MAC East Preview: Bulls face stiff competition in division

The Bulls (2-2) opened their season much like many other Mid-American Conference teams - with a combination of quality and lackluster opponents. The MAC East division appears to have a similar divide with half its teams. Bowling Green, Kent State and Ohio are legitimate conference contenders, and the other half - Massachusetts, Miami Ohio and Akron - have much smaller expectations.

With conference play beginning, here is the second edition of a two-part series breaking down the MAC this season.

Bowling Green (4-1, 2-0 MAC)

The Falcons' offense exploded to begin the season, scoring over 30 points in each of its four victories. The team's lone loss came against Big 10 opponent Indiana.

Sophomore quarterback Matt Johnson is averaging 245 passing yards per game; he had a 357-yard, two-touchdown performance at defending MAC East champion Kent State.

Fellow sophomore Travis Greene has led the Bowling Green ground attack. He is averaging 5.6 yards per rush this season and has totaled 287 yards and two touchdowns in two MAC games.

Led by this young duo, expect to see Bowling Green to finish toward the top of the MAC standings and fighting for a conference championship.

Kent State (2-3, 1-1 MAC)

Much like Buffalo, Kent State had two tough road games near the beginning of its schedule. Following a 17-10 home victory over Liberty and a home loss to Bowling Green, the Golden Flashes traveled to No. 8 LSU (4-1) and Penn State (3-1). Kent State dropped the two contests by a combined score of 79-13, but rebounded by winning its first MAC game at Western Michigan last week.

The Golden Flashes are starting freshman Colin Reardon at quarterback. He has yet to throw for over 200 yards in a game but has thrown only two interceptions.

Junior running back Trayion Durham earned his first 100-yard game this season last week in Kent State's 32-14 victory over Western Michigan after rushing for over 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns last year.

Senior running back Dri Archer - whom many consider the best offensive player in the MAC - was injured during the first game of the year and has played in only two games since, rushing six times for 73 yards and catching five passes for 55 yards and a touchdown. He has yet to rush for a touchdown.

Ohio (3-1)

The Bobcats roll into MAC play after three consecutive home victories. Their lone road game of the season was a 49-7 opening-day blowout to No. 9 Louisville.

Senior quarterback Tyler Tettleton has 858 yards and six touchdowns. Senior running backs Ryan Boykin and Beau Blankenship make up the Bobcats' two-back tandem. Each has 51 carries and similar rushing yards - 201 and 179, respectively. Both backs have scored twice.

These three players were major factors last season as Ohio finished 8-4. Look for the experienced players to help the Bobcats in 2013 MAC action.

Massachusetts (0-4)

The Minutemen won only one conference game in their inaugural MAC season and don't appear to be on path to winning more than that this year.

They have struggled to begin the season and are one of only two teams in the MAC East to average fewer than 100 yards a game in rushing. Massachusetts opened the year with a 45-0 loss at No. 23 Wisconsin and lost its other three games by a combined score of 85-28.

The Minutemen also dropped their home opener to FCS opponent Maine, 24-14. UMass' passing and rushing offenses are ranked Nos. 109 and 113, respectively, in the country.

The lone offensive bright spot appears to be sophomore wide receiver Tajae Sharpe, who has totaled over one-third of the team's total receiving yards (241) and two of its three touchdowns.

Miami Ohio (0-4)

In their first four games, the RedHawks have had one of the worst offenses in Division I. Miami Ohio ranks No. 121 in passing yards per game (90.8) and No. 116 in rushing (83.5).

They've been significantly outmatched - playing against opponents from BCS conferences, Cincinnati, Illinois and Kentucky - and have been outscored 157-35.

Senior quarterback Austin Boucher has completed just 43.1 percent of his passes and the team has yet to have a receiver total more than 100 yards in a game.

Akron (1-4, 0-1 MAC)

The Zips have been one of the worst teams in the MAC for the past three seasons. They've won only three games total and one in conference (2010).

Their early-season performance so far seems to indicate the Zips may be better than in past years.

Behind a 21-point second half and 311-yard performance from sophomore quarterback Kyle Pohl, Akron was just three minutes away from shocking the No. 11 Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The Zips have averaged 246.8 yards per game through the air this season, which ranks 53rd in the nation.

Wide receivers Zach D'Orazio and L.T. Smith have combined for 511 yards, and D'Orazio has four touchdowns.

email: sports@ubspectrum.com