MAC Preview: General Thoughts
July 7th, 2008 by Nick Gerogosian
This Mac article is brought to Fantasy College Blitz by Nick Gerogosian of VanDelaySports.com. They are the premier site for in-depth analysis on the MAC. Taking things one step further, Nick will take that knowledge and provide our readers with fantasy insight that should prove vital to fantasy college football owners.
MAC Overview:
The strength of the MAC continues to be in the west division. Central Michigan looks for a rare “three-peat” of MAC titles, something that hasn’t been done since Marshall turned the trick in the late 1990s. The Chips’ do have the offense and hotshot quarterback Dan LeFevour (right, Icon SMI) to pull it off, but a very suspect defense and a ridiculous non-conference schedule of Georgia, Purdue and Indiana (all on the road) will likely take it’s toll.
Western Michigan will be much improved and look for the fruits of their late season victory at Iowa to carry over into the 2008 season and push this team into a bowl bid in 2008. Road trips to both Central Michigan and Ball State will likely halt a divisional title for the upstart Broncos.
Therefore, this publication is going to pick Ball State team to win their first MAC title since 1996. The Cardinals return almost everyone from a stacked offensive juggernaut that could possible lead the nation in scoring offense in 2008. The Cards finally get a break from the schedule master too, no longer playing non-conference games against a murderous row of Missouri, Clemson, Pitt, Auburn, Boston College and Nebraska like recent seasons. This year Ball State pulls in cream-puffs Northeastern and Western Kentucky, along with Navy and Indiana. Going 4-0 in those contests is not out of the question. Within MAC play, their final three games (at Miami, at Central and at home to Western) will determine if they travel to Detroit in early December or await a MAC at-large bowl bid. This publication sees Ball State winning 10-games and making a serious run at a Top-25 national ranking by season’s end.
MAC East Thoughts:
The MAC East couldn’t be more of a crap-shoot with all seven teams having a legitimate shot at winning the division. Miami gets the nod due to their defense. The RedHawks, along with Temple, should have the top overall defensive unit in the MAC. If the RedHawks get any offense this season – look out. Who would have thought that Buffalo would be picked #2 by this publication? In the ten previous seasons, we have never picked the Bulls higher than 5th but this team may surprise with an abundance of ‘no-name’ players who have bought into Turner Gill’s program.
Both Kent State and Temple should be much improved and each will contend for winning seasons. With a few breaks, each has the ability to pull off a nice non-conference victory too. Bowling Green and Ohio each may be headed down the standings unless they find some play-makers in strategic areas. BG must replace some solid offensive linemen and play the MAC’s most demanding non-conference schedule (Pitt, Minnesota, Boise State & Wyoming) while Ohio must replace (nearly 4,400 rushing yards) workhorse tailback Kalvin McRae.
Akron may be picked last but like so many off the MAC East teams that each have a unique flaw entering the 2008 season, the Zips do have an abundance of transfers that on paper look to be immediate contributors. Depending upon how quickly they jell will determine if Akron returns to the top of the division or remains a bottom-feeder.
MAC West Thoughts:
As stated above, the MAC West has the power again on their side of the ledger. The top three teams are noted above but each need to be aware of Toledo, NIU and Eastern Michigan. The Rockets have the offensive talent to stand toe to toe with anyone in the MAC and if their atrocious defense can do anything this year, UT may end two straight years of football frustration.
Former NIU coach Joe Novak was a favorite of this publication and did wonders in DeKalb. Unfortunately the injury bug took a huge bite out of the Huskies in 2007 but new coach Jerry Kill, the reigning FCS (formally I-AA) Coach of the Year should have them back in contention immediately. The Eagles won the ‘Michigan MAC Trophy’ in ’07 beating both Western and Central Michigan, but EMU will need to be more consistent on offense and replace standout Jason Jones along the defensive line.
Top MAC Fantasy Players by Position:
Quarterbacks
1. Dan LeFevour – Central Michigan MAC Offensive Player of the Year last season; only the second QB in NCAA history to throw for over 3,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season
2. Nate Davis – Ball State Statistically he may be the best QB in college football this year; Ball State returns 10 starters on offense and Davis threw for 3,667 yards last season, 30 TDs and just 6 INTs. With a soft schedule this fall, he will pass for over 4,000 yards in 2008.
3. Aaron Opelt – Toledo When healthy, Opelt is one of the MAC’s best. With the new offensive coordinator putting more faith into Opelt, expect him to throw for over 3,500 yards this year
4. Tyler Sheehan – BGSU Threw for over 3,200 yards last year, 23 TDs with 11 INTs. Nearly the entire receiving corps returns too
5. Tim Hiller – Western Michigan Former MAC Freshman of the Year Award winner is now a junior and has a loaded group of receivers as weapons
6. Drew Willy – Buffalo By far the most improved player in the MAC over the past two seasons; has the ability to pass for 2,500 yards this season
7. Dan Nicholson – NIU New coaching staff, new attitude, look out MAC; Nicholson is back (recovering from surgery during the spring)
8. Andy Schmitt – Eastern Michigan In a league full of quality QBs, Schmitt gets forgotten; completed 64% of his passes and is the teams leading returning rusher
