The month of November will be crucial for Leipold’s team. Seven starters are back, including end Jamal Hines and safety Tycen Anderson but plenty of question marks remain going into the fall. © 2021 www.freep.com. FDA authorizes Johnson & Johnson's one-dose COVID-19 vaccine, doses expected to start rolling next week. The Zips were the only team at the FBS level to finish 2019 without a victory. Getting back to a bowl will rest on the right arm of quarterback Dustin Crum, as the senior returns as the MAC’s No. American. This unit gave up 5.95 yards a snap last fall, but with the experience in place, a step forward on the stat sheet is likely. While there’s no clear-cut favorite, Buffalo is Athlon’s pick as the top team and the program to beat in the 2020 MAC predictions. The Nov. 10 date at Buffalo looms large in the MAC East title race. Toledo allowed 32.2 points a game and surrendered 6.6 yards a snap last fall. BRB holds the eighth position in the league standings, with 17 points in their account. 2020 MAC Football Game Preview: Akron Zips at Ohio Bobcats Both Akron and Ohio are searching for their first wins of 2020. The road schedule isn’t easy. Miami (OH) claimed the throne in 2019, becoming the fifth different team in the last five years to walk away as the Mid-American champ. The RedHawks and Ohio aren’t far behind Buffalo for the top spot in the East, with Kent State coming in fourth. In the A League 2020, we have Sydney FC squaring off against Melbourne City FC at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium. Candle hopes new co-coordinators Vince Kehres and Craig Kuligowski get the defense back on track. six-game conference-only schedule begins Nov. 4, Mid-American Conference releases 2020 football schedule, There's a divide between Michigan's smallest colleges, driven by COVID-19, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Ohio’s defense held teams to 25.8 points a contest in MAC play, and there’s a strong foundation with nine returning starters. The Cardinals face Buffalo, Central Michigan, Toledo and Miami (Ohio) on their own turfs in 2020. 2021 MAC tournament site: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH 2021 MAC tournament dates: March 11th-13th, 2021 When the page first loads, this table shows advancement odds calculated before the Championship Game. The Bobcats host Buffalo but play at Miami (Ohio) on Oct. 17. Lance Leipold, entering his sixth season at the helm, is the right coach to take them the distance. CFB Rollout Plan; FBS. Skyy Moore (15.7 ypc) is the top target for Eleby, while Sean Tyler and Jaxson Kincaide have big shoes to fill in replace LeVante Bellamy at running back. Related: Ranking the MAC's Football Coaches for 2020. Thomas Hammock’s return to DeKalb and his alma mater resulted in a 5-7 mark last fall. The Bulls have one of the league’s top coaches in Lance Leipold, along with a strong foundation in place on both sides of the ball. The Falcons finished 3-9 last season but beat rival Toledo 20-7 in mid-October. Quarterback Kyle Vantrease (1,193 yards) was efficient after taking over the starting job following an injury to Matt Myers in 2019. Peters, Bradley and Finn are back to battle for the job again, but it’s no secret the strength of the offense will be running backs Bryant Koback (1,187 yards) and Shakif Seymour (741). The Mid-American Conference appears to be a wide-open race in 2020. After holding teams to 4.6 yards a play in 2018, Eastern Michigan’s defense regressed last fall by allowing 6.1. Defensively, the Zips have a lot of work to do. 2020 Season 2019 Season; MAC. Here is the Free Press' predicted order of finish for MAC teams: RELATED:There's a divide between Michigan's smallest colleges, driven by COVID-19. Ohio at Central Michigan. In other words, scoring points won’t be a problem in 2020. An injury to Mitchell Guadagni forced Candle to play three other quarterbacks – Eli Peters, Carter Bradley and DeQuan Finn – last fall. Nine of the 12 teams have +1200 or better odds to capture the conference championship, four of which are knotted at +600. As a result, an AAC team is going to be disappointed and Houston is the worst of the group. A high-powered offense is usually a staple at Toledo and improving on last year’s offensive output (27.3 ppg) hinges on better play inside the red zone (10th in the MAC) and more consistency at quarterback. The six-game conference-only schedule begins Nov. 4 and concludes with the MAC championship Dec. 18 at Ford Field. All rights reserved. Wednesday, November 4 Eastern Michigan at Kent State. With six starters back – including standout linebacker Treshaun Hayward – and the addition of a couple of transfers in the secondary, coordinator Lou Esposito should build on last year’s finish. 