MAC Preview:
- Toledo (Current Power Rating: 70.52)
The Rockets have finished either No. 1 or No. 2 in the MAC West division in 16 of the last 21 seasons but remarkably have not been to the MAC Title game since 2004! Last year they were coming off a 10-win season and despite only 10 returning starters, won 9 games with close losses to BYU, Ohio and Appalachian State.
This year’s team returns 12 starters including QB Logan Woodside who threw for 4,129 pass yards with an incredible 45-to-9 TD-to-INT ratio a year ago. The Rockets do lose their all-time leading rusher in Kareem Hunt (4,945 career yards and was a third-round draft choice) but bring back their leading receiver in 1st-team All-MAC Cody Thompson who had 1,269 yards and averaged 19.8 yards per catch! The offensive does lose 3 starters including a pair of 1st-team All-MAC selections at left tackle and right guard.
The defense is much more experienced than last year but they do lose 3 of their top 5 tacklers including DeJuan Rogers (94 tackles). Leading one of the best LB corps in the MAC will be Ja’Wuan Woodley who had 79 tackles and 13 TFL’s last year
Date
|
Opponent
|
Line
|
8/31
|
Elon
|
-45
|
9/9
|
at Nevada
|
-9
|
9/16
|
Tulsa
|
-4
|
9/23
|
at Miami, Fl
|
+19
|
9/30
|
Bye
|
|
10/7
|
Eastern Michigan
|
-14
|
10/14
|
at Central Michigan
|
-6
|
10/21
|
Akron
|
-16
|
10/26
|
at Ball St
|
-11
|
11/2
|
Northern Illinois
|
-12
|
11/8
|
at Ohio
|
-4
|
11/15
|
at Bowling Green
|
-7
|
11/24
|
Western Michigan
|
-5
|
Currently, I have the Rockets favored in 11 of their 12 games, but 5 of those favorite roles are by a TD or less. They do get key MAC West division games against Western Michigan and Northern Illinois at home, but must travel to MAC East contender Ohio. The Rockets also have a couple of intriguing non-conference games against Nevada and Tulsa, but will most likely be favored in both of those. I’ll be conservative and call for 9 wins, which is still above their current season win total!
Brad Powers’ Prediction: 9-3 (Best Bet: OVER 8.5 current season win total).
- Western Michigan (Current Power Rating: 69.52)
The Broncos had a magical 2016 season winning a school-record 13 games, a MAC Championship while also making an appearance in the Cotton Bowl. The Broncos outscored their opponents by 22 points per game and outgained them by 127 yards per game. However, it will be extremely tough duplicating that success in 2017 as they lose head coach P.J. Fleck and several key players.
The offense brings back only 5 starters as they lose their all-time leading passer in Zach Terrell (12,104 career yards) and the position has a combined ZERO career pass attempts heading into this season. The Broncos also lose the FBS’s all-time career receiving yards leader in Corey Davis (5,285 yards) who was a Top 5 NFL Draft pick.
One the positive side, they return a pair of RB’s in Jarvion Franklin and Jamauri Bogan who already have a combined 5,613 career rush yards and they welcome back 3 starters on the offensive line. The defense is also experienced as they return 7 starters including their top 5 tacklers. The unit will be led by LB Robert Spillane (111 tackles last year) and CB Darius Phillips who had four interception returns for TD’s in 2016.
Date
|
Opponent
|
Line
|
9/2
|
at USC
|
+28
|
9/9
|
at Michigan St
|
+7
|
9/16
|
Idaho
|
-18
|
9/23
|
Wagner
|
-31
|
9/30
|
Ball St
|
-16
|
10/7
|
at Buffalo
|
-14
|
10/14
|
Akron
|
-14
|
10/21
|
at Eastern Michigan
|
-7
|
10/28
|
Bye
|
|
11/1
|
Central Michigan
|
-11
|
11/8
|
Kent St
|
-18
|
11/15
|
at Northern Illinois
|
-3
|
11/24
|
at Toledo
|
+5
|
The Broncos’ season gets off to a tough start as they play at Top 10 USC and also at what should be an improved Michigan State team. In MAC play, Western Michigan does avoid the top two teams out of the East division in Miami (OH) and Ohio, but in the last two weeks of the season have to travel to both Northern Illinois and Toledo. Even though, I currently have them favored in 9 games, I’ll be conservative and call for “only” 8 wins in the first season under head coach Tim Lester.
