College Football 2018 Season Preview: MACtion

I'll admit to having a soft-spot in my heart for the MAC. You have to admire a conference that's willing to do whatever it takes to get on TV, including playing on Tuesday and Wednesday which, when you think about it, gives us 7 nights of glorious football for about a month and a half every year.

Conference Standings:
East		W	L	West		W	L
Ohio		11	1	Northern Illinois		9	3
Miami (OH)		7	5	Western Michigan		9	3
Bowling Green		4	8	Central Michigan		8	4
Akron		3	9	Toledo		7	5
Buffalo		2	10	Eastern Michigan		6	6
Kent State		1	11	Ball State		2	10
Won division				Won division
Conference Championship:		Ohio over Northern illinois
Bowl Teams:		7
	CFP:	None
	Big 6:	None
	CFP 2:	None
	Others:	Ohio
		Northern Illinois
		Miami (OH)
		Western Michigan
		Central Michigan
		Toledo
		Eastern Michigan
Most Underrated:	Central Michigan
Most Overrated:	Akron
Coaches on Hot Seat:	Akron
	Kent State
	Ball State
	Buffalo

Best player: A.J. Ouelette (Ohio).  All Frank Solich has done since taking over at Ohio is bring in solid players who have produced solid seasons and solid records. How ya' like me now Nebraska?  The thing is, Ouelette might be the best player he's had at the RB position and for a coach who likes to run the ball that's golden.

Coach has to go: Can Tommy Bowden continue to under-perform for much longer at Akron? I just don't see it.

Top heavy league: The problem with the MAC is that I think the bottom of this league is going to be TERRIBLE.  Once you get past Eastern Michigan you fall fast into 4-3-2-1 win territory.  The West is best, but the best team is in the East.

Questions: 

Can they upset a B1G team this year?  I don't think so, but the best chance is probably Western Michigan AT Michigan, and I don't think that's all that likely. Their best bet for beating Power 5 teams is Central Michigan over Kansas (who's only technically a P5 team) and Ohio over Virginia.

Why should I watch?  Because the teams are fun. And College Football at it's heart is about fun and silliness and dumb plays and everything that the CFP is not.

Game of the year: The MAC waits until the last game of the season to give us Northern Illinois AT Western Michigan.  Strap in.