AKRON ZIPS

OFFENSE: The Zips will be piloted by senior QB Chris Jacquemain who completed 57.9 percent of his passes last year 2,748 yards and 20 TDs.  On the down side, he also threw 14 interceptions and had three games where he threw three or more picks.  Jacquemain did lead Akron to two signature road wins – Syracuse and Army.  The running game will miss 1,000-yard rusher Dennis Kennedy.  Senior Alex Allen is a proven player but look for DeVoe Torrence, who originally signed with Ohio State out of school, to become a real factor.  He is a special player who should be able to dominate MAC defenses over the coming years.  All-MAC players Andre Jones and Deryn Bowser highlight a very strong receiving corps.  Bowser led the Zips last season with 64 receptions for 785 yards and four touchdowns.  Four of the Zip’s top five receivers return.  The offensive line loses All-MAC Chris Kemme but two solid seniors return in center Elliott Bates and guard Zach Anderson.  Overall Akron returns nine starters.

INTANGIBLES: The Zips will have both of their kicking specialists back in 2009. PK Igor Iveljic was just 18 of 28 on FGs but did have the winning kick in the OT to beat rival Kent State.  John Stec averaged 37.1 yards per punt last season – really needs to step up this fall.  The Zips begin their season on September 5^th at Penn State before the opening their new state-of-the-art Infocision Stadium on September 12^th against Morgan State.  This will mark Akron’s first home game on campus since 1940.  Hosting Indiana on September 19 is the game the campus will be really excited for since this is the first time Akron has ever hosted a Big Ten team.

OUTLOOK: This is a big year for the program that has been floundering just below .500 the past few seasons.  With a beautiful new stadium and a ton of offensive fire power, there is pressure on the coaching staff to win now and build the fan base to unprecedented heights.  That’s why Coach JD Brookhart added Walt Harris and Shane Montgomery to the coaching staff.  If the defense shows improvement and UA can win a few of those heartbreaking games they’ve lost last season, an eight-win season and a MAC Title Game is not out of the question.

2009 Schedule & Predictions
Date	Opp.	W / L
9/5	at Penn St	L
9/12	Morgan St	W
9/19	Indiana	W
9/26	at Central	L
10/10	Ohio	W
10/17	at Buffalo	L
10/24	at Syracuse	L
10/31	at NIU	L
11/7	Kent St	W
11/13	Temple	W
11/20	at BGSU	L
11/27	Eastern	W
MAC Record		4-4
Overall Record		6-6

 

BOWLING GREEN FALCONS

OFFENSE: QB Tyler Sheehan completed 67 percent of his passes a season ago for 2,610 yards, 20 TDs and nine INTs.  Chris Bullock is the power runner while Willie Geter is the speedster, both combined for 700-yards rushing last season.  More is expected of them this fall.  Sheehan’s top receiver, Corey Partridge, graduated leaving Freddie Barnes as the go-to man in 2009.  He recorded 40 catches for 355 yards last season, but no TDs.  The offensive line is relatively young but two solid seniors anchor one side in Shane Steffy and Brady Minturn.  While there are only five returning starters offensively, don’t be surprised if this unit doesn’t average more than 27.7 points per game in ’09.

INTANGIBLES: P Nick Ivonelli averaged 40.4 yds per kick, returns but the Falcons will be looking for a new place kicker.  Look for freshman Jerry Phillips to get the start when camp opens.  BG will be under the guidance of Dave Clawson who was the offensive coordinator a year ago at Tennessee.  He has previous head coaching experience at Fordham and Richmond and was responsible for recruiting the Spider team that won the 2008 FCS National Title.  An ambitious non-conference schedule awaits the new coaching staff as BG begins the season with Troy, Missouri, Marshall and Boise State.  Ouch.

OUTLOOK: If the transition to the new coaching staff is rocky in September, the Falcons could slip back to the bottom of the east division.  Considering BG lost their four MAC contests last season by a total of 19 points, which includes the 4^th quarter melt-down and OT loss to Buffalo, the Falcons have the talent to win the very competitive east since there is no dominate team.  Having the defense develop early and beating Ohio and Kent State to begin MAC play in October will go a long way in determining the ultimate success of their season.