Brad Powers’ Prediction: 8-4 (Lean: UNDER 8.5 current season win total).
- Miami, Oh (Current Power Rating: 66.54)
From the end of the 2012 season through the first six games of last season, Miami (OH) had gone 5-41 straight up. However, last year the Redhawks would become the first team in NCAA history to open up a season 0-6 and finish 6-0 and get to a bowl. Head coach Chuck Martin has built this program the right way and they out-played SEC Mississippi State as 2-TD underdogs in the bowl only losing by one point.
This year’s team is in even stronger thanks to the return of 17 starters. One of the main reasons for last year’s turnaround was the insertion of QB Gus Ragland into the line-up (missed first 6 games due to injury). Ragland would throw for 1,537 yards and have an incredible 17-to-1 TD-to-INT ratio in the final 7 games. He returns this season along with their top 3 rushers and top 2 receivers. The offensive line also returns 4 starters and has 80 career starts.
The MAC’s top defense (allowed only 334 ypg in conference play) returns 8 starters including their top 5 tacklers led by safety Tony Reid (98 tackles last year). LB Junior McMullen (90 tackles) leads an experienced LB corps and CB Heath Harding is one of the best in the conference (15 passes defended last year).
Date
|
Opponent
|
Line
|
9/2
|
at Marshall
|
-2
|
9/9
|
Austin Peay
|
-42
|
9/16
|
Cincinnati
|
-5
|
9/23
|
at Central Michigan
|
-2
|
9/30
|
at Notre Dame
|
+21
|
10/7
|
Bowling Green
|
-10
|
10/14
|
at Kent St
|
-9
|
10/21
|
Buffalo
|
-16
|
10/28
|
Bye
|
|
10/31
|
at Ohio
|
PK
|
11/7
|
Akron
|
-11
|
11/15
|
Eastern Michigan
|
-9
|
11/21
|
at Ball St
|
-7
|
The Redhawks have a very favorable schedule in 2017. In non-conference action, the only difficult game comes at Notre Dame in Week 5 as the Marshall and Cincinnati games figure to be close. In conference play, Miami avoids each of the top 3 teams from the MAC West in Toledo, Western Michigan and Northern Illinois. They do have to travel to Central Michigan and Ohio. Overall, I have them favored in 10 games, but 4 of those favorite roles are by a TD or less. I’ll be conservative and call for “only” 8 wins but I easily could see 9 or 10.
Brad Powers’ Prediction: 8-4 (Push current season win total).
- Ohio (Current Power Rating: 62.83)
Ohio has not won a MAC title since 1968, but they have been one of the most consistent programs in college football as of late averaging 8 wins per year since 2009. The Bobcats also have remarkable coaching stability as head coach Frank Solich and both of his offensive and defensive coordinators enter their 13th season in Athens together.
This year’s team fresh of a MAC East division championship returns 13 starters. The Bobcats do have to replace their leading passer on offense, but Quinton Maxwell started 6 games last year (1,247 pass yards). They bring back their top 2 rushers and get RB AJ Ouellette back from injury after missing most of last season. Ohio does lose 3 of their top 4 receivers, but welcome back 3 starters on the offensive line (69 career starts).
The defense has some heavier losses as they lose their career sack leader in 3rd round draft choice DE Tarell Bashem (11.5 sacks last year). The Bobcats also lose a 5th-round draft choice at LB in Blair Brown (128 tackles and 15 TFL’s last year). On the bright side, 5 of their top 6 LB’s return and they are much more experienced in the secondary than a year ago.