2020 NCAA Football Conference Betting Odds. Buffalo’s standout defense returns plenty of star power, including ends Taylor Riggins and Malcolm Koonce (17.5 sacks), linebackers Kadofi Wright and James Patterson and safety Tyrone Hill. Related: College Football Top 25 for 2020. MAC East. Second-year coach Tom Arth looks like the right choice to get this program on track, but it will take a couple of seasons to rebuild the roster. 2020 Season 2019 Season; BIG TEN. Improvement in the win column for 2020 hinges on both sides of the ball showing marked progress. MAC odds, lines for Nov. 18, 2020: College football picks, predictions, parlay from model on 39-21 run The SportsLine Projection Model has a MAC parlay that would pay out 6-1 on Wednesday The Cardinals return the top offense in the MAC, and they’re hoping for a little less heartbreak in 2020 after losing three conference games last season by a total of four points or less. This duo will have a standout line clearing the way, especially with center Bryce Harris back from injury. Question marks remain in the secondary with four new starters for 2020. Arth’s group gave up 5.7 yards a snap but surrendered 36.3 points a contest last fall. Linebacker Troy Brown is a first-team All-MAC for 2020 by Athlon Sports, with safeties Devonni Reed and Willie Reid leading the way on the back end. However, the return of running back Andrew Clair from injury should help, with receiver Julian Ortega-Jones and tight end Quintin Morris providing playmakers on the outside. The outlook in the West is just as crowded. The RedHawks have a few holes to plug at every level on defense, but this year’s group is one of the best in the conference, as Kameron Butler (5.5 sacks) is back to anchor the pass rush, with last year’s leading tackler (Ryan McWood) returning at linebacker. Predicting the MAC’s 2020 college football season is no easy task. The offensive line ranks among the best in the conference, Jaylon Bester and Tyre Shelton form a solid one-two punch at running back, while Jack Sorenson and Jalen Walker lead the targets on the outside. Conference USA always makes for tough predictions. MAC 2020 Predictions East Division. Offensively, Loeffler is likely to lean on Boston College transfer Matt McDonald at quarterback to spark an offense that averaged only 16 points a game and just 4.6 yards a snap in 2019. The Rockets have to find a quarterback and improve on defense, but the pieces are there for a rebound season. In 2014 we had the most accurate Conference USA predictions according to the Stassen. The Bulls host Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 10 and play at Ohio on Nov. 18. The Broncos were on the doorstep of a MAC West title last season, but a 17-14 loss to Northern Illinois on Nov. 26 prevented a trip to Detroit. 2020 Season 2019 Season; Mountain West. The schedule isn’t kind with road trips to Ohio, Miami (Ohio), Ball State and Western Michigan, but Creighton should find a way to keep this team in the mix for six victories. Crum accounted for over 3,000 yards of total offense and 26 overall scores last fall. By Jordan Rinard @CoachRinard Nov 9, 2020, 12:00pm EST Toledo hosts two of its top contenders from the West – Ball State and Central Michigan – and Ohio in crossover play with the East. The majority of us tend to just watch and marvel at the amazement of these teams and players on a week to week basis, but sometimes, that isn’t the only way forward. 