9. Clay Benton – Miami (O) Redshirt freshman was the MAC’s #1 recruit in 2007. Huge upside down the road.
10. Julian Edelman – Kent State How many DI-A QBs are 5-10? He can run but has limited passing skills
11. Adam DiMichele – Temple Very good athlete – not very good statistically
12. Chris Jaquemain – Akron Graduation of WR Jabari Arthur hurts his stats big time
13. Theo Scott/Boo Jackson – Ohio A battle between two very athletic but raw former JUCOs
Running Backs
1. Eugene Jarvis – Kent State Nearly 1,700 yards in 2007 and averaged 6-yards per carry; 1st Team All-MAC
2. James Starks – Buffalo Breakout season last fall; UB’s first 1,000 rusher since moving up to I-A in 1999; 2nd team All-MAC
3. Justin Anderson – NIU Over 1,200 yards in 2007 – 2nd team All-MAC; new coaching staff will feature his rushing skills more this season
4. Brandon West – Western Michigan Expect a huge season from West in 2008; also a terrific kick returner
5. DaJuane Collins – Toledo Now the featured back in a newly diversified offense, rushed for nearly 700 yards last playing behind Jalen Parmele (now in the NFL) who rushed for 1,500 yards in ‘07
6. Anthony Turner – BGSU Former QB turned RB/WR is a stat machine; also lines up as a QB in a few gadget plays
7. Justin Hoskins – Central Michigan Notre Dame transfer rushed for 664 yards and averaged 6-yards per carry on the MAC’s #1 offense
8. Ontario Sneed – Central Michigan CMU’s #1 rusher in 2005 & 2006; big physical back with nearly 2,400 career rushing yards
9. Dennis Kennedy – Akron Originally signed with Ohio State out of high school, rushed for 914 yards in 2006, injured in 2007; battling Miami (FL) transfer Andrew Johnson for the starting role
10. Morgan Williams – Toledo #29 rated RB in the country by Rivals.com in 2006; if eligible he will dominate the MAC; monitor his status, could be a real fantasy draft or free-agent acquisition steal
Wide Receivers
1. Dante Love – Ball State Love accounted for 11 TDs last year; 1,398 receiving yards, 192 rushing and also will line up as the QB in certain gadget plays; statistically he is the best returning WR in the nation
2. Antonio Brown – Central Michigan Averaged 7 receptions and 71-yards per game in 2007 with 6 six TDs – as a true freshman!
3. Stephen Williams – Toledo Produced six 100-yard games in ’07 and seven TDs
4. Nick Moore – Toledo Part of the two-headed receiving monster at UT; averaged 73-yards per game with 8 TDs
5. Freddie Barnes – BGSU Former QB had nearly 1,000-yards receiving in 2007 & 9 TDs
6. Bryan Anderson – Central Michigan 90 catches and 10 TDs in 2007
7. Jamarko Simmons – Western Michigan Produced 980 yards in receptions with 6 TDs in 2007
8. Naaman Roosevelt – Buffalo UB’s big play threat; produced 766-receiving yards and 4 TDs in ‘07
9. Dan Ifft – Ball State Sure-handed possession receiver, expect a big season from this sophomore
10. Cory Partridge – BGSU Another steady handed receiver with good hands, battled injuries in ’07 playing in just 8 games, produced 453 yards averaging nearly 60-yards per game; output will rise in 2008
11. Britt Davis – NIU Will have a monster senior season under the new coaching staff
12. Bruce Francis – Temple Temple all-purpose star for receiving and special teams
Tight Ends
1. Darius Hill – Ball State Nation’s best and most productive receiving TE; solid NFL prospect; averaged 71-yards per game in 2007 scoring 11 TDs!
2. Branden Ledbetter – Western Michigan 38 catches with 6 TDs in 2007; will have a big senior season
3. Andrew Mooney – Ohio Transfer from New Mexico State last season led the Bobcats with 34 receptions
4. Jameson Konz – Kent State Senior DE moved to TE this spring, team’s best overall athlete; 2008 passing game is being built around him
5. Madaris Grant – Ball State BSU plays their TEs much like receivers; Grant averaged 10-yards per reception and scored a TD; will be more involved in the offense this season as a junior
6. Tom Crabtree – Miami Steady senior TE will have a solid 2008 season with more experienced QBs
7. David Carter – Ohio Vanderbilt DE transfer had 19 grads in 2007; compliments Mooney (above)
Notes:
Akron has three solid TE players – neither is a stats machine but all are capable of having big-games: Merce Poindexter (6-4, 245 Sr.); Jose Cruz (6-5, 265, So.) and Brian Flaherty (6-5, 255 Sr.)
NIU TEs will play a bigger role in their new offense; monitor Bryan Beckner, Reed Cunningham and David Koronkiewicz throughout the year
Toledo TE prospects Tom Burzine, Matt Fought, Jerome Jones and Danny Noble will put up a lot of offense numbers as a group, toss in TE/WR John Allen and this is a difficult group to just pick one player from as a starter
Place-Kickers
1. Alex Steigerwald – Toledo
2. Sinisa Vrvilo – BGSU
3. Ian McGarvey – Ball State
4. Andrew Aguila – Central Michigan
5. AJ Principe – Buffalo
Total Defense
1. Miami (O) #48 nationally scoring defense; #25 pass defense
2. Temple #53 nationally scoring defense; #21 pass defense
3. Ball State #4 in the nation in turnover ratio (+1.31)
No other MAC defense is worth picking – most MAC defenses ranked from #75 to #119 in total defense.
MAC Specialist Nick Gerogosian is a graduate of a MAC school and has closely followed the league since the mid-1970s. Nick has been the lead MAC correspondent with Athlon Sports and their annual national college preview issues since 2000. He has been a member of the MAC News Media Association since 1999. Nick is the proprietor of VanDelaySports.com; the original MAC fan website devoted solely to MAC football and MAC men’s basketball since the late 1990s. That site has developed quite a cult following and has had over 4 million visitors since it’s inception in 1999. You can Email your MAC questions, comments or thoughts directly to ‘Nick VanDelay’ at macfootball@hotmail.com
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