CMU clinches MAC West, Temple & Ohio to play for East title
Another week has passed and we now know much more about the MAC Championship races as well as the bowl picture for MAC teams. With Central Michigan’s win over Ball State and Northern Illinois’ loss @ Ohio, CMU returns to play in the MAC Championship Game after a year off on 2008. CMU’s opponent is still to be determined as the winner of Friday’s Temple @ Ohio game will represent the MAC East. Should Ohio win on Friday it would be a rematch of the 2006 MAC Championship Game where CMU defeated Ohio.
The bowl picture for MAC teams is also more clear. Because of the obvious proximity and the success of their program, Central Michigan will likely play in their 4th consecutive Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (formerly the Motor City Bowl). Meanwhile, the winner of the Temple @ Ohio game will not only win the MAC East, but will likely also play in the GMAC Bowl with the loser likely headed to the International Bowl. With the way the rest of the bowl games look now, it is also highly likely that NIU will get a bowl berth as well at 7-4, although a win over Central Michigan would go a long way for NIU in strengthening their case. Bowling Green should also remain in the bowl picture at 6-5 as they face Toledo on Friday. A win for BG would give them a 7-5 record and a very good shot at a bowl berth while also eliminating their rival Toledo (5-6) from any hopes of a bowl game. Toledo is one of three MAC teams at 5-6 who would become bowl eligible with a win in the final week of the season along with Western Michigan and Kent State.
For reference, last season a 6-6 NIU team was able to play in a bowl game as one of 5 MAC teams tying a conference record. Keep checking the bowl projections at Football-Bowl.com for more updates on where MAC teams will play this postseason.