2020 MAC Football Team Rankings. Michigan will try to be victors of the West (Photo by Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire) Back in August, we posted our 2020 college football preseason predictions for … Last season, Patterson racked up 312 carries for 1,799 yards and 19 touchdowns, along with 13 catches for 209 yards and another TD. 7:00 ESPN2 Line: Buffalo -13.5, o/u: 52. A schedule featuring non-conference matchups against Alabama, Kentucky and Penn State and road trips to Buffalo, Miami (Ohio) and Northern Illinois won’t provide much room for error to get to a bowl. MAC odds, lines for Nov. 4, 2020: College football picks, predictions, parlay from model on 31-19 run The SportsLine Projection Model has picked every MAC game on Wednesday. Parks, WR, Eastern Michigan, Pick by Mark Ross: C.J. MAC Bracket 2021 & MAC Tournament Predictions MAC Tournament Information. The supporting cast is under construction. 1 signal-caller for 2020. 2020 MAC Tournament Predictions with Betting Odds and Picks by Chris Vasile - 3/9/2020 This year's edition of the Mid-American Conference Tournament gets underway on March 9 … The Chippewas were drastically better in coach Jim McElwain’s first year at the helm. 0 of 10. 2020 MAC Football Team Rankings. Last season, Miami (Ohio) defeated CMU, 26-21, in the championship. October 20, 2020 - by Jason Lisk. 2020 MAC Football Team Rankings. Each MAC team will play a six-game season: five against their division and one cross-division game. College Football Predictions 2020: Big Ten, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12 Updates. The potential is there for improvement. [ Mid-American Conference releases 2020 football schedule ]. Coach Jason Candle’s squad will be looking to rebound after missing out on a bowl for the first time since the 2013 season last fall. Ball State gave up 6.03 yards a play in MAC games last fall and registered only 15 sacks. Other Bowls Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl. Bowl Projections, College Football Playoff Predictions: May 2020. [ Mid-American Conference releases 2020 football schedule] Last season, Miami (Ohio) defeated CMU, 26-21, in the championship. Patterson is one half of a dynamic tandem at running back, as backup Kevin Marks (1,035 yards in 2019) returns to run behind one of the top Group of 5 offensive lines. Additionally, key games against Toledo, Buffalo and Eastern Michigan take place in Kalamazoo. Arenafanatic's MAC preview has dominated the competition since we started putting out a preview in 2012. The program is coming off a 7-6 record last season – just the second for Kent State since 2002 – and the first bowl victory in school history. To be eligible for the title game, at least three of the six games must be played. Parks, WR, Eastern Michigan, Pick by Steven Lassan: Vince Kehres/Craig Kuligowski, Co-DC, Toledo, Pick by Ben Weinrib: Tyler Stockton, DC, Ball State, Pick by Mark Ross: Chris Simpson, Co-DC, Buffalo, Pick by Steven Lassan: Lance Leipold, HC, Buffalo, Pick by Ben Weinrib: Jason Candle, HC, Toledo, Pick by Mark Ross: Sean Lewis, HC, Kent State, Pick by Steven Lassan: Miami (Ohio) at Buffalo, Pick by Ben Weinrib: Miami (Ohio) at Buffalo, Pick by Steven Lassan: Preston Hutchinson, QB, Eastern Michigan, Pick by Ben Weinrib: Brett Gabbert, QB, Miami (Ohio), Pick by Mark Ross: Kaleb Eleby, QB, Western Michigan, Pick by Steven Lassan: Bryce Harris, C, Toledo, Pick by Ben Weinrib: Andrew Clair, RB, Bowling Green, Pick by Mark Ross: Andrew Clair, RB, Bowling Green, Pac-12 Football: What to Know About the 2021 Schedule, 35 Key College Football Super Seniors Returning in 2021, College Football's Top 20 Quarterbacks on the Rise for 2021, Athlon Sports' 2021 NFL Draft Guide Available Now, 2021 NFL Mock Draft: First-Round Predictions (Updated), Ranking College Basketball's National Champions Since 1985, 15 Best Teams That Did Not Win the NCAA Tournament, 2021 NCAA Tournament: Ranking the Sweet 16 Teams, 75 Funny Fantasy NASCAR Team Names for 2021, How to Watch and Live Stream NASCAR Online (some for free), Ranking the MAC's Football Coaches for 2020, Ranking the MAC's College Football Coaches for 2020, Way-Too-Early Top 25 College Football Rankings for 2021, Ranking College Football Rosters for 2020, Athlon's Must-See College Cheerleader Galleries. This group brings back seven starters, including a pair of standout cornerbacks (Antonio Phillips and Amechi Uzodinma II) and linebacker Jaylin Thomas (97 stops). Evan Petzold is a