2024 MAC Season Preview: Conference Predictions and Betting Picks for the MAC
The Miami (OH) RedHawks are back and looking for a repeat as MAC Champions. Can they get it done again in 2024? Matt McCuen provides his preview and predictions for the entire MAC season.
Matt McCuen - August 29, 2024, 5:30 PM EDT
8 min2024 MAC Season Preview: Conference Predictions and Betting Picks for the MAC
The MAC Conference is a fan favorite.
The main reason for that is that the MAC plays many of their conference games during the week.
Let's meet the teams from the MAC this year.
2024 MAC Season Predictions
1. Miami Ohio RedHawks
- 2023 Record: 11-3
- Key Additions: Savio Frazier (DL), Dylan Downing (RB)
- Key Losses: Rashad Amos (RB), Graham Nicholson (K), Gage Larvadian (QR), Caiden Woullard (DE), Michael Dowell (CB)
- MAC Title Odds: +210
- Favorite Future Bet: Miami, Ohio Over 7.5 wins -135
The Red Hawks are coming off one of their best seasons in program history.
Signal caller Brett Gabbert will be back under center this year for the RedHawks.
Gabbert was injured for most of 2023 and is set for a bounce-back season.
Running back Dylan Downing will take over for transfer Rashad Amos.
Miami had one of the best defensive units in college football a season ago, holding teams to 11.1 points per game.
Pick: Miami (OH) Over 7.5 Wins -135 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
While the Red Hawks lose a few starters on defense, they maintain a lot of talent on defense.
With Gabbert back in the center, this team has the potential to be the best in the conference.
The RedHawks' defense, which is the best in the conference, will help them reach eight wins this season.
2. Toledo Rockets
- 2023 Record: 11-3
- Key Additions: Anthony Dunn Jr (DL), Lance Dixon (LB), Ezekiel Blake (CB), Allen Jones (OL)
- Key Losses: Quinyon Mitchell, Dequan Finn, Penny Boone (RB)
- MAC Title Odds: +280
- Favorite Future Bet: Toledo Under 8.5 wins -145
Toledo has been the best team in the MAC for the last few seasons.
The Rockets claimed a MAC Championship in 2022 and will be in the conversation to win one again this year.
Former quarterback Dequan Finn hit the transfer portal, forcing Tucker Gleason into action.
Star running back Peny Boone also entered the transfer portal.
Boone was one of the best offensive players in the MAC.
Toledo will lean on running back Jacquez Stewart to fill his shoes.
The Rockets' defense returns four starters.
Pick: Toledo Under 8.5 Wins -130 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
The Rockets will have one of the most demanding schedules in the MAC.
Toledo has a lot of talent to replace, mainly in the quarterback position.
Losing Finn and Boone will force this offense to take a step back.
Additionally, there are a lot of question marks surrounding the Rockets defense.
3. Western Michigan Broncos
- 2023 Record: 4-8
- Key Additions: Armani Adams (S), Quinn Murphy (OT), Broc Lowry (QB)
- Key Losses: Marshawn Kneeland (DT), Keni-H Lovely (CB), Nate Norris (LB), Austin Hence (TE)
- MAC Title Odds: +650
The Broncos enter this season after an extremely disappointing 4-8 campaign.
Running back Jalen Buckley returns to the Broncos. Buckley is one of the best backs in the conference, rushing for 1,003 yards last year.
Defensive coordinator Scott Power takes over a defensive unit that allowed 31.8 points per game in 2023.
Pick: Western Michigan Team Total Over 6.5 wins +110 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
The Broncos return a large part of their roster while adding key pieces to the portal.
Western Michigan also has a favorable schedule as they do not play Toledo or Miami (OH).
The total is too low, and we will take advantage of that.
4. Northern Illinois Huskies
- 2023 Record: 7-6
- Key Additions: Armani Adams (S), Quinn Murphy (OT), Broc Lowry (QB)
- Key Losses: Rocky Lombardi (QB)
- MAC Title Odds: +650
The Huskies will look to build off a strong 2023 season.
Head Coach Thomas Hancock has the Huskies program trending in the right direction.
The quarterback position remains up in the air as we will see a battle between Ethan Hampton and Jalen Macon.
Northern Illinois defense allowed 19.9 points per game.
The Huskies will return eight starters on defense.
Pick: Northern Illinois Under 7.5 Wins -150 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
This number is too high for the Huskies.
The Huskies will be one of the worst offensive teams in the MAC.
While their defense will be solid, the Huskies will struggle to win games due to their offensive woes.
5. Bowling Green Falcons
- 2023 Record: 7-6
- Key Additions: Maclom Johnson Jr (WR), Rj Garcia JR (WR), Cj Brown (S)
- Key Losses: RJ Garcia (WR), Malcolm Johnson JR (WR), Jalen Huskey (CB), Davon Ferguson (CB),
- MAC Title Odds: +700
Head Coach Scott Loeffler leads this Falcons squad.
Bowling Green had a positive season in 2023 and will look to build on that.
Connor Bazelak will lead the Falcons offense. Bazelak threw for 1,935 yards a year ago.
