MAC Championship Predictions, Sleeper Teams and Busts – 2023 College Football Season
2023 MAC Championship Preview
WagerTalk college football contributor Kyle Kargel gives his MAC Championship betting preview heading into the 2023 college football season! Which MAC team could surprise some, disappoint and who is the best bet to win the conference championship come December? Read up on MAC Championship predictions, sleeper teams and busts now!
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| MAC Teams | Odds to Win MAC Championship |
|---|---|
| Toledo | +170 |
| Ohio | +280 |
| Buffalo | +650 |
| Eastern Michigan | +750 |
| Miami (OH) | +900 |
| Northern Illinois | +1600 |
| Central Michigan | +1800 |
| Bowling Green | +2000 |
| Ball State | +3000 |
| Akron | +3500 |
| Western Michigan | +5000 |
| Kent State | +15000 |
Past MAC Championship Winners
2022: Toledo Rockets
2021: Northern Illinois Huskies
2020: Ball State Cardinals
2019: Miami (OH) RedHawks
2018: Northern Illinois Huskies
2017: Toledo Rockets
2016: Western Michigan Broncos
2015: Bowling Green Falcons
2014: Northern Illinois Huskies
2013: Bowling Green Falcons
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MAC Championship Sleeper – Eastern Michigan (+750)
The Eagles out of Ypsilanti went off at +10000 odds to win the MAC Championship last season but they’ve shrunk all the way down to +750 this season and rightfully so.
Eastern Michigan went 9-4 last season including four straight wins to close out the 2022 season. They only lost by three to Toledo and are looking to build off only their second nine-win season in the school’s history.
They’re currently the only MAC school to never reach the conference’s championship game but are looking to change that with arguably the best coaching staff in the MAC. They also had the best recruiting class of any in the MAC in 2023 signing 17 three-star recruits.
The biggest hit will be losing QB Taylor Powell but Austin Smith does have game experience with the Eagles playing in half the team’s games last year.
This Eagles team defeated Arizona State on the road last season and are looking for another Power 5 upset this season playing at Minnesota their second game of the season.
They don’t play consecutive conference road games at this upcoming season with their toughest stretch coming at the end of the season playing at Toledo and at Buffalo in a three week stretch. Their chances of winning the West Division will likely come down to those three games.
MAC Championship Bust – Toledo (+170)
Toledo won the MAC Championship as hands down favorites last season so why would the oddsmakers list them as even less favorites to win this season? They only had the fifth best recruiting class in the MAC but return dual-threat QB Dequan Finn who missed time near the end of last season due to injury.
If he continues to run how he does and take hits, this could be a huge factor in if Toledo will once again play in the MAC Championship.
Sure their secondary is top notch but they lost their three top front seven contributors which was key in creating pressure and forcing errant throws, making it easier for the secondary to defend passes.
If Toledo can’t get the QB pressure that they did last season, the secondary could be facing a much tougher test this season.
Five of their eight conference games were determined by one score with three of those resulting in losses. While Toledo are the favorites again to win the MAC Championship, don’t expect the Rockets to go back-to-back in 2023.
MAC Championship Expert Prediction – Ohio (+280)
Ohio won all seven of their conference games in a row last season with only one being determined by single digits. They’ve been to five MAC Championship games and haven’t won any of them which has to eat at the football team.
Ohio is home to the reigning MAC Offensive Player of the Year in QB Curtis Rourke as well as the MAC Freshman of the Year in RB Sieh Bangura who rushed for 1,078 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Rourke threw for 3,256 with a TD:INT ratio of 25:4.
His touchdowns topped the MAC while his interceptions were lowest of any MAC starter last season as well. They also return their top receiver (Sam Wiglusz) and four offensive linemen.
Their defensive line is their biggest concern but return two of their top tacklers in linebackers Keye Thompson and Bryce Houston. Ohio opened up last season with 30+ point losses at Penn State and Iowa State, but obviously those games prepped them for the MAC run.
They open at San Diego State and this year and will welcome in Iowa State to Peden Stadium this season. Look for Ohio to get the MAC Championship monkey off their back and finally hoist the conference championship trophy in Detroit come December.
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