College Football Insider – MAC Power Poll

Are you ready for some football? BetOnline’s coverage of the 2009 college football betting season starts with a look at how the teams in the MAC stacked up against the spread in ’08…

1: Ball State Cardinals (9-4 ATS, 12-2 SU in 2008) The Cardinals were the sweethearts of the 2008 season, but Cinderella’s slipper was smashed into bits and pieces when they were beaten down by both Buffalo and Tulsa to end the season. Now, they’ll have to figure out how to carry on without QB Nate Davis and HC Brady Hoke. Inevitably, things aren’t going to be nearly as easy for Ball State in ’09.

Up Next: Home vs. North Texas

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2: Bowling Green Falcons (7-4 ATS, 6-6 SU in 2008) Had Bowling Green knocked off Buffalo in overtime last year, the Falcons could’ve been the team to face Ball State in the MAC Championship game. This year, the team that ranked 44 th in the nation with 27.7 points per game put together a very difficult non-conference schedule, which could prove to be the reason that BGSU doesn’t go bowling this year. Their home game against the men of Troy is critical to start the season.

Up Next: Home vs. Troy

3: Temple Owls (7-4-1 ATS, 5-7 SU in 2008) Temple fell just short of bowl eligibility last season in the weak MAC East, and a lot of the problems came on the offensive side of the ball. The Owls ranked 105 th in the nation in total offense (299.8 yards per game), and had virtually no rushing game to speak of (96.8 yards per game). Now, an incredibly youthful team must tackle a difficult schedule in 2009. Going bowling would be a major, major triumph.

Up Next: Home vs. Villanova

4: Buffalo Bulls (8-5 ATS, 8-6 SU in 2008) HC Turner Gill put himself on the map last season when he brought the Bulls to their first bowl game in seemingly forever. There are enough pieces to this puzzle from last year’s MAC Championship team to repeat the feat and head back to the Motor City Bowl, particularly with the Eastern Division still remaining weak. The only difference this season is that everyone will be gunning for Buffalo.

Up Next: Away @ UTEP

5: Ohio Bobcats (6-4-1 ATS, 4-8 SU in 2008) The Bobcats were frisky dogs in their non-conference games last season, scoring ATS victories against Wyoming, Ohio State, and Northwestern fairly easily. This year, a legitimate BCS conference opponent comes to town when Connecticut comes calling this weekend. A win would be huge for HC Frank Solich whose program is in dire need of a lift.

Up Next: Home vs. Connecticut

And the rest…

6: Akron Zips (6-6 ATS, 5-7 SU in 2008)

7: Central Michigan Chippewas (6-6 ATS, 8-5 SU in 2008)

8: Northern Illinois Huskies (6-6 ATS, 6-7 SU in 2008)

9: Toledo Rockets (6-6 ATS, 3-9 SU in 2008)

10: Western Michigan Broncos (5-7 ATS, 9-4 SU in 2008)

11: Kent State Golden Flashes (4-6 ATS, 4-8 SU in 2008)

12: Eastern Michigan Eagles (4-7 ATS, 3-9 SU in 2008)