The Falcons averaged 26.2 points per game a year ago.
Pick: Bowling Green Over 6.5 Wins -115 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
The Falcons will be a top-tier defense in the conference.
Bowling Green has a top-tier defense in this conference, which makes me love their team total over.
6. Ohio Bobcats
- 2023 Record: 10-3
- Key Additions: Michael Mack (CB),
- Key Losses: Kurtis Rourke (QB), Torrie Cox JR (CB), CJ Harris (QB),
- MAC Title Odds: +1200
After back-to-back ten-win seasons, the Bobcats should be atop the conference once again.
Signal caller Parker Navarro will lead the Ohio offense.
Ohio will return just two starters on the offensive line.
The Bobcats held their opponents to 15.8 points per game a season ago.
Pick: Ohio Team Total Under 6 -120 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
The Bobcats will struggle on the offensive side of the football.
While the Bobcats' defense was great last season, this roster has a lot of turnover.
I do not see a way that the Bobcats get to seven wins.
7. Eastern Michigan Eagles
- 2023 Record: 6-7
- Key Additions: Oran Singelton (WR), Tyrell Martin (DT) Trey Liang (DE)
- Key Losses: Josh McCarty (S),
- MAC Title Odds: +3000
Head coach Chris Creighton will look to build on a solid 2023 season.
Eastern Michigan returns four starters on the offensive side of the football.
The Eagles defense struggled a season ago, allowing 26.7 points per game.
Pick: Eastern Michigan Over 4.5 wins -130 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
The Eagles could be a surprise team in the MAC.
Eastern Michigan has a favorable schedule in front of them.
At 4.5, the over is the best bet.
8. Central Michigan Broncos
- 2023 Record: 5-7
- Key Additions: Branson Burton (IOL)
- Key Losses: Jake Tafelski (OT), Keegan Smith (IOL), Kyle Moretti (LB)
- MAC Title Odds: +1400
The Chips will attempt to bounce back after a poor 2023 showing.
Jim McElwains's team will need to improve offensively to make noise in 2024.
Central Michigan allowed 31.1 points per game a season ago.
Pick: Central Michigan Over wins 5.5 -135 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
The Chips have a favorable schedule this year.
Central Michigan has improved in the off-season on both sides of the ball.
We will take advantage of this short number.
9. Buffalo Bulls
- 2023 Record: 3-9
- Key Additions: Antonio Colclough (EDGE), Eddie Plesant (CB),
- Key Losses: Isiah Wright (OT), Anthony Venneri (P)
- MAC Title Odds: +3000
Head coach Pete Lembo begins year one at the helm for the Bulls.
CJ Ogbonna is expected to take over the quarterbacking duties.
The Bulls' offense was one of the worst in the MAC last season.
Buffalo has a lot of turnover on the defensive side of the ball.
Pick: Buffalo Team Total Under 4.5 wins +130 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
Buffalo does not have enough firepower on either side of the ball.
The biggest question mark for Buffalo is their quarterback play.
The lack of quarterback play will be a major issue in 2024.
10. Ball State Cardinals
- 2023 Record: 4-8
- Key Additions: Brandon Sloan (WR), George Udo (S), Justin Bowick (WR)
- Key Losses: Marquez Cooper (RB), AJ Vinatieri (K), Jordan Riley Scott (S),
- MAC Title Odds: +3500
Ball State will attempt to rebound from a disappointing 2023 campaign in which it won just three games.
The Cardinals have struggled since winning the MAC title in 2020.
Only one defensive starter will return for Ball State.
Pick: Ball State Team Total Under 4 wins -150 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
The Cardinals had a rough season in 2023, and they will struggle once again this season.
Ball State's main concern is its defense, which will have ten new starters.
The Cardinals do not have enough offensive ability to compensate for their poor defense.
11. Akron Zips
- 2023 Record: 2-10
- Key Additions: Israel Polk (WR), Daymond David (S)
- Key Losses: Ronan Chambers (OL), Kenny Martin (S)
- MAC Title Odds: +6000
2023 was a disappointing year for the Zips.
Head coach Jim Moorehead will look to get this program on the right track.
The Offense was a major issue for the Zips a year ago.
Akron will return five starters on defense.
Pick: Akron Team Total Over 3 wins -150 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
While the Zips won just two games a year ago, many were close.
Akron lost five games by one score.
That is an encouraging statistic, as they will be able to sneak out more close wins this season.
12. Kent State Golden Flashes
- 2023 Record: 5-7
- Key Additions: Branson Burton (IOL)
- Key Losses: Jake Tafelski (OT), Keegan Smith (IOL), Kyle Moretti (LB)
- MAC Title Odds: +1400
Kenni Burns will look to get Kent State back on the right path.
After a disastrous campaign in 2023, this is an important year for this program.
Kent State will return 10 starters.
Pick: Kent State Team Total Under 2.5 wins +120 Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
We see a low number for a reason.
Kent State is the worst team in the conference and will be one of the worst teams in Division 1 football.
I would not be surprised if this team did not win two games this season.
College Football Odds
