Sports
Bobcats Picked 3rd In MAC East; Bowling Green Chosen As Champs
By: Eric Singer
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At Mid-American Conference Media Day on Wednesday, the preseason rankings were released and the media voted Bowling Green (18 votes) and Toledo (11 votes) as their favorites to reach the MAC championship game, with the Falcons picked to repeat as MAC champions.
The Ohio Bobcats were chosen to finish third in the MAC East, behind Bowling Green and Akron. It’s something different for Ohio, as the last few years the Bobcats have been one of, if not the favorite to win the division. Bowling Green returns a strong core, and Ohio is facing question marks on offense.
Akron's place as the No. 2 team in the East is a surprise, a year after the Zips finished 5-7. But the Zips return some key offensive and defensive players, and with some highly touted recruits stepping in, head coach Terry Bowden might finally turn the Zips around, even if he thinks the placement is a bit high.
In the West, Toledo was chosen ahead of defending West champ Northern Illinois, who has to replace Heisman Trophy finalist Jordan Lynch and NFL first-round pick Jimmy Ward.
Here are the overall preseason rankings:
MAC East
1) Bowling Green (18 first-place votes)
2) Akron (3)
3) Ohio
4) Buffalo
5) Kent State
6) UMass
MAC West
1) Toledo (11)
2) Northern Illinois (8)
3) Ball State
4) Central Michigan (3)
5) Western Michigan
6) Eastern Michigan
2014 MAC Champion: Bowling Green (11 votes), Toledo (6), Central Michigan (2), Northern Illinois (1), Akron (1)