Date
|
Opponent
|
Line
|
9/2
|
Hampton
|
-38
|
9/8
|
at Purdue
|
+3
|
9/16
|
Kansas
|
-7
|
9/23
|
at Eastern Michigan
|
PK
|
9/30
|
at Massachusetts
|
-4
|
10/7
|
Central Michigan
|
-5
|
10/14
|
at Bowling Green
|
PK
|
10/21
|
Kent St
|
-12
|
10/28
|
Bye
|
|
10/31
|
Miami, OH
|
PK
|
11/8
|
Toledo
|
+4
|
11/14
|
at Akron
|
-1
|
11/24
|
at Buffalo
|
-7
|
All 4 non-conference games fall into the winnable category with a road trip to Purdue being the only underdog role (around a FG). Of the three best teams in the MAC West (stronger of the two divisions), Ohio avoids Western Michigan and Northern Illinois and gets to host Toledo. The Bobcats also host the best team in the MAC East in Miami, Ohio. Currently, I have 10 of their 12 games lined at a TD or less and three of those are listed at “pick-em”. For now, I’ll call for 8 wins, which has been their average although the possibility remains for a double-digit win season.
Brad Powers’ Prediction: 8-4 (Lean OVER 7.5 current season win total at South Point).
- Northern Illinois (Current Power Rating: 62.40)
The trend has not been good for Northern Illinois under head coach Rod Carey as the Huskies have gone from 12 wins in his first season (2013) down to 11, 8 and last year had their first non-bowl season since 2007 by winning only 5 games. In his defense, the Huskies have been decimated by injury at the QB position in each of the last two seasons.
This year’s team welcomes back 12 starters. They do have to replace their two most talented QB’s in Anthony Maddie and Drew Hare but Ryan Graham has made 8 starts in the last two years because of the injuries. The Huskies do lose their leading rusher in Joel Bouagnon (885 yards) and also their leading receiver in Kenny Golladay (1,156 yards and was a 3rd-round draft choice). Northern Illinois allowed only 8 sacks last year, but were injury free on the offensive line and must replace a 2-year starting left tackle.
The defense does lose their top 2 tacklers in LB’s Jamaal Payton and Sean Folliard who both had 81 tackles in 2016. On the bright side, the Huskies should be improved on the defensive line after allowing a decade-worst 201 rushing yards per game last year and they also boast one of the best DB units in the MAC led by CB Shawun Lurry.
Date
|
Opponent
|
Line
|
9/1
|
Boston College
|
+4
|
9/9
|
Eastern Illinois
|
-20
|
9/16
|
at Nebraska
|
+18
|
9/23
|
Bye
|
|
9/30
|
at San Diego St
|
+15
|
10/7
|
Kent St
|
-12
|
10/14
|
at Buffalo
|
-6
|
10/21
|
at Bowling Green
|
+1
|
10/26
|
Eastern Michigan
|
-6
|
11/2
|
at Toledo
|
+12
|
11/9
|
Ball St
|
-9
|
11/15
|
Western Michigan
|
+3
|
11/24
|
at Central Michigan
|
+3
|
This year’s schedule is not easy for the Huskies as they will be double-digit underdogs in two of their non-conference games and also host a physical Boston College team in week 1. They do avoid the top 2 teams from the MAC East in Miami (OH) and Ohio. While my current lines only have Northern Illinois favored in 5 games, 3 of their 7 underdog roles are by 3 points or less. I think they can win at least one of those and I’ll call for 6 wins.
Brad Powers’ Prediction: 6-6 (Push current season win total).
- Central Michigan (Current Power Rating: 62.01)
Central Michigan has been very consistent in each of the last 5 years winning either 6 or 7 games in each season. Last year the Chippewas got off to a 3-0 start including the controversial win over Oklahoma State. However, they really cooled off down the stretch with a 3-7 SU/2-8 ATS mark in their last 10 games capped off by a 55-10 blowout loss to Tulsa in the Miami Beach Bowl.
