Mid American Conference WEST Division Breakdown and Picks

Although the MAC West has no team rated  higher than 57 there are only two racing for the Division Championship:  Northern Illinois Huskies and Toledo Rockets.  Although the other schools have made changes to improve their programs, the bulk of talent resides in Toledo and NIU.

Dave Doeren, NIU new head coach inherits an offense that returns all five OL, including a Lombardi Award candidate, and QB Chandler Harnish, a first team all conference player.  The question is, will Doeren know enough to trust his more offensive minded coaches to unleash a pass oriented offense.  Yes, NIU will still have a running game, but losing the conference leading runner would put a hitch in anyone's gitty-up, look for Jasmin Hopkins experience and shiftyness to balance the offense well.

On defense, the team lost a lot of talent, seven starters to be exact.  They say defense wins championships and that statement will be tested this year for the Huskies.  Doeren is good and he will maximize the ability of run stuffer Nabal Jefferson and move around the ends to make for some challenging blocking schemes for opposing offenses.  Although the DBs are  young, they have talent- Tommy Davis will lead the corp and work as special teams returner as well.

Toledo has third year coach Tim Beckman putting together a squad heavy on experience and a team that may win ugly, but in 2010 win they did.

On offense Toledo looks like a keg of TNT, but are missing key personnel on the OL and are looking to run a tandem at QB, if you guessed one is a runner and one a passer- ding ding ding!!!  your a winner.  Yes, they lost a stud at RB but they have a stable of possible replacements- RB is not a concern.  The highlight of the O is WR Eric Page, an All-American, and an explosive talent.

This team also has a defensive minded coach in Beckman, but they have been hindered by preseason injuries and law enforcement officials.  On the other side they are the recipient of a few experienced and talented D-1 transfers.  The bottom line is that they return 9 starters and that is great way to start, what makes it better is speedy play with Fatiniku on the end, a gritty throw back MLB in Molls at LB, and a talented team of DBs.

What is the concern at Toledo?  Both O and D lines, do they have the depth if injury requires it and can they rotate enough DL to keep everyone fresh.  The biggest concern- rotating QBs when you have this kind of offensive talent, obviously there are concerns.

My Picks for the MAC West...

Champion:  Toledo.  I think coach will settle in on one QB before the 11/1 game versus NIU, as that is the game that determines the Division Champion, the others are just a tune-up.

If you want to gamble, take 4:1 odds on Western Michigan to win the division, they have a very good D returning and would be the only dark horse.  4:1 is not very good but Im just feeding your need to bet.