets a nasty tuition bill worked off, scroll to bottom). No matter how ‘the spread’ is implemented by the new coaching staff, look for Buffalo to run the ball a lot this fall.  All-MAC Naaman Roosevelt will be missed at WR where Terrell Jackson is now the most seasoned returning receiver.  The o-line will be solid with four returning starters.

Defensively UB is led by safety Davonte Shannon, an all-conference player who may be the MAC; s top NFL draft pick in 2011.  The entire defensive backfield will be the team’s strength.  Steven Means and Anel Montanez return along the line while Justin Winters leads the LBs.  AJ Principe is one of the league’s most reliable placekickers.

The Verdict

The Bulls should be considered 2010 dark horse to win the MAC.  A new coaching staff and new QB makes that a stretch but this team is loaded at RB, OL and DBs so anything is possible.  The schedule is not daunting so the three game October stretch of BGSU, NIU & Temple will determine if Buffalo is playing for a bowl bid in November.  One thing for sure, the Bulls are no longer the annual punching bag of college football.  RB Thermilius or Nduka should be your best fantasy options unless Quinn goes with a RBBC.
2010 Schedule & Prediction

Sept 2  Rhode Island  W
Sept 11  at Baylor  L
Sept 18  UCF   W
Sept 25  at UConn  L
Oct 2  at BGSU  L
Oct 16  at NIU   L
Oct 23  Temple   L
Oct 30  Miami (O)  W
Nov 4  at Ohio   L
Nov 12  Ball State  W
Nov 20  Eastern Michigan W
Nov 26  at Akron  L

5-7 Overall; 3-5 MAC

Related posts:

1. 2010 Bowling Green Falcons Preview
2. Temple Owls 2010 Preview
3. NIU Huskies 2010 Preview
4. 2010 Ball State Cardinals Preview
5. Akron Zips 2010 Preview

Tags: MAC