This year’s team is experienced especially on offense with 9 returning starters. However, they do lose their 2nd all-time career passer in Cooper Rush who threw for 12,894 yards in 4 seasons. On the bright side, they welcome back their leading rusher in Devon Spalding (758 yards) and their top 4 receivers led by Corey Willis (1,091 yards in 2016). They also return all 5 starters on the offensive line (85 career starts).
The defense returns 6 starters including their leading tackler from last year in 1st-team All-MAC LB Malik Fountain (92 tackles, 10 TFL). The defensive line should be one of the MAC’s best as they return 8 of their top 10 from last year including DE Joe Ostman who had 9 sacks a year ago.
Date
|
Opponent
|
Line
|
8/31
|
Rhode Island
|
-31
|
9/9
|
at Kansas
|
+1
|
9/16
|
at Syracuse
|
+13
|
9/23
|
Miami, Oh
|
+2
|
9/30
|
at Boston College
|
+12
|
10/7
|
at Ohio
|
+5
|
10/14
|
Toledo
|
+6
|
10/21
|
at Ball St
|
-2
|
10/28
|
Bye
|
|
11/1
|
at Western Michigan
|
+11
|
11/8
|
Eastern Michigan
|
-4
|
11/14
|
at Kent St
|
-5
|
11/24
|
Northern Illinois
|
-3
|
The Chippewas do have a difficult schedule as they play three Power 5 conference teams on the road in non-conference action. They also pull the two best teams from the MAC East division in Miami and Ohio and their first 9 games are pretty brutal (could be a dog in 7 of them). However, the season could go either way as currently I have 8 of their 12 games lined at 6 points or less (4 favorite and 4 underdog roles). While I only have them favored in 5 games, I will give head coach John Bonamego the benefit of the doubt and call for 6 wins, but that is still under their season win total.
Brad Powers’ Prediction: 6-6 (Lean: UNDER 6.5 current season win total at bookmaker.eu).
- Eastern Michigan (Current Power Rating: 60.67)
Prior to last season, Eastern Michigan hadn’t been to a bowl game since 1987 (2nd longest drought in the country). After winning a combined 7 games from 2012-2015 not much was expected from the Eagles in 2016 despite the return of 15 starters. However, Eastern Michigan would be one of the biggest surprises of the season as they pulled 5 outright upsets en route to 7 wins that culminated with a bowl trip to the Bahamas.
This year’s team is just as strong thanks to the return of 16 starters. QB Brogan Roback returns for his senior season after throwing for 2,694 yards (18-to-7 TD-to-INT ratio) in only 8 starts last year. The Eagles also bring back their top 2 rushers and get back RB Shaq Vann who missed most of last season with an injury. The Eagles return their top 3 receivers led by Sergio Bailey (868 yards) but the biggest question mark comes on the offensive line as they lose 162 career starts (just 26 return).
The defense returns each of their top 7 tacklers from last year led by LB’s Kyle Rachwal (109 tackles last year) and Jason Beck (104 tackles). However, they do suffer some key losses including their all-time sack leader in DE Pat O’Connor (8.5 sacks last year, 7th round draft choice) and their all-time PBU leader in DaQuan Pace.
Date
|
Opponent
|
Line
|
9/1
|
Charlotte
|
-13
|
9/9
|
at Rutgers
|
+4
|
9/16
|
Bye
|
|
9/23
|
Ohio
|
PK
|
9/30
|
at Kentucky
|
+21
|
10/7
|
at Toledo
|
+14
|
10/14
|
at Army
|
+7
|
10/21
|
Western Michigan
|
+7
|
10/26
|
at Northern Illinois
|
+6
|
11/2
|
Ball St
|
-6
|
11/8
|
at Central Michigan
|
+4
|
11/15
|
at Miami, Oh
|
+9
|
11/21
|
Bowling Green
|
-3
|
The Eagles play one of the toughest schedules in the MAC this year. They play two Power 5 teams on the road and also at an 8-win Army team from last year. They also pull the top 2 teams from the MAC East and are already playing in the tougher of the two divisions. While I only have Eastern Michigan favored in 3 games this year, 5 of their underdog roles are by a TD or less and I have another game listed at “pick-em”. While I am currently projecting only 4 wins, they could easily win 5 games.