sports reporting intern at the Detroit Free Press. Akron returns a promising quarterback in Kato Nelson (194.1 total yards a game in 2019), and he’s tasked with jumpstarting an offense that managed only 10.5 points a contest last fall. Sophomore Brett Gabbert impressed in his first year under center, and his development should help a unit that averaged only 24.1 points a game. It’ll be noticeably empty in Ford Field this season due to COVID-19, but the action on-field will fill the room with ease. Little separates the top three teams in the East Division, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see coach Frank Solich’s squad book a trip to Detroit in December. East #1 Charlotte 7-4 (6-1) Only five starters are back, so Hutchinson and the passing game may simply need to outscore a lot of MAC opponents to reach six victories in 2020. Related NFL Expert Picks, Predictions: Week 9 Buffalo at Northern Illinois. Complete predictions for the 2020 Mountain West football season. In Australian A League, Regular Season – 2020-2021, Macarthur FC (MAC) will be faced off against the team Brisbane Roar (BRB). Athlon Sports has released its preseason magazine for 2020, and now it's time to preview and predict the conferences. MAC Football Predictions 2020. Monday's College Football Playoff National Championship left no doubt as to who was No. MAC odds, lines for Nov. 17, 2020: College football picks, predictions, parlay from model on 39-21 run. Coach... MAC Championship. There's a reason we call him "MACtion Matt". The Rockets are Athlon’s pick to win the MAC West, but there’s no clear front-runner for 2020. 1. Kent State’s defense has allowed over six yards a play for three consecutive seasons and stopping the run will be an issue after this group allowed 244.7 rushing yards a game in 2019. With the Falcons in rebuild mode, matching last season’s win total (three) would be a good encore for Loeffler. Defensively, the Chippewas return one of the top lines in the conference, anchored by end LaQuan Johnson and tackle Robi Stuart. 6:00 ESPN+ Line: Kent State -6, o/u: 62. Claiming back-to-back MAC West Division titles could hinge on how fast McElwain can find a quarterback. While the … Fans are not permitted to attend competitions, but family members will be able to fill the seats if local and state health guidelines allow it. The Formula. A couple of key receivers have departed, but Isaiah McKoy (57 catches) is back, and three starters return to provide optimism for improved protection (41 sacks allowed last year). The receiving corps should be a strength thanks to the return of Nate Stewart, Jeremiah Knight and Julian Hicks. The Jaret Patterson and Kevin Marks combination out of the backfield will be too much for most defenses to handle. Here is the Free Press' predicted order of finish for MAC … The Golden Flashes are trending up under third-year coach Sean Lewis. Little experience returns at running back, but the receiving corps is a strength and three starters are back up front. December 19 - G5 pool (AAC, MAC, C-USA, MWC) Andrew: SMU Mustangs vs. UTSA Roadrunners. 2020 Season 2019 Season; Conference USA. MAC Picks: Ball State vs Northern Illinois 11/18/20 College Football Picks, Odds, Predictions AUTHOR: Chris Ruffolo Chris has written about … Ball State is a sneaky dark horse to win the conference, and their futures price currently sits at +900 at BetRivers.com. The 5-foot-9 junior was complemented by Marks, a fellow junior, who had 1,305 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 227 carries. The Blade. Any of the division’s six teams can make a run to Detroit, but Toledo is Athlon’s pick to win the West. Today match prediction will be for the team Brisbane Roar (BRB). David Moore is suspended for the first five games, leaving Daniel Richardson as the likely starter this fall. The Blade. Junior Preston Hutchinson showed promise in a 357-yard passing performance against Western Michigan last fall and has the inside track to replace Mike Glass under center. ACC Football: Preview and Predictions for 2020 Season. 6:00 ESPN3 Line: Western Michigan -17.5, o/u: 54. where c is a specific team's total number of commits and R n is the 247Sports Rating of the nth-best commit times 100. 