Odds To Win 2011 Mid-American Championship

Future Betting Odds

Over the past few seasons, the Mid-American Conference has done an excellent job at not only elevating the level of play within this Mid-Major conference, but to provide a stern test for any of the major programs in the country that decide to add them to their non-conference schedule. This has created a competitive environment that gives as many as six of the 13 schools in the MAC a legitimate shot at winning the conference title this season.

Bodog has opened Toledo as the favorite to win the West Division at 3/2 and the conference at 13/4. The Rockets went 8-5 overall last season, but were 7-1 in conference play. A 65-30 romp at the hands of Northern Illinois was the only blemish on the record. They will once again be loaded with skill players on offense including RB Adonis Thomas, who rushed for 1,098 yards last year, and WR Eric Page, who caught 99 balls for 1,105 yards. The battle for the starting position at quarterback should come down to either Austin Dantin or Terrance Owens.

To win the title, the Rockets’ defense needs to improve upon the 28.5 points a game it allowed in 2010, which was ranked 73rd in the country. If it can tighten this number up a bit, then Toledo will be the team to beat in the MAC.

The second-favorite to win the West at 9/5 and second-favorite at 7/2 to win the conference is last season’s West Division champs, the Huskies of Northern Illinois. Jerry Kill, who took the head coaching job at Minnesota, has been replaced by Dave Doeren. He will have some big shoes to fill to try and match last season’s 11 wins with a defense that returns just two starters from a squad that was ranked 14th in the country in points allowed.

The offense is much less of a rebuilding project with seven starters back from 2010. One of the biggest holes to fill will be finding a replacement for RB Chad Spann, who rushed for 1,293 yards last season. Fortunately, the Huskies have Chandler Harnish back at quarterback. He was a duel threat last season; passing 2,230 yards and 20 TD’s, while adding another 764 yards and five TD’s on the ground. The big game on the schedule for Northern Illinois is a Nov.1 showdown in Toledo.

The betting odds to win the conference for the rest of the teams in the West have Western Michigan at 8/1, Central Michigan at 16/1, Ball State at 35/1, and Eastern Michigan at 40/1.

Temple and Ohio are co-favorites at 2/1 to end up on top in the East Division. The Owls are the third-favorite to win the conference at 4/1, while the Bobcats are listed with Miami (OH.) as 5/1 favorites to win the MAC. Temple will also have a new face at head coach after Al Golden decided to take the job at Miami (FL). Steve Addazio, who was the offensive coordinator at Florida, will have some immediate personnel decisions on his plate this summer with no set starter at quarterback and just 13 starters overall returning from last year’s 8-4 squad.

Ohio is in somewhat better shape with seven starters returning on offense, but will also be breaking in a new signal-caller this season. Tyler Tettleton looked impressive in spring practice, so it appears that he will be the Bobcats’ opening day starter on the road against New Mexico State.

Miami (OH) returns as the defending MAC champion with 5/1 odds to win the conference and 5/2 odds to repeat as East Division champs. The Redhawks only managed to post one victory in 2009, but turned things completely around last season with a 10-4 record and a victory over Middle Tennessee in the Go Daddy Bowl. With 17 starters back from last year’s squad, Miami’s chances to repeat will most likely hinge on a Nov.9 road game against Temple and a Nov. 22 road game against Ohio..

The odds to win the Mid-American Conference for the rest of the teams in the East have Kent State at 25/1, Akron at 30/1, Buffalo at 35/1, and Bowling Green at 35/1.

Note: The Mid-American future lines listed above were current odds at the time the article was written. Please click here!! to get the up to the minute odds to win the 2011 Mid-American title.