The end of Saturday’s game may not have gone the way the University at Buffalo football team wanted, but a win is a win especially when it’s to finish the non-conference schedule at 2-2. Now the games become much more important for UB as each MAC football game holds major implications on a team’s chances for a trip to Ford Field.
Bulls fans have become used to winning to MAC East with back-to-back trips to Detroit, however UB has only once lifted the MAC Championship and that was back in 2008. Can this team finally get over the hump? These next eight games will figure that out, but let’s take a look around MAC football before conference play goes full bore.
MAC East Outlook
Bowling Green 2-2
BG was atrocious last season. 2021 started down the same path with back-to-back losses to Tennessee and South Alabama, however the Falcons have bounced back with wins over Murray State and Minnesota. Their offense has still struggled averaging just 17 points per game, but their defense seems to have things figured out. After allowing a whopping 45 points per game in 2020, BG has gotten that number down to 20 this season including keeping Minnesota to just 10 points.
Starting quarterback Matt McDonald has not lit things up, but has been efficient completing 67% of his passes.BG’s rushing game has been invisible. The Falcons average just 45.3 yards per game on the ground which is last in the FBS by 17.6 yards.
UB 2-2
If you polled Bulls fans before the 2021 season, most would have expected a 2-2 start, however after the first four games, Bulls fans can’t help but feel the team left some meat on the bone. UB’s offense couldn’t get started against a beatable Nebraska, they lost by just three points to No. 16 Coastal Carolina and barely escaped Norfolk with a one-point victory over Old Dominion.
Even with those performances, UB should be at the top of the MAC East. Senior quarterback Kyle Vantrease does just enough to compliment a good, not dominant rushing game. The defense has been very solid, but the few mistakes they make always seem to turn into big plays. That will need to be minimized during the topsy-turvy, anything can-and-will happen MAC schedule.
Akron 1-3
In the Zips’ three games against FBS opponents, Akron has been outscored 164-41. They are not good, but they have a great chance to start 1-0 in the MAC as Ohio comes to town this weekend.
Kent State 1-3
Kent State might be the toughest team in the MAC to diagnose. During the 2020 regular season, they were the only team to remotely give UB a run for the MAC East crown behind a high octane offense led by All-MAC quarterback Dustin Crum. In just four games, Crum threw for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding 240 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. So far Crum’s been a mixed bag in 2021, but all three of the team’s losses have been to Power-5 opponents(No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 5 Iowa, and Maryland).
Miami(OH) 1-3
Miami (OH no, we suck again) is another MAC East team that only has a victor over an FCS school. The Redhawks have been closer in their games than the Zips, but against lesser competition. Although, Miami did have a chance to beat Minnesota with a late comeback. Since then, Minnesota has lost to BG so it’s safe to assume they’re just not good this year.
Ohio 0-4
Mike Bundt once told me Kurtis Rourke would be better than his brother and that the Bulls would need to “Watch Out!” for them…. well Mike, maybe Ohio should have been watching out for Duquesne!
MAC West Outlook
Toledo 2-2 (1-0)
Toledo is currently the only team with a MAC football win, so we might as well crown their asses. I mean they did only lose by three points to Notre Dame in South Bend. The Rockets however followed that impressive showing up with a loss at home to Colorado State in which they put up only six points. Consistency will be key for the Rockets as they have a chance to dominate the MAC West or allow it to be a wide open competition.
Eastern Michigan 3-1
EMU’s 3-1 record seems impressive, but those wins came against Saint Francis(Pa.), UMass, and Texas State. In their only game against legitimate competition, Eastern Michigan put up onl 7 points in a 34-7 loss at Wisconsin. The passing game has been lackluster and the backfield is by committee. EMU shouldn’t be scaring the top teams just yet.
Western Michigan 3-1
Western Michigan returned a lot of firepower from 2020 and have generally lived up to expectation. The Broncos started the season flat versus Michigan, but have bounced back for three consecutive wins including a 44-41 win at Pittsburgh. I’ll be digging deeper this Friday when I preview their trip to Buffalo.
Central Michigan 2-2
CMU has been solid thus far as they looked competitive against both Mizzou and LSU while defeating Robert Morris and FIU. The Chippewa’s offense leads the MAC averaging 468.3 yards per game, but their defense is middle of the road. Central Michigan should have a decent shot at making a run in the MAC West if quarterback Jacob Sirmon can cut down on his mistakes(four interceptions) and the defense steps up against a more level playing field.
Northern Illinois 2-2
NIU has been a mixed bag in 2021. The Huskies started the season out with an impressive victory at Georgia Tech before dropping a slugfest to Wyoming, then got smoked by Michigan. They bounced back against FCS opponent Maine, but what NIU team will we see during MAC play: the one that won the 2020 MAC football title and beat Georgia Tech or the one that gave up 50 to Wyoming and got dismantled in Ann Arbor?
Ball State 1-3 (0-1)
Ball State is another team that has yet to look good against an FBS opponent. In their three consecutive losses to Penn State, Wyoming, and Toledo, the Cardinals have not gotten to 14 points. I know they say defense wins championships, but it’s impossible to win a game with zero points especially with so much MACtion!
Be sure to watch our live BulletPoints preview of UB vs WMU plus a look across MAC football this Thursday, September 30th at 6:30 PM over on Twitter or Youtube! My full written preview of the matchup will drop here on Friday, then we’ll have a ton of coverage throughout Saturday! This Stampede Never Stops!
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