July 24, 2012

Jeremy Birmingham
KentStateReport.com Staff Writer

At today's MAC media day, the media prediction for the 2012 MAC season has gone public. Despite narrowly missing bowl eligibility, Kent State and head coach Darrell Hazell finds themselves near the bottom of the too-early conference prognostication. Kent State, with 76 points, has been picked to finish fourth in the eastern division of the MAC.

The Ohio University Bobcats, last season's eastern division winner and the 24-23 winner in the "Famous Idaho Potato Bowl" against Utah State, was the consensus media pick in the east, collecting all 17 first place votes and 117 total points in the voting. The Bobcats return 49 letter winners from a year ago, and Frank Solich's team is primed and ready to repeat. Bowling Green , second in the east with 91 points, will look to improve on coach Dave Clawson's best season at BG, a 5-7 finish in 2011. Last season saw five Falcons selected to the first-team All-Mac team. The Miami Redhawks find themselves third in the east with 84 points. After the Golden Flashes, Buffalo, Akron and Massachusetts round out the east.

In the west, Toledo edged out Northern Illinois to be named the favorite. The Rockets finished with 7 first-place votes and 87 total points to 5 first-place votes and 83 points for the Huskies. Western Michigan, led by senior QB Alex Carder who returns after throwing for over 3800 yards in 2011, received four first-place votes and 79 total points in what should be a very entertaining western division. Toledo returns 48 letter winners and dispatched Air Force, 42-41 in the Military Bowl. Head coach Matt Campbell will enter his first season as the man in charge with lofty expectations based. Ball State, Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan settle in at fourth through sixth respectively, despite the fact that Central Michigan did earn a first-place vote.

Kent State's season kicks off on Friday, August 30th at home against Towson State, before a trip to SEC opponent Kentucky in the first of two non-conference road games against BCS conference teams. The Golden Flashes will also head to Piscataway (N.J.) to take on Rutgers in late October.

In conference, Kent State will host Ball State, Western Michigan, rival Akron and favorite Ohio. They will travel to Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green and Miami. In a twist of favorable scheduling, Hazell's boys miss Toledo, Western Michigan and Central Michigan this season, along with newcomer Massachusetts.

Here is the final breakdown of the MAC's media predictions for 2012.

Team - Total Points - First Place Votes

MAC East Division
Ohio - 117 - 17
Bowling Green - 91
Miami - 84
Kent State - 76
Buffalo - 52
Akron - 31
Massachusetts - 23

MAC West Division
Toledo - 87 - 7
Northern Illinois - 83 - 5
Western Michigan - 4 - 79
Ball State - 42
Eastern Michigan - 34
Central Michigan - 32 - 1