2020 Season 2019 Season; ACC. Mid-American Conference football is the final FBS league to return to play, meaning three in-state teams — Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan — are finally back in action. Today’s football predictions The world of football is a pretty complex place, and as such, there are a lot of variables to enjoying the game. By Tyler Smith. The Rockets are Athlon’s pick to win the MAC West, but there’s no clear front-runner for 2020. 2020 Season; 2019 Season; 2018 Season; CFB PREVIEW. Akron returns only two starters from a line that surrendered a whopping 58 sacks, and the team’s rushing attack managed just 1.8 yards per carry in 2019. This match will be taking place on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 01:35 PM.. A League 2020 – Match Details Sydney FC Squad. Accolades are based off the Stassen . Vantrease completed 101 of 172 passes for 1,193 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions, chipping in six rushing TDs. Conference USA Football Predictions 2020. These three players can carry the Bulls' offense, which should be enough to put them in a spot to win their first MAC title since 2008. Mike Neu delivered the best year of his four-season stint at his alma mater in 2019. And the going for 2020 didn’t get any easier when four key players – defensive linemen Jack Heflin and Matt Lorbeck, tight end Mitchell Brinkman and center CJ Perez – decided to transfer at the end of the spring semester. The path to improvement starts on offense. After all, the league had a surprise champion (Miami, Ohio) last year and this fall is shaping up to be just as unpredictable. – Bet on MAC football at BetMGM. Western Michigan at Akron. Bowling Green’s defense will lean on six returning starters to improve a group that allowed 38.6 points and 242.8 rushing yards a game and 7.03 yards a snap last year. Related: MAC Football 2020 All-Conference Team. Here's the rest of our top 25 to close the season. 2020 Season 2019 Season; Pac-12. The transfer of Lorbeck and Heflin hinders a line that was slated to rank among the best in the MAC, but the linebacker unit should be a strength with Kyle Pugh and Lance Deveaux leading the way. California to reopen schools; Biden to pledge $4B to COVAX; Pfizer vaccine can be … Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this MAC football season will consist of six league-only games and the conference championship game Dec. 18. Western Michigan’s defense gave up 35.1 points a game in 2018 but cut that total to 23.5 last fall. Explanation. 2020 MAC Conference Prediction: (Free Pick) Coming Soon >> 2020 MAC Conference Predictions (Coming Soon) 2020 Odds To Win The Mid-American Conference. All games in the first three weeks of the conference's campaign will be played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and the final three games for each team will take place on Saturdays. The good news: Central Michigan plays only one MAC game in that span and still has running back Kobe Lewis (1,074 yards) and one of the league’s top receiving corps in place. The Cardinals just missed a bowl, finishing 5-7 and losing each of their last three games by four points or less. It also misses Buffalo and Miami (Ohio). 7:00 ESPN Bringing back quarterback Kyle Vantrease gives Buffalo a distinct advantage against many foes still searching for stability at the most important position, especially within the offense-heavy MAC. But getting over the hump and into the postseason will require improvement on defense. Just two starters are back along the offensive line. Scot Loeffler’s rebuilding project at Bowling Green continues into its second year. 2020 MAC Football Championship Game Preview: #23 Buffalo vs. Ball State. However, in order to win the East, Ohio has to find a quarterback to replace standout Nathan Rourke. Six starters return, and improvement against the run (213.5 yards per game allowed) is a priority. The 2020 Mid-American Conference football season will begin Nov. 4 … 1 option. The Formula. Our predictions for the 2020 MAC football season. The winner of the quarterback competition inherits an offense that averaged 34.3 points a game and brings back three starters along the line, leading rusher O’Shaan