Bobcat Attack - Ohio Football - Looking ahead in the MAC East

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Topic: Looking ahead in the MAC East

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TWT

10/14/2017 9:19 PM

Looking ahead in the east with Miami effectively out of the race at this point I see things going down to the Akron or Buffalo game. Akron doesn't have any losses yet but has WMU tomorrow and Toledo next week so probably 2 losses. Buffalo has 2 MAC losses but narrow ones to WMU and NIU. Buffalo and Akron play each other on 10/28 with the winner escaping with 2 MAC losses. The winner will be in position to win the east if they can defeat Ohio. From the Ohio perspective, the next two weeks look like layups with Kent and Miami at home. Then the Toledo game but win or lose it doesn't matter in the race because it will be only our second loss. Its basically to the Buffalo and Akron games where Ohio has to at least split to win the east.

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Victory

10/15/2017 11:46 AM

If we lost to CMU at home then I don't see how Miami is a layup. Miami at least beat CMU. Heck, I think that the line on the Kent State game is only going to be about 16. With Miami not living up to preseason expectations and with the fact that we get them at home I think we'd be favored by about 8 right now. Akron and Buffalo were predicted to finish 4th and 5th but look like the toughest challengers right now. With those games on the road I'm guessing we'd be about a 1 point favorite right now against Akron and about 0 against Buffalo. Toledo is at home but I think we'd be about a 6 point underdog right now.

Like last year, the East is a lot weaker and the best path to win might be to go 5-0 in the division. For all the complaining about a conservative approach through most of Solich's tenure it looks like this team can go as far as limiting turnovers and penalties will take it.

Last Edited: 10/15/2017 12:46:05 PM by Victory

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L.C.

10/15/2017 12:05 PM

5-0 in division combined with a loss to Toledo would put Ohio at 6-2. I'm sure that would win the East. At 5-3 it becomes more problematic as you're no doubt going to have tiebreakers involved.

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Victory

10/15/2017 12:12 PM

Yeah, 5-0 in the division only fails at this point if Akron's only loss is to Ohio and we lose to Toledo. Losing to Toledo and one of Miami, Buffalo, or Akron is hard to predict. Beating Toledo and losing two of those games almost certainly does not work out well.

Last Edited: 10/15/2017 12:15:01 PM by Victory

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C Money

10/15/2017 2:25 PM

Akron up 14-3 at halftime in Kalamazoo. I think we're being a little presumptuous assuming we're in the driver's seat in the East.

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Victory

10/15/2017 4:33 PM

I'm thinking that now we would be an underdog at Akron if the game were Saturday. I don't think many of us would have thought that 3 weeks ago.

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The Optimist

10/15/2017 4:57 PM

With Akron's win, things are much more clear in the East...

We need to win the next 2 games because after that we have Toledo and Akron in back-to-back weeks.

Win the next 2 and we've potentially got some very important #MACtion setup for November.

Last Edited: 10/15/2017 4:58:47 PM by The Optimist

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L.C.

10/15/2017 5:02 PM

Victory wrote:expand_more

... Heck, I think that the line on the Kent State game is only going to be about 16....

Ohio opens at -20, which is more than I expected, too. It may narrow some from here.

Last Edited: 10/15/2017 5:05:25 PM by L.C.

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Pataskala

10/15/2017 5:07 PM

Fiami hasn't won a game without Ragland in two years. As long as he's out, they don't have much of a chance.

Akron will have a short week to get ready for Toledo, whether they flew or bussed to WMU. Friday's a travel day for them so they'll have only three or four prep days.

We can probably do what we did last year -- sweep the East, go 1-2 vs the West and be in Detroit. But that changes if Akron beats Toledo.

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L.C.

10/15/2017 7:54 PM

At this point the main competition for the East Crown would seem to be Ohio, Buffalo, and Akron. Miami could still get back into it, but they haven't been doing themselves any favors.

Buffalo has an injury problem at the QB spot, with their starter out (Tyree Jackson, QBR=70.0, knee injury) and now their backup out (Drew Anderson, QBR=84.7, right arm in a sling). That brings up the Freshman, Kyle Vantrease (QBR=16.1). I don't know how soon either of the top two will be back, but I presume that at least one will be back by the time Ohio faces them in late November. It may hurt them in the next couple games, though (@Miami, @Akron).

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colobobcat66

10/15/2017 10:04 PM

One game at a time. There are no layups in the MAC, we should know better.

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The Optimist

10/16/2017 8:07 AM

colobobcat66 wrote:expand_more

One game at a time. There are no layups in the MAC, we should know better.

There are plenty of layups in the MAC.

Missed layups.

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GoCats105

10/16/2017 8:22 AM

The Optimist wrote:expand_more

colobobcat66 wrote:expand_more

One game at a time. There are no layups in the MAC, we should know better.

There are plenty of layups in the MAC.

Missed layups.

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L.C.

10/16/2017 1:40 PM

TeamRankings projects that Ohio will beat Kent and Miami, then one of the other three, to end up 5-3, and put them a game behind Akron, who they project will finish 6-2. They project Buffalo third at 4-4, and Miami fourth at 3-5.
https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/team/ohio-b...

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Bobcat1996

10/16/2017 2:20 PM

What many Bobcat fans fail to realize is that the MAC is somewhat even. On any given week, home or away a team must be prepared. Western was a big favorite and had twice the total yards as the Zips but missed a short FG and didn't score enough in the redzone. Miami was a huge favorite over Kent but lost by 3 points. Buffalo has lost back to back games by one point and in 7 OT's. Don't get caught up in what the Vegas odds say.

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GoCats105

10/16/2017 2:45 PM

Bobcat1996 wrote:expand_more

This thread is about to take a turn in about 3, 2, 1...

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Ted Thompson

10/16/2017 3:41 PM

This Saturday's Miami/Buffalo game is essentially an elimination game as the loser moves to 3 losses. Ohio controls its own destiny by winning out. IF Toledo beats Akron, then the Bobcats could lose to Toledo but win the East by winning the rest of the East games.

At the beginning of the season, I thought the Ohio/Miami game would determine the East. After Miami lost to BG, I thought maybe it would be Ohio/Buffalo. Now it's looking like the Ohio/Akron game.

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SBH

10/16/2017 4:41 PM

I really hate the idea of having to play for such high stakes in their packed stadium.

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OUcats82

10/16/2017 4:43 PM

Ted Thompson wrote:expand_more

If Akron beats Toledo this week then Akron may, gulp, very well could be the class of the MAC this year. I think the Rockets will give them MAC loss #1 though.

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TWT

10/16/2017 7:50 PM

That Akron vs. WMU game had some unusual circumstances. Freak storm delayed the game by a day and ruined the field when it was played. First halves often times an inferior opponent with the right game plan can stun an opponent. Akron was up 14-3 and hung on to win 14-13. WMU sounds like they were CMU'ed at home like the Bobcats were the week before. It stinks for Western because they have a good deal of talent from last years Cotton Bowl team but starting off with USC and Michigan State was rough then having to scratch out a 7 OT game @Buffalo and a freak storm on homecoming has blunted momentum for them.

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OhioBobcat

10/16/2017 10:48 PM

1. Toledo will beat Akron
2. Ohio will beat Akron
3. Toledo will play Ohio in the MACC
4. You can book it!

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Sam bobcat

10/17/2017 8:11 AM

OhioBobcat wrote:expand_more

1. Toledo will beat Akron
2. Ohio will beat Akron
3. Toledo will play Ohio in the MACC
4. You can book it!

I hope you're right...I booked it!