MAC Bowl Picture

Since Ball State is 1-8 and not going to a bowl game, it would be a benefit to them to get as many MAC teams into a bowl game as possible. Here is a breakdown of the MAC teams that could possibly get to 7 wins and steal a bowl bid from a conference that does not have enough teams qualify.

Automatic Bids

Temple - Already 7-2, should win the MAC East and get one of the three automatic MAC bids.

Ohio - 6-3, and has games at Buffalo and Temple and hosts Northern Illinois. The game against Temple could be for the MAC East title if things fall their way.

Central Michigan - 7-2, with games against Toledo, NIU, and at Ball State. Should get to at least 9 wins and represent the MAC West.

Possible bids

Northern Illinois - 6-3, hosts Ball State and travels to Ohio and Central Michigan. Needs to win at least one game (BSU most likely) and steal one from Ohio or CMU to get to 8 wins and steal a bid from someone.

Kent State - 5-4, games at Akron (today) and Temple and hosts Buffalo. Needs to win 2 of the 3 games, and possibly all three.


Needs some magic

Bowling Green - 4-5, needs to win all remaining games. Travels to Miami, then hosts Akron and Toledo.

Western Michigan - 4-5, needs to beat Michigan State today, then has two easier games against the cellar-dwellers of the MAC West, BSU and EMU. A win against Michigan State could help their bowl resume.

Toledo - 4-5, on the road at CMU and Bowling Green, hosts Eastern Michigan. Needs to win all three, but road games at Central and BGSU are not easy at all.


So, it looks like we can get 4 bids, and possibly 5 if the chips fall right. From what I know about the bowl payouts, after expenses are paid, 1 share goes to the MAC office, 2 shares to the competing team, and 1 share to each of the other teams in the conference.



Drew Storen threw another scoreless inning in the Arizona Fall League on Thursday night. Storen has a 0.93 ERA in 9 2/3 innings and hitters are batting .275 against him. He is especially tough on right handed batters who have a .188 average. Drew is 4th in the league in ERA. Drew is also on the roster for the AFL All-Star game, the Rising Stars Showcase, tonight at 815p on the MLB Network.