Usually overshadowed by the stronger, especially in last year’s case, Eastern division. 18-ranked team in college football.The MAC West is an odd place. The AAC sends a representative to the Armed Forces Bowl for the fourth consecutive season.Since moving up, the Mountaineer football team has won an unprecedented five bowl games in each of its first five eligible seasons and claimed four straight conference championships, while finishing the 2019 season as the No. Armed Forces Bowl Tulane vs. The two teams have never met before, but you can expect a slugfest on the ground from two run-heavy offenses. Instead, the Mountain West and the MAC face-off with Colorado State and Buffalo.
![]() Northern Illinois has the talent to go out and beat anyone in the league, but their play away from Dekalb is key. Savage Arena is not a fun place to play for visitors with the West running through Toledo, Northern Illinois needs to win in there to keep its division title hopes alive.The Huskies should be good in conference this year, even if their current record wouldn’t show it. A key matchup for them will be at Toledo on Feb. They get their longest conference road trip out of the way, Buffalo, from the get-go the second-furthest is at Kent State. The Huskies aren’t away from Dekalb for more than two games in a row at any point. As a team, Northern Illinois was picked second in the West, but failed to get a first place vote.Northern Illinois’s MAC schedule is favorable. The boards will be and important place for the Chippewas, as they averaged 38 rebounds per game. Some of those stats and numbers can only be taken so far though, as the Chips have played three non-D1 opponents.CMU brings back three starters from last year’s second place team. The Chippewas have started out hot, going 7-4 over their first 11 games. Central Michigan is a team built for success, and they’ve shown that early in the season. Central Michigan Last year: 10-8, second in WestComing off a quality season, the Chippewas are looking for more. Famicom emulator mac os xThe Chips have dropped nine home games in the past two seasons in MAC play.An important game for them will be Jan. 787 home win percentage in the past five seasons, but the majority of wins came in non-conference play. The Chippewas will surely have a presence behind the arc as well, as West Division All-MAC Preseason Team selection David DiLeo led the conference with 93 threes last season.The Chippewas ability to play in front of the home crowd will be much needed this season. McKay was the leading rebounder for the Chips, averaging 7.5 boards per game. They’ll finish at 10-8 by the end of the season. Their schedule is favorable — they only have to play Bowling Green and Kent State one time each — but even with that, the Chips will not be able to find the win column early. They don’t necessarily have the talent to win the regular season title, but definitely have a shot at making a run in March. The Chippewas need a statement win on their home floor to show what they can do in the conference this year.This Central Michigan team could finish anywhere in the MAC West this season. This Bronco team can only go up.The Broncos’ only two conference wins came within four days of each other last year when they knocked off Northern Illinois and Miami, both at home. A key player returning from injury this season is Brandon Johnson, who redshirted last year but started all 29 games he played in the year prior. Western returns three starters in Patrick Emilian, Jared Printy and Michael Flowers, the latter of whom earned preseason all MAC West team honors. They definitely aren’t going to finish 2-16. This matchup against middling teams in their respective divisions will show if Western is ready to climb the stairs and out of the basement.Western Michigan isn’t going to go out and surprise anyone. A key game for them will be their first conference road game at Akron on Jan. Their ability to play on the road will be key, as they went 2-16 away from Kalamazoo last year. They have experienced players and shouldn’t do as bad as they did last year.Just eight games into the season, the Broncos have already gotten over half of their 2018-19 win total. The Cardinals return three starters from last year’s team: Tahjai Teague, K.J. A 10-5 non-conference slate lead to an abysmal 6-12 conference slate.Ball State is looking to change its ways this season. After looking strong in non-conference play, the Cardinals laid an egg in MAC play. Ball State Last year: 6-12, fifth in WestBall State had a rough 2018-19 campaign. ![]() Although Western isn’t a team to be feared, this game comes at the end of a stretch of four road games in five games. 8 matchup in Kalamazoo against Western Michigan. A key game for them will be a Feb. The Cardinals went 7-7 in Muncie, but 8-7 when away from the nest. Even with the longer bus rides, and tough trips, Ball State was actually better on the road than at home. What Two Teams Are Playing For The West Championship In 2015 Full Time StarterThe Eagles are voted to finish last in the MAC West, accumulating only 16 total points in the preseason poll. The Eagles return only one full time starter in Boubacar Toure, but have multiple guys with starting experience returning. Eastern Michigan Last year: 9-9, third in WestA so-so 2018-19 campaign brings the Eagles into what should be a promising 2019-20 season. The Cardinals’ main competition for standing position is Western Michigan, but they’ll fall below the Broncos and find themselves at 5-13. The team just don’t have what they need to be able to do better. After being downright bad in conference last year, an upswing is expected. Although the Eagles have a good record on paper to start the season, they’ve beaten much inferior teams to the teams they’ll see in the MAC. If the Eagles are able to pack their bags and go beat a middle of the conference team, on the road, they’ll shock some people.It’s going to be a rough year in Ypsilanti. 25, when they play at Miami (OH). An important game for the Eagles will be on Jan. A team that can’t go on the road and win, won’t do very well, especially in the MAC. The Eagles will need to depend on defense, and slow down ball games, as they don’t have a ton of scoring ability.Road wins will be crucial for this Eastern Michigan team.
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