Brad Powers’ Prediction: 4-8 (but agree with current 4.5 season win total).
- Bowling Green (Current Power Rating: 59.61)
Last year new head coach Mike Jinks had some big shoes to fill taking over a program that had won 2 of the last 3 MAC Championships. Jinks (first-time head coach) and his inexperienced staff only had 9 returning starters to work with and the results were disastrous at first. The Falcons started the season 1-8, but did win their final 3 games to get some momentum heading into 2017.
This year’s team is in better shape thanks to the return of 12 starters. They bring back QB James Morgan who threw or 2,082 yards as a freshman last year, but he has to improve on his 16-to-15 TD-to-INT ratio. The Falcons do lose their leading rusher in Fred Coppet (1,030 yards) but bring back 6 of their top 7 receivers led by Scott Miller (968 yards). They do lose 3 starters on the offensive line, but have 69 career starts returning.
Last year’s defense allowed 38.3 ppg, which was the most here in more than 55 years! They did improve late in the season after allowing 45 ppg in their first 9 games! This year’s unit does lose their leading tackler in Trenton Greene (111 tackles) but bring back 6 of their top 8 DL and 8 of their top 10 defensive backs.
Date
|
Opponent
|
Line
|
9/2
|
at Michigan St
|
+17
|
9/9
|
South Dakota
|
-10
|
9/16
|
at Northwestern
|
+23
|
9/23
|
at Middle Tennessee
|
+5
|
9/30
|
Akron
|
-4
|
10/7
|
at Miami, Oh
|
+10
|
10/14
|
Ohio
|
PK
|
10/21
|
Northern Illinois
|
-1
|
10/28
|
Bye
|
|
10/31
|
at Kent St
|
-2
|
11/7
|
at Buffalo
|
-4
|
11/15
|
Toledo
|
+7
|
11/21
|
at Eastern Michigan
|
+3
|
The Falcons do not have an easy schedule starting with a pair of Big Ten road trips to Michigan State and Northwestern in non-conference action while also playing at one of the better teams in CUSA in Middle Tennessee. In conference play, Bowling Green has to play Kent State and Buffalo on the road (games would fall into the TD-plus favorite role if played at home). However, I currently have the Falcons favored in 5 of their games this season although 4 are lined at a TD or less. I’d set their season win total around 4.5, but will give them the benefit of the doubt and call for 5 wins.
Brad Powers’ Prediction: 5-7 (Lean: OVER 4 current season win total at bookmaker.eu).
- Akron (Current Power Rating: 58.71)
The Zips came into last season fresh off their first bowl win in school history, but they were one of the least experienced teams in the country (only 7 returning starters). Still Akron started off the season a surprising 5-3 before dropping each of their last 4 games including two as a double-digit favorite. It was their third 5-7 season in the last 4 years.
This year’s team is much more experienced thanks to the return of 15 starters. One of them is senior QB Thomas Woodson who threw for 2,079 yards with an 18-to-6 TD-to-INT ratio last year in just 8 starts (banged up). The Zips’ offense also returns their top 3 rushers and gets Ohio State transfer Warren Ball back from injury. They do lose their top 2 receivers, but their offensive line is much more experienced than last year (go from 0 returning starters on OL in 2016 to 4 this year!).
The defense returns 7 starters including each of their top 4 tacklers led by 1st-team All-MAC LB Ulysees Gilbert who had 122 tackles and 11.5 TFL’s last year. The Zips also return both of their safeties in Alvin Davis (87 tackles) and Zach Guiser (53 tackles).