2009 Schedule & Predictions
Date	Opp.	W / L
9/3	Troy	W
9/12	at Missouri	L
9/19	at Marshall	W
9/26	Boise St	L
10/3	Ohio	L
10/10	at Kent St	W
10/17	at Ball St	W
10/24	Central	L
11/3	at Buffalo	L
11/12	at Miami	L
11/20	Akron	W
11/27	Toledo	W
MAC Record		4-4
Overall Record		6-6

BUFFALO BULLS

OFFENSE: The big question is, who would replace QB Drew Willy after a phenomenal season and career at UB?  Zach Maynard has some big shoes to fill but sophomore south-paw did see action in eight games last season and is a true dual-threat QB.  James Starks enters the season as the league’s top RB after producing 1,333 yards and 16 TDs in 2008.  Five of Buffalo’s six top receivers will return in 2009 led by Naaman  Roosevelt who had 104 catches for 1,402 yards and 13 touchdowns.  He is a game changing player.  The offensive line will need some attention though as three starters graduated.  Those three players collectively had 96 career starts.  This year’s unit is led by Andrew West and Peter Bittmer.

INTANGIBLES: Both kicking specialists return for Buffalo.  The place-kicker is A.J. Principe who kicked the winning field goal in the fourth overtime at Akron and Australian punter Peter Fardon averaged 39.1 yards per punt a season ago.  The Bulls know they will be the hunted in 2009 and also prove that their 2008 campaign was not a one-hit wonder.  UB receives no mercy in the MAC portion of their schedule as they drew Central and Western Michigan again for the second year in a row.

OUTLOOK: Turner Gill and his UB Bulls were the toast of the MAC last year winning their first MAC title ever and in fact posting their first winning season since joining the IA ranks in 1999.  Buffalo was an amazing +19 in turnover ratio last season which ranked 3^rd nationally.  Being fortunate enough to be on the positive side of those turnovers helped the Bulls win several close games last season; Temple (30-28), Army (27-24 OT), Akron (43-40 4OTs), and BGSU (40-34 2 OTs).  Those close calls may not happen this year with the graduation of Willy.  Still, this is a solid team that will once again not only contend but possible return to the MAC Championship Game.  No matter what, look for this to be Turner Gill’s last season coaching near Niagara Falls.

2009 Schedule & Predictions
Date	Opp.	W / L
9/5	at UTEP	L
9/12	Pitt	W
9/19	at UCF	W
9/26	at Temple	L
10/3	Central	L
10/10	Gardner Webb	W
10/17	Akron	W
10/24	at Western	L
11/3	BGSU	W
11/10	Ohio	W
11/18	at Miami (O)	W
11/27	at Kent St	L
MAC Record		4-4
Overall Record		7-5

KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES

OFFENSE: Julian Edelman accounted for nearly two-thirds of the total offense a season ago with much of that production coming on the ground.  Giorgio Morgan and Anthony Magazu are the heirs to the QB position; Morgan has a rocket of an arm.  Don’t be surprised if redshirt freshman Sal Battles, a top recruit in the 2008 class, plays as well since he is a Josh Cribbs type of game-breaker.  The running game will have a healthy Eugene Jarvis who needs only 722 yards to become the schools all time leading rusher.  Jacquise Terry and Alan Vanderlink provide solid depth.   The receiving unit has underperformed over the past few seasons but with Phil Garner, Kendrick Pressley and Jameson Konz, there seems to be more perimeter playmakers this season.  Mike Roder leads the O-line that will be young but talented.  Overall six starters return.

INTANGIBLES: The Flashes continue to be haunted by dreadful special teams play.  KSU lost two games last season due to missed FGs and struggled in both phases of the return game ranking 115^th nationally in punt returns and 116^th nationally in kickoff returns.  The Flashes hope to build on the momentum from last season; winning two of their final three games which included a 24-21 upset of MAC Champ Buffalo.  The non-conference schedule features two non-conference home games (Coastal Carolina and Iowa State); which is a rarity for this program.

