A different team has taken home the MAC championship each of the last four seasons which says a lot about the parity the conference goes through on a yearly basis. While the Northern Illinois Huskies are one of the favorites to get back to Ford Field and defend its title from a year ago, it’s the West Division rival Toledo Rockets that check in as the odds on favorite – albeit slightly – to seal the deal in 2019. If they did, it would be the second MAC Championship for the program in the last three seasons after burying Akron in the title game two years removed. Mostly known for cashing paychecks against Power 5 teams in non-conference play, it still makes sense to get a handle on how this league possibly shakes out with MACtion nauseatingly rammed down the throats of those attacking the college football betting lines during the week. With that, here are three teams I have pegged to make some noise in the Mid-American that deserve your attention.
ODDS TO WIN MAC
Toledo +266
Ohio +231
Northern Illinois +559
Western Michigan +477
Buffalo +965
Eastern Michigan +1225
Miami Ohio +1680
Kent State +4500
Ball State +8000
Central Michigan +3898
Akron +6000
Bowling Green +17500
FAVORITE TO BACK: Ohio +231
Both Toledo’s and Ohio’s odds of winning the MAC have gotten shorter since first opening up at +300 and +350 respectively, but I only plan on buying Bobcats shares regardless of how well the Rockets have done under Jason Candle since Dan Campbell bolted for greener pastures at Iowa State. Though Frank Solich only gets 10 starters back to work his magic with, he gets the benefit of trotting Nathan Rourke onto the gridiron to lead his offense into battle. That’s a huge advantage in a conference that doesn’t see many of its field generals go on to play at the next level. Rourke did it all for the Bobcats last season in throwing for 2,434 yards and a 23:8 TD/INT ratio while adding another 860 yards and 15 more TD with his legs. The unit likely won’t be as potent as it was last season after averaging over 42 points per game, but it will be tough on opposing defenses nonetheless.
The Bobcats might get their teeth kicked in early on, but it will only toughen the team’s skin and get it ready for when the division schedule rolls around. The East Division looks to be a cakewalk with Ohio’s toughest opponent likely to be a Buffalo team rebuilding and looking to replace the production of Tyree Jackson. Their trip to UB Stadium on October 5 will go a long way in deciding the division’s pecking order. Win that game, and it will be darn near close to impossible for Solich to screw it up. Considering Ohio sits 31 games over .500 under his watch and has logged at least eight wins each of the last four seasons, it’s tough envisioning Ohio not making the trek to Motown come early December.
UNDERDOG TO BACK: Western Michigan +477
If returning experience is what you crave, look no further than Tim Lester’s Western Michigan Broncos who return a whopping 18 starters from last year’s 7-6 team. Getting destroyed in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl by the BYU Cougars will no doubt have this experienced club chomping at the bit to get back onto the gridiron and make amends. If the team’s non-conference slate that finds them traveling to both Michigan State and Syracuse doesn’t make you weak in the knees, the fact that the Broncos have to go on the road to oppose all of the MAC heavyweights is enough to make you vomit.
With that, they get all the creampuffs in front of the hometown faithful which should allow senior quarterback John Wassink and company to gain the confidence needed to hit the highway and score a couple huge wins. This is a very talented MAC squad that will no doubt take that challenge head on considering how well the program has recruited under the current coaching staff. I’m a sucker for experience when it comes to investing on college football futures, so the Broncos at a near 5-1 rate of return are nothing short of a no-brainer for me and my bankroll.
LONGSHOT TO BACK: Eastern Michigan +1225
There wasn’t a team in the MAC that marched a better scoring defense onto the gridiron a season ago than that of Eastern Michigan. The Eagles only conceded 22 points per game and did so by locking down opposing passing attacks to the tune of just 160.0 yards per game (No. 5). With seven starters and two along the defensive line back for Chris Creighton in 2019, Eastern Michigan looks to be well off on that side of the ball in with the hope of improving upon the solid outputs churned out each of the last two seasons.
But it will be far from easy with it forced to take on a ridiculous seven game road schedule. Littered in the mix are road trips to Northern Illinois and Toledo that will at the very least need to be split in order to have a shot at chasing this futures ticket at online sportsbooks. While the Eagles have played .480 ball over the last two seasons, 11 of those 13 defeats came by a touchdown or less. That tells me this program is on the verge of busting out in a big way, and if 2019 proves to be that year, you bet your bottom dollar I want some of that 12-1 action in my back pocket just in case.
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