Date
|
Opponent
|
Line
|
9/2
|
at Penn St
|
+37
|
9/9
|
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
|
-52
|
9/16
|
Iowa St
|
+11
|
9/23
|
at Troy
|
+10
|
9/30
|
at Bowling Green
|
+4
|
10/7
|
Ball St
|
-4
|
10/14
|
at Western Michigan
|
+14
|
10/21
|
at Toledo
|
+16
|
10/28
|
Buffalo
|
-8
|
11/4
|
Bye
|
|
11/7
|
at Miami, Oh
|
+11
|
11/14
|
Ohio
|
+1
|
11/21
|
Kent St
|
-7
|
Akron’s schedule is not easy as they will be double-digit underdogs in 3 of their non-conference games. Their conference schedule includes the Zips playing each of the four best teams in the MAC (Toledo, Western Michigan, Miami and Ohio) with three of those games on the road. While I only have Akron favored in 4 of their games, I’ll call for 5, which seems to be the norm for head coach Terry Bowden and Co.
Brad Powers’ Prediction: 5-7 (Push current season win total).
- Ball State (Current Power Rating: 57.21)
Ball State had a new head coach last year in Mike Neu who is the 3rd all-time leading passer here (6,271 yards from 1990-93). Expectations weren’t high, but the Cardinals started the season a surprising 3-1 and were 4-3 at one point. However, they would lose their final 5 games of the season including getting outright upset at home to Akron and Eastern Michigan to finish 4-8 for a second consecutive season.
This year’s team welcomes back 8 starters on offense led by QB Riley Neal who threw for 2,541 yards last year but must improve upon his 13-to-12 TD-to-INT ratio. The Cardinals return their 1st-team All-MAC RB in James Gilbert who ran for 1,332 yards and 12 TD’s. The offensive line did a great job a year ago paving the way for 220 rushing yards per game (best numbers here since late 1970’s) and return 4 starters. Ball State does lose their top 2 receivers including KeVonn Mabon (3rd all-time here).
The defense has many more question marks as they lose their top 5 tacklers from last year including LB Sean Wiggins (109 tackles). Remarkably, the Cardinals go from 60 career starts down to ZERO at the LB position this year. On the bright side, they do return All-MAC DE Anthony Winbush who had 8.5 sacks a year ago.
Date
|
Opponent
|
Line
|
9/2
|
at Illinois
|
+8
|
9/9
|
UAB
|
-11
|
9/16
|
Tennessee Tech
|
-12
|
9/23
|
at Western Kentucky
|
+20
|
9/30
|
at Western Michigan
|
+16
|
10/7
|
at Akron
|
+4
|
10/14
|
Bye
|
|
10/21
|
Central Michigan
|
+2
|
10/26
|
Toledo
|
+11
|
11/2
|
at Eastern Michigan
|
+6
|
11/9
|
at Northern Illinois
|
+9
|
11/16
|
Buffalo
|
-7
|
11/21
|
Miami, Oh
|
+7
|
Ball St’s 2017 schedule is manageable as they have a pair of winnable non-conference games vs UAB and Tennessee Tech. They do play in the tougher of the two MAC divisions (the West) but avoid one of the favorites one from the MAC East in Ohio and get the other favorite (Miami, Oh) at home. While I only have Ball State favored in 3 games right now, 4 of their underdog roles are by a TD or less. Therefore, I’ll give them an extra win and call for 4 wins, but that is still UNDER their current season win total.
Brad Powers’ Prediction: 4-8 (Lean: UNDER 5 current season win total at South Point).
- Kent State (Current Power Rating: 54.64)
It’s been all downhill for the Kent State program since that magical 2012 season in which they came one play away from a possible Orange Bowl berth. Head coach Paul Haynes is just 12-35 straight up here and is coming off back-to-back 3-9 seasons despite featuring highly experienced teams (17 and 16 returning starters the last two years). Haynes enters 2017 on the hot seat.
On the positive side, this should be his best offense yet. Dynamic QB Nick Holley (converted WR last year) returns after throwing for 868 yards while also leading the Zips in rushing with 920 yards and 10 TD’s. They also return their top RB in Justin Rankin who ran for 511 yards while also leading the team in receiving (only 335 yards). However, the Golden Flashes do lose a pair of 3-year starting offensive lineman at left guard and left tackle.
