After capturing their fifth straight Mid-American Conference West Division title the Northern Illinois Huskies proved they were the class of the MAC in 2014, dismantling the Bowling Green Falcons 51-17 in the conference championship game.
More of the same is expected from the Huskies this season, as they sit as slim +300 favorites to win their fourth conference crown in five years in Mid-American Conference futures betting at Sportsbook.
The Huskies shared MAC West title honors last year with the Toledo Rockets, who also finished the campaign with a 7-1 conference record but failed to advance to the conference championship game after dropping a 27-24 to Northern Illinois earlier in the season.
The Rockets remain close on the Huskies' heels in MAC betting, however, sporting solid +325 odds at Sportsbook.
Bowling Green also remains in the hunt on the MAC odds. The Falcons posted a middling 5-3 record last season, good for top spot in the MAC East standings, and will prepare for the upcoming campaign at +475 on the MAC betting odds.
The Falcons are joined at +475 by the Western Michigan Broncos. After enduring a brutal 1-11 overall campaign in 2013, the Broncos made major strides last season, posting a 6-2 conference record, and will see their conference title hopes likely hinge on regular season-ending games against Toledo and Northern Illinois.
The Akron Zips compiled a 3-5 conference record, but with a relatively weak schedule ahead of them enjoy solid +600 MAC odds.
The Ohio Bobcats failed to string together consecutive wins that would have given them a share of last season's MAC East title, finishing at 4-4, and are listed at +800 on the MAC odds at Sportsbook.
The Ball State Cardinals are next at +1800, followed by the Massachusetts Minutemen at +2000, and the Kent State Golden Flashes at +2500. Central Michigan is at +6600, with Buffalo at +8000, Miami-Ohio at +15000, and Eastern Michigan at +30000.
- Northern Illinois +300
- Toledo +325
- Bowling Green +475
- Western Michigan +475
- Akron +600
- Ohio +800
- Ball State +1800
- Massachusetts +2000
- Kent State +2500
- Central Michigan +6600
- Buffalo +8000
- Miami Ohio +15000
- Eastern Michigan +30000
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Bowling Green and Northern Illinois battled for the MAC conference title last season, with Bowling Green coming out on top 47-27 in the championship game. Bowling Green is also the favorite at the sportsbooks on the odds to win the MAC once again in the upcoming season.
At Sportsbook Bowling Green is the +145 favorite on the odds to win the MAC championship, after they went 7-1 in conference play and 10-4 overall last season. Northern Illinois, 8-0 in conference play and 12-2 overall last season, is next at +275 on those MAC football betting lines.
The top tier of MAC odds contenders is then rounded out by Toledo at +310 at Sportsbook, with Ball State at +1800, Kent State at +2100, Central Michigan at +2500, and both Ohio and Akron at +3000. Ball State went 7-1 in Mid-American Conference action last season, and 10-3 overall.
Buffalo sits at +3500 on the MAC football betting lines, with Western Michigan at +6000, Miami-Ohio at +9000, and Eastern Michigan at +12000. Massachusetts went 1-7 in conference play and 1-11 overall last season; they're at +22500 on the MAC championship odds.
2014 Odds to Win the MAC Championship at Sportsbook as of August 18:
Bowling Green +145
Northern Illinois +275
Toledo +310
Ball State +1800
Kent State +2100
Central Michigan +2500
Ohio +3000
Akron +3000
Buffalo +3500
Western Michigan +6000
Miami-Ohio +9000
Eastern Michigan +12000
Massachusetts +22500
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Kent State and Northern Illinois led the way in the MAC last season with a combined 16-0 straight-up record in conference play. The Huskies prevailed in the 2012 MAC Championship Game and have their sights set on another title as betting favorites for 2013.
Northern Illinois (Odds to win BCS Championship at Sportsbook OFF)
The Huskies went 12-2 SU overall and a profitable 9-3-2 against the spread last year. The total stayed UNDER in eight of 13 games behind a defense that allowed less than 20 points a game.
Bowling Green (Odds to win BCS Championship at Sportsbook OFF)
The Falcons went 6-2 SU in conference play last season and 8-5 both SU and ATS overall. They ended the season on a profitable 7-2 ATS run in their last nine games.
Ohio (Odds to win BCS Championship at Sportsbook OFF)
The Bobcats went 9-4 SU last season with a 4-4 SU record in the MAC. They failed to cover in eight of 13 games including a 2-5 ATS record on the road.
Ball State (Odds to win BCS Championship at Sportsbook OFF)
The Cardinals went 9-4 both SU and ATS last season and went 4-1 ATS at home. The total stayed UNDER in four of their last five games.
Kent State (Odds to win BCS Championship at Sportsbook OFF)
The MAC title runner-up won 11 of its 14 games SU in 2012 and was a solid play all season long with an 11-3 record ATS. The total went OVER in eight of 13 games.
Buffalo (Odds to win BCS Championship at Sportsbook OFF)
The Bulls were 4-8 SU last season including a 3-5 SU record in conference play. They were 5-6-1 ATS but a great play on the total line with nine of 11 games staying UNDER the total.
Toledo (Odds to win BCS Championship at Sportsbook OFF)
The Rockets were another solid play on the total line with nine of 12 games staying UNDER. They went 9-4 SU and 7-6 ATS.
Miami-Ohio (Odds to win BCS Championship at Sportsbook OFF)
The RedHawks went 3-5 SU in the MAC last season with a 4-8 SU record overall. They went 1-5-1 ATS on the road and were 3-8-1 ATS overall.
Western Michigan (Odds to win BCS Championship at Sportsbook OFF)
The Broncos ended 2012 with a 4-8 record SU and ATS. They were 3-3 ATS at home but a costly 1-5 ATS on the road.
Central Michigan (Odds to win BCS Championship at Sportsbook OFF)
The Chippewas went 7-6 SU and 6-7 ATS last season. They were 4-4 SU at home but failed to cover in five of seven games with a posted line.
Massachusetts (Odds to win BCS Championship at Sportsbook OFF)
In their first season in the MAC, the Minutemen struggled to a 1-7 SU record in conference play and they went 1-11 SU overall. They covered in four of 12 games.
Akron (Odds to win BCS Championship at Sportsbook OFF)
The Zips are another team looking for a fresh start after going 1-11 SU last year. They were 1-5 ATS at home but a profitable 5-1 ATS on the road.
Eastern Michigan (Odds to win BCS Championship at Sportsbook OFF)
The Eagles went 2-12 SU and 4-8 ATS in 2012. The total went OVER in seven of the 12 games.
