The Bowling Green Falcons have been picked to repeat as MAC champions, but Terry Bowden‘s Akron Zips could be a program on the rise. Bowling Green was named the MAC preseason favorite in the East Division as well as the conference, but Bowden’s Zips received three first-place votes in the east. Toledo was picked to win the MAC’s West Division. The conference’s preseason poll was released Wednesday as the media day event in Detroit got started.
Bowling Green upset Northern Illinois in the 2013 MAC Championship Game, likely preventing the Huskies from making a return trip to the BCS last bowl season. Bowling Green looks to become the first team from the east to repeat as conference champion since Marshall won four in a row from 1997 through 2000. Marshall is now a member of Conference USA.
Toledo received 11 first-place votes in the west, followed by Northern Illinois with eight first-place votes. Central Michigan picked up a pair of first-place votes but sits behind Ball State in the predicted standings. As the conference notes, this all suggests the conference should have some good competition brewing this fall, especially in the west.
The complete poll, as provided by the MAC, follows:
Team (First Place Votes) Points
MAC East Division
1. Bowling Green (18) 144
2. Akron (3) 114
3. Ohio 107
4. Buffalo 87
5. Kent State 72
6. Miami 43
7. UMass 23
MAC West Division
1. Toledo (11) 114
2. Northern Illinois (8) 110
3. Ball State 82
4. Central Michigan (2) 67
5. Western Michigan 44
6. Eastern Michigan 24
The MAC Championship Game will be played on Friday, December 5. This is also the last season UMass will be an associate member of the MAC.