Despite a feeble offense, the defense has been a strength the last couple of seasons. However, there are some major question marks this year as Kent State loses 6 of their top 7 tacklers including safety Nate Holley (111 tackles) and DE Terence Waugh (15 TFL’s). They do bring back 7 of their top 10 DL.
Date
|
Opponent
|
Line
|
9/2
|
at Clemson
|
+43
|
9/9
|
Howard
|
-40
|
9/16
|
at Marshall
|
+10
|
9/23
|
at Louisville
|
+36
|
9/30
|
Buffalo
|
-4
|
10/7
|
at Northern Illinois
|
+12
|
10/14
|
Miami, Oh
|
+9
|
10/21
|
at Ohio
|
+12
|
10/28
|
Bye
|
|
10/31
|
Bowling Green
|
+2
|
11/8
|
at Western Michigan
|
+18
|
11/14
|
Central Michigan
|
+5
|
11/21
|
at Akron
|
+7
|
The Golden Flashes play arguably the toughest schedule in the MAC this year. It starts in non-conference action as they play on the road against a pair of Top 15 teams in Clemson and Louisville and also play at a much-improved Marshall team. In MAC play, they pull 2 of the top 3 teams from the MAC West (Northern Illinois and Western Michigan) and play both on the road. Currently, I only have Kent State favored in 2 games but 3 of their underdog roles are by a TD or less. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and call for 3 wins but understand the current 3.5 season win total.
Brad Powers’ Prediction: 3-9 (but agree with current 3.5 season win total).
- Buffalo (Current Power Rating: 52.99)
The hire of Lance Leipold came with a lot of fan fare considering he had won 6 Division III national titles at Wisconsin-Whitewater and boasted a record of 109-6. Leipold did a solid job his first season here but last year the roof caved in as the Bulls were only 2-10 but it should be they were a double-digit underdog in 10 of those 12 games.
This year’s team is in much better shape with 14 returning starters. The offense will be led by QB Tyree Jackson (6-7 245 lbs) who threw for 1,772 yards (9-9 TD-to-INT ratio) last year as a freshman. The Bulls do lose their leading rusher in Jordan Johnson (1,040 yards) and also lose their top 3 receivers from last year. However, the offensive line returns 4 starters (68 career starts).
The Bulls’ run defense was a major weakness a year ago as they allowed a school-record 253 rush yards per game. On the positive side, they return their top 6 tacklers and entire 2-deep at LB led by Khalil Hodge (123 tackles last year) and Ishmael Hargrove (103 tackles). They also return 3 starters in what should be an improved secondary.
Date
|
Opponent
|
Line
|
8/31
|
at Minnesota
|
+25
|
9/9
|
at Army
|
+15
|
9/16
|
Colgate
|
-8
|
9/23
|
Florida Atlantic
|
+2
|
9/30
|
at Kent St
|
+4
|
10/7
|
Western Michigan
|
+14
|
10/14
|
Northern Illinois
|
+6
|
10/21
|
at Miami, Oh
|
+16
|
10/28
|
at Akron
|
+8
|
11/4
|
Bye
|
|
11/7
|
Bowling Green
|
+4
|
11/16
|
at Ball St
|
+7
|
11/24
|
Ohio
|
+7
|
While not overly difficult, the Bulls’ 2017 schedule is not very advantageous for them. Buffalo will open the season as double-digit underdogs at Minnesota and at Army. In conference play, Buffalo pulls two of the best teams from the MAC West in Western Michigan and Northern Illinois. They do play three of the weakest teams in the MAC (Akron, Ball State and Kent State) but the Bulls have to play all of them on the road. Currently, I only have Buffalo favored in 1 game, but 6 of their underdog roles are by a TD or less. Therefore, I’ll call for them to pull a couple of upsets. However, it won’t be enough to go OVER their current season win total.
Brad Powers’ Prediction: 3-9 (Lean: UNDER current 3.5 season win total).