OUTLOOK: The past two years KSU has lost six games by a touchdown or less resulting in 3-9 (2007) and 4-8 (2008) seasons.  It’s no longer a talent issue for the Golden Flashes, evident by being the only MAC East team to beat Buffalo last year, but there is a major concern why the program continues to flounder.  Somehow, someway, Kent State just came seem to win the close games very often and just 1-4 over the past five seasons against arch-rival Akron.  This year’s team is solid at tailback and the defensive line but there are too many holes to fill for Coach Martin and his squad to be a serious factor in 2009.

2009 Schedule & Predictions
Date	Opp.	W / L
9/5	Coastal Carolina	W
9/12	at Boston College	L
9/19	Iowa St	W
10/26	Miami (O)	W
10/3	at Baylor	L
10/10	BGSU	L
10/17	at Eastern	L
10/24	at Ohio	L
10/31	Western	L
11/7	at Akron	L
11/21	at Temple	L
11/27	Buffalo	W
MAC Record		2-6
Overall Record		4-8

MIAMI REDHAWKS

OFFENSE: New head coach Mike Haywood will not have to groom a quarterback his first season in Oxford with 5^th year senior Daniel Raudabaugh returning.  He has room for improvement after last year’s showing of just eight TD passes and nine interceptions.  Talented Zac Dysert is ready if needed.  The running game is in good hands with Thomas Merriweather and Andre Bratton but look for Wisconsin transfer Quincy Landingham to become a force this fall.  The receivers are led by Chris Givens who caught 35 passes for 513 yards and seven touchdowns.  Overall Miami’s top four receivers return.  The line is young with no seniors listed in the spring’s two-deep roster.  With Coach Haywood preaching a more to a more smash-mouth type of offense, that could pose a problem this fall.

INTANGIBLES: The RedHawks kicking game must undergo a complete makeover as both of their kicking specialists graduated (PK Nate Parseghian and P Jacob Richardson).  Mike Haywood gets his first head coaching experience after leaving serving on Charlie Weis’ staff at Notre Dame.  MU will open the season at Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium against Kentucky before a stretch of three straight road games.  October 3 against long-time rival Cincinnati will be Miami’s first game at Yager stadium.

OUTLOOK: New defensive coordinator Carl Reese will have his work cut out for him as Miami looks to be thin on that side of ball.  Poor defense became a staple under the previous coaching staff and it may take a year or two before the new regime can bring Miami back to their program’s strong defensive roots.  Offensively there are some weapons but the line may be too young and green to get it going this fall.  Overall this program will be on the upswing under Haywood but don’t look for many more wins this fall with a schedule that includes Kentucky, Boise State, Cincinnati and Northwestern.

2009 Schedule & Predictions
Date	Opp.	W / L
9/5	Kentucky	L
9/12	at Boise St	L
9/19	at Western	L
10/26	at Kent St	L
10/3	Cincinnati	L
10/10	at Northwestern	L
10/17	at Ohio	L
10/24	NIU	W
10/31	Toledo	L
11/5	at Temple	L
11/12	BGSU	W
11/18	Buffalo	L
MAC Record		2-6
Overall Record		2-10

OHIO BOBCATS

OFFENSE: Head coach Frank Solich can rely on two experienced quarterbacks to lead his offense in Boo Jackson, who completed 60 percent of his passes (185×306) for 2355 yards and 19 touchdowns, and Theo Scott who broke his collar bone against Ohio State in week #2.  The running game is led by Donte Harden and Chris Garrett.  Garrett set a school record last year with 321-all purpose yards last year in their win over Miami (O).  The receiving unit should be solid behind senior Taylor Price who had 51 catches for 694 yards and five scores.  The line is led by Michael Philbin as five returning players have some sort of starting experience.