Allison (869 yards), and the top six statistical receiving options from 2019. The secondary ranks among the best in the MAC with cornerback Emmanuel Rugamba and safeties Mike Brown and Sterling Weatherford in place. Little separates the top four in the division, so coach Tim Lester’s group should be in the mix once again. MAC odds, lines for Nov. 18, 2020: College football picks, predictions, parlay from model on 39-21 run 18-11-2020 16:51 via cbssports.com The SportsLine Projection Model has a MAC parlay that would pay out 6-1 on Wednesday Led by one of the league’s top coaches (Lance Leipold), an All-American running back in Jaret Patterson,... West Division. Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence and RB Travis EtienneKarl B DeBlaker/Associated Press. Below are Athlon's picks and projections for the MAC in 2020: Led by one of the league’s top coaches (Lance Leipold), an All-American running back in Jaret Patterson, and a defense that brings back seven starters after limiting teams to 21.3 points a game, Buffalo is Athlon’s pick to win the MAC in 2020. 7:21 AM. After a long wait, mid-week MACtionn is back and the Scotts are so excited, they're breaking down every game on the card. New quarterback Kaleb Eleby showed promise in a limited stint as the starter in 2018 and should push for all-conference honors in his first full year as the No. Vantrease’s top target should be Antonio Nunn (49 receptions), but the passing game won’t need to post huge totals with Patterson and Marks leading the way. Games against Youngstown State, New Mexico State and UMass in non-conference play provide a couple of opportunities for wins. The Huskies managed just 22.8 points a game and scored just 14 times through the air. Final college football Power Rankings for the 2020 season. The offense led the MAC in scoring (34.8 points a game) and brings back three starters up front, along with quarterback Drew Plitt, receiver Justin Hall and running back Caleb Huntley. Coach Chuck Martin’s squad had some good fortune by going 5-0 in one-score games, but even with some regression there, the team itself should improve with 16 returning starters. The reigning MAC champs should be in the mix to repeat for the division title. Oct 30, 2020. Central Michigan is second, followed by Ball State and Western Michigan in the top four. Since 2012 we have previewed CUSA. Contact him at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. It was announced this week that the Armed Forces Bowl was changing affiliation for the year in light of all the canceled PAC-12 bowls. July 31, 2020 July 28, 2020 ADA_Deacon Brad’s 2020 College Football Preview- MAC Predictions Every summer since 2007 I have created an intricate set of college football predictions for each upcoming season. Chris Creighton is one of the MAC’s top coaches, so the Eagles should be in the hunt for their fourth bowl game in five years this fall. *Indicates team projected to reach bowl eligibility in 2020, Pick by Steven Lassan: Jaret Patterson, RB, Buffalo, Pick by Ben Weinrib: Jaret Patterson, RB, Buffalo, Pick by Mark Ross: Jaret Patterson, RB, Buffalo, Pick by Steven Lassan: Treshaun Hayward, LB, Western Michigan, Pick by Ben Weinrib: Treshaun Hayward, LB, Western Michigan, Pick by Mark Ross: Treshaun Hayward, LB, Western Michigan, Pick by Steven Lassan: Lance Leipold, Buffalo, Pick by Ben Weinrib: Jim McElwain, Central Michigan, Pick by Mark Ross: Lance Leipold, Buffalo, Pick by Steven Lassan: Kurtis Rourke, QB, Ohio, Pick by Ben Weinrib: Darius Boone, RB, Eastern Michigan, Pick by Mark Ross: Kurtis Rourke, QB, Ohio, Pick by Steven Lassan: Matt McDonald, QB, Bowling Green, Pick by Ben Weinrib: C.J. Quarterback Ross Bowers is supported by three returning starters up front and a solid receiving corps, but there’s a vacancy at running back after Tre Harbison transferred to Charlotte. 2020 Season 2019 Season; BIG 12. The 2020 Mid-American Conference football season will begin Nov. 4 with six games, including Bowling Green at Toledo. Neu’s team is poised to take the next step in 2020. His brother – Kurtis Rourke – could be the answer. After winning just one contest in 2019, Central Michigan improved its win total by seven games to finish 8-6 overall.