2019 MAC Football Power Rankings Week Two: Power Five Week for Ohio, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan
Buffalo, Central Michigan and Bowling Green are also heading to power five competition this week, making it one of the toughest weeks for the MAC all season
Free on Saturday’s Week Two Power Rankings
1.Ohio Bobcats (1–0)
Last Week’s Rank: 1
Week One Result: Won vs. Rhode Island, 41–20
Week Two Opponent: @ Pittsburgh (Line: Pitt -5.5)
Nothing to see here. The Bobcats are the preseason favorites and didn’t slip up at home to open the season. Now Nathan Rourke and the Ohio offense head to Pittsburgh to see if they can’t play a role in the next round of the coaching carousel, by sticking Patt Narduzi with a rather unpleasant loss to start his season 0–2. If Vegas is to be believed, the Bobcats have a real shot.
T2. Eastern Michigan Eagles (1–0)
Last Week’s Rank: T4
Week One Result: Won at Coastal Carolina 30–23
Week Two Opponent: @ Kentucky (Line: Kentucky -15)
The Eagles got off to a slow start in week one but ultimately left Coastal with a much-needed victory to begin the season. EMU remains a dark horse contender in the MAC, but a win at Kentucky would put them firmly in the conversation as MAC West favorites.
T2. Northern Illinois Huskies (1–0)
Last Week’s Rank: 2
Week One Result: Won 24–10 over Illinois State
Week Two Opponent: @ Utah (Line: Utah -21.5)
NIU struggled on offense and was stifling on defense on Saturday, landing them a win over a very good Illinois State team. If you’re looking at the score of that game and drawing a conclusion about the Huskies, that’s on you. This team appears to have the same DNA it’s always had, which is reason enough to think they can be competitive out in Utah.
T2. Western Michigan Broncos (1–0)
Last Week’s Rank: T4
Week One Result: 48–13 win over Monmouth
Week Two Opponent: @ Michigan State (Line: Michigan State -16)
The Broncos haven’t beaten Michigan State in 100 years. Seriously. It’s not for lack of trying either — this will be the sixth time the two teams have met since 2009. If the Broncos want to remain high in these power rankings (though, not sure why they’d care), they’ll need to somehow improve on LeVante Bellamy’s 2.9 yards per carry against Monmouth against one of college football’s best rush defenses.
T4. Toledo Rockets (0–1)
Last Week’s Rank: 3
Week One Result: Fell to Kentucky 38–24
Week Two Opponent: Bye
This bye week could not come at a better time for the Rockets. With Mitch Guadagni leaving the game against the Wildcats with injury, it will be nice to give him time to recover and get back on the field. Toledo is simply a different offense when Guadagni plays, and it showed Saturday against Kentucky.
T6. Buffalo Bulls (1–0)
Last Week’s Rank: 7
Week One Result: 38–10 win over Robert Morris
Week Two Opponent: @ Penn State (Line: Penn State -29.5)
I would love nothing more than to say after week one I’ve seen enough from Buffalo to admit they haven’t missed a step and should be considered one of the favorites in the MAC East. Unfortunately, I can’t say that. With new quarterback Matt Myers throwing just 10 passes in his debut, I’m not sure what to expect of this new-look Buffalo offense just yet.
T6. Miami RedHawks (0–1)
Last Week’s Rank: 6
Week One Result: 38–14 loss at Iowa
Week Two Opponent: Vs. Tennessee Tech
Brett Gabbert is the guy now at quarterback in Oxford, and he’ll get to show off in his first home game as a RedHawk this week. I’m not sure what the RedHawks can do this week to move up in the rankings, but maybe establishing a rushing attack for the first time in five years would be a good start?
T6. Ball State Cardinals (0–1)
Last Week’s Rank: 9
Week One Result: 34–24 loss to Indiana
Week Two Opponent: Fordham
Ball State is suffering in these rankings from a credibility problem. The Cardinals turned in an impressive performance against Indiana on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium. The game was entirely even, and Ball State can reasonably come away from this thinking it could have won. Mike Neu’s team should get to 1–1 this week and begin looking forward to the rest of its non conference schedule which includes FAU and NC State.
9. Kent State Golden Flashes (0–1)
Last Week’s Rank: 8
Week One Result: 30–7 loss at Arizona State
Week Two Opponent: Kennesaw State
Well, the optimism surrounding Kent State sure did disappear pretty quickly didn’t it? The Flashes were underwhelming on offense at Arizona State. Nothing to be ashamed of, just really disappointing if you were expecting, like I was, a team that was ready to take a sizable leap on offense in 2019. That leap could still come, but unfortunately for Kent State, Kennesaw is coming to town, and it is NOT an FCS team you work out the kinks against — this is going to be a game.
10. Bowling Green Falcons (1–0)
Last Week’s Rank: 12
Week One Result: 46–3 win over Morgan State
Week Two Opponent: @ Kansas State (Line: Kansas State -23.5)
Bravo to Scot Loeffler and the BG coaching staff, as well as quarterback Darius Wade. There weren’t many people expecting the Falcons to so quickly go from a team that took FCS losses or flirted with them to one that absolutely handles its business at home in week one. Another strong week and this could be a team worth watching each week.
11. Central Michigan Chippewas (1–0)
Last Week’s Rank: NR
Week One Result: 38–21 win over Albany
Week Two Opponent: @ Wisconsin (Line: Wisconsin -35)
The Chippewas seem to have their next great transfer quarterback in Quinten Dormady. That’s the good news. The bad news? CMU turned the ball over three times against Albany, something that this team, unlike the 2017 version featuring Shane Morris under center, can’t appropriately weather with this defense.
12. Akron Zips (0–1)
Last Week’s Rank: 11
Week One Result: Lost 42–3 to Illinois
Week Two Opponent: Vs. UAB (Line: UAB -9.5)
This is going to get worse before it gets better most likely, but it’s not like UAB was all that impressive last week against FCS Alabama State, winning by five points as a forty-point favorite. Based on last week’s result, the Zips won’t be expected to be competitive in many games going forward, so this home opener could be their last shot at a win for a while.
