Around the MAC
November 10th, 2008 by Nick Gerogosian
BCS Bound? Ball State Gains Ground
Ball State rose to the #14 ranking in the latest BCS ranking, moving up three spots from last week. This is the highest ranking ever for a MAC school under the BCS system. Under BCS rules, only one non-”Big Six” team is guaranteed a spot if it meets their stated criteria. Any others would be at-large candidates. Thus far that team would be Boise State who currently holds the #9 ranking. With upcoming games against Central and Western Michigan, the top teams in the MAC, along with a MACC game against the MAC East winner, a 13-0 Ball State team would most likely crash the BCS dance even if Boise State finishes undefeated.
Western’s Success Versus the BCS
With the Broncos 23-17 victory over Illinois this past weekend at Detroit’s Ford Field, the Broncos have now had three straight seasons with a win over a BCS program. This victory also gave the MAC their fourth victory over a Big Ten team this season. MAC teams had three other losses to Big Ten teams by a touchdown or less this year. The gap is closing between the Big Ten and “their little brother – MAC.” The MAC has six wins over BCS programs to date in 2008.
Bowling
While only three MAC schools are guaranteed bowl slots (Motor City, GMAC & International), don’t be surprised to see four or possibly five MAC teams in bowl games this year. Obviously, if Ball State crashes the BCS dance, that opens up a game. But with Conference USA, the ACC and Big East all on the verge of not having enough teams to fill their bowl allotments, the New Orleans Bowl and the new bowl game in Washington DC are all possibilities for a MAC program to fill. With Ball State (9-0), Central Michigan (7-2), Western Michigan (8-2) and NIU (5-4), the MAC would be well represented by any of these teams, along with the MAC East champ, which is up for grabs right now.
Buffalo is on the March!
Mark it down; Buffalo will win the MAC East. The Bulls are 5-4 now and still must travel to Akron, to play the final game in the venerable Rubber Bowl, and to the BGSU, look for the Bulls to run the table and finish the season 8-4 and earn their first bowl birth since becoming a DI-A team over a decade ago. After this season, look for Turner Gill’s name to be on several school’s short list as a hot coaching prospect – including nearby Syracuse.
‘Stutz is Out – Who’s Next?
This past week, Tom Amstutz announced that he will stepping aside as Toledo’s head coach after the once proud Toledo football program was assured of their third straight losing season. The Rockets promptly went out and laid an egg against Akron and lost 47-30. Other coach’s that may get the heave-ho are EMU’s Jeff Genyk and Miami’s Shane Montgomery. Kent State announced earlier this week that they are sticking with Doug Martin going into next season.
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