INTANGIBLES: Punter Matt Schulte returns after averaging a meager 37.6 yards per kick in 2008.  Place kicking duties are being passed to redshirt freshman Matt Weller.  The ‘Cats won their final two games of the season and look to build on that momentum in 2009, opening at home versus Connecticut. OU must do a better job holding on to the ball this fall.  Ohio committed 31 turnovers last year which was four more than any other school in the league and ranked 110^th nationally in that stat.

OUTLOOK: The Bobcats haven’t won the MAC since 1968 and this year’s team has a real shot at getting to the MAC Championship Game to possible end that 41-year drought.  Defensively OU should be very good and offensively they have enough fire power to make it interesting.  Ohio gets a break by not drawing either Central or Western Michigan in their cross-over games, pulling Ball State and NIU instead.  After a very slow start in 2008 and losing gut-wrenching games to Wyoming (20-21), Central Michigan (28-31) and Northwestern (8-16) to begin the season, OU benefits by playing UConn, North Texas and Cal Poly in early September.  It’s not a stretch for this team to win nine games this fall.

2009 Schedule & Predictions
Date	Opp.	W / L
9/5	U Conn	W
9/12	at North Texas	W
9/19	Cal Poly	W
9/26	at Tennessee	L
10/3	at BGSU	L
10/10	at Akron	L
10/17	Miami (O)	W
10/24	Kent St	W
10/31	at Ball St	L
11/10	at Buffalo	L
11/21	NIU	W
11/27	Temple	W
MAC Record		4-4
Overall Record		7-5

TEMPLE OWLS

OFFENSE: Look for Vaughn Charlton to start the season at quarterback after the graduation of Adam DiMichele.  Freshman Chris Coyer could make his way into the mix as the season goes on.  The running game needs some help as the leading was Kee-ayre Griffin at 394-yards with five TDs.  The receiving corps will miss Bruce Francis, one of the school’s best wide outs, but Jason Harper has the talent to be a game breaker.  At times last year Temple used four freshmen up front.  That experience may provide dividends this fall as Wayne Tribue is the lone returning starter.

INTANGIBLES: Navy transfer Jake Brownell is back at place kicker but was just 8 of 14 in FGs last year.  Jeff Wathne returns as the punter and averaged 40.4 yards per kick.  Coach Al Golden is 10-26 thus far at Temple but none of those wins have come over a team with a winning record.  When Temple visits Ohio University on November 27^th, it very well could be for the MAC East title and the right to play in the MAC Championship Game on December 5.

OUTLOOK: Temple finished 5-7 last, their best record in more than decade – but how close were they to something really special?  Consider this; three times Temple lost on the game’s final play in 2008 and the Owls were just 18 points away from being 10-2.  Wow.  This fall TU gets a big break by not playing Central or Western Michigan from the west.  Also, for the second year in a row they avoid playing divisional member, Bowling Green.  Defensively Temple will be stout against every team except Penn State.  The offense is another story though and likely will keep this team from playing in their first bowl game since 1979.  With just three starters on this side of the ball and unproven quarterback play, Temple may be looking at their second straight season of ‘what-could-have-been.’

2009 Schedule & Predictions
Date	Opp.	W / L
9/3	Villanova	W
9/19	at Penn St	L
9/26	Buffalo	W
10/3	at Eastern	L
10/10	Ball St	W
10/17	Army	W
10/24	at Toledo	L
10/31	at Navy	L
11/5	Miami (O)	W
11/13	at Akron	L
11/21	Kent St	W
11/27	at Ohio	L
MAC Record		4-4
Overall Record		6-6

 

Nick follows MAC football exclusively at Vandelay Sports. Catch his projections for the season here.

Related posts:

1. MAC West Division Preview
2. Weeknight Special: Ohio at Temple Preview for the top of the MAC
3. MAC Daddy: Nick’ Picks for MAC, more Stone Temple locks!
4. MAC East Football Preview
5. MAC Weekly Re-Cap: Week #7

Tags: MAC