Breaking down the MAC

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — While it was not a pretty win, the CMU football team’s 24-10 victory against Bowling Green gave it control of the Mid-American Conference West division.

And with the team playing Boston College next week and having a bye week following that, the team’s next MAC game is not until Nov. 11 against Toledo.

It is going to be interesting to see where the conference stands when that game finally comes, especially given the unpredictability so far in the MAC.

Many teams have picked up big victories, only to lose a questionable game a week or two later.

And while West-leading CMU (5-0 in the MAC) and East-leading Temple (4-0) have control of the its divisions, both are far from clinching a spot in Detroit on Dec. 4.

MAC West

CMU, despite already defeating WMU, still has numerous challenges remaining. Tough MAC games for the Chippewas include Toledo on Nov. 11 and NIU on Nov. 27, both at home.

NIU, Western and Toledo all have a chance at overtaking CMU. NIU is second with a 2-1 conference record, losing to Toledo and defeating WMU earlier in the season. The Huskies have a light schedule until the final two games, when they play at Ohio and CMU. The game against CMU will most likely decide who goes to Detroit the following week for the MAC Championship game, barring either team losing before then.

Western and Toledo still hold slim chances at getting to Detroit as well. They have no room for error, with each team carrying two conference losses.

WMU (3-2 in the MAC) lost to CMU and NIU, but defeated Toledo. The Broncos’ last major remaining MAC test is at Kent State next week.

Toledo (2-2 in the MAC) beat NIU, but lost to WMU and MAC East-leading Temple. The team’s two final tests will come at CMU on Nov. 11 and at Bowling Green to close the out the regular season.

CMU is in the front seat in the division, but it is far from clinching.

MAC East

With Temple (4-0 MAC) getting a big win Saturday against Toledo, the Owls have control of the MAC East. Their key remaining games will be against Kent State and at Ohio in the final two games of the season.

Kent State and Ohio (3-1 MAC each) are tied for second in the division. However, Kent State beat Ohio 20-11 Saturday in Athens, so it currently holds the tiebreaker. Key remaining games for Kent State, whose conference loss came to BGSU, are against WMU and at Temple.

Ohio plays against NIU and Temple to close out its season.

The Temple/Kent State (on Nov. 21) and Ohio/Temple (on Nov. 27) games will no doubt decide who plays in the MAC Championship game in December.

Bowling Green (2-2 MAC) still holds a slight chance to win the division. The Falcons defeated Kent State, but lost to Ohio and CMU. The team’s last challenge will be against Toledo on Nov. 27. BGSU does not face Temple this season.

The following five weeks will feature upsets and easy victories, but only two will make it to Detroit.