Can Central Michigan make it a three-peat in 2008 or is another squad ready to challenge the Chippewas for the top spot in the MAC this upcoming season? It may only be spring, but it is never too early to begin to scout the teams and take an early look at each team's potential for the upcoming season.

In our Spring Sneak Peek around the MAC, we sought out the opinions and perspectives of those who follow the teams and asked them to give us a thumbnail overview of each team's prospects this year based on the early returns, asking our experts to give three reasons each why the team may or may not be ready to contend for a MAC title in 2008.

So, let's take an early look around the MAC:

AKRON ZIPS
2007: 4-8, 3-5 MAC

Offensive Starters Returning: 8
Offensive Starters Lost: 3
Defensive Starters Returning: 7
Defensive Starters Lost: 4

Sneak Peek
By Mike Rasor
Akron Beacon Journal
Three Reasons Akron Can Win the MAC in 2008:
1. Running back depth. Akron has four running backs that could start on most MAC teams. Dennis Kennedy seems to have returned to his bruising form of 2006, when he was an All-MAC caliber back. Alex Allen has game-breaking ability. Andrew Johnson transferred from the University of Miami and in practice has shown why the Hurricanes recruited him. I haven't even mentioned 2007 All-MAC running back Bryan Williams, whom J.D. Brookhart moved to strong safety. Moving the chains should be no problem for the Zips.

2. The beef. If there is one tested method of predicting a good football team, it's strength along the offensive and defensive lines. Last season, the offensive line was strong and young. It will only improve. The defensive line added Ryan Bain, a transfer from Iowa, who has the coaches drooling. The Zips' d-line is young, big and talented. A transition from a 3-3-5 defense to a 4-3 scheme would better allow the team to take advantage.

3. The Matt Rodgers potential. Freshman quarterback Matt Rodgers has Zips fans dreaming of the next Dan LeFevour. Rodgers' arm strength, accuracy and pocket poise are far beyond a redshirt freshman. He might have started last season if not for shoulder soreness that ripened into a need for surgery. He will battle last year's troubled starter Chris Jacquemain for the duty in the fall.

Three Reasons Akron Won't Win The MAC in 2008:
1. Improving MAC teams. Although the MAC East is anyone's to win, Temple and Buffalo are improving quicker than the Zips. A young Miami will return to defend its divisional title. Bowling Green is coming off a bowl season. Ohio and Kent State never can be taken for granted as certain victories.

2. Uncertainty in the passing game. Although Rodgers is waiting for his turn, the Zips still lack a proven quarterback. They also lack good receivers. J.D. Brookhart moved Andre Jones from defensive back to receiver, and he has looked good. Highly touted junior college transfer Deryn Bowser is likely to start. At the least, it will take a few games for the passing game to come together. At worst, it might be as miserable as last season, when Jacquemain and Carlton Jackson took turns handing the job back and forth.

3. Lack of depth in the secondary. Akron lost star cornerbacks Reggie Corner and Davanzo Tate. Replacing them will be difficult. If it doesn't happen, forget winning the MAC. The Zips will be lucky to match its four wins of last year without good corners. Brookhart helped the situation by converting All-MAC running back Bryan Williams to strong safety.

BALL STATE CARDINALS
2007: 7-6, 5-2 MAC

Offensive Starters Returning: 9
Offensive Starters Lost: 0
Defensive Starters Returning: 6
Defensive Starters Lost: 4

Sneak Peek
By Doug Zaleski
The Star Press
Three Reasons Ball State Can Win the MAC in 2008:
1. Schools that have won the MAC championship in the past decade or so have a common thread: a great quarterback. Nate Davis' career is shaping up as one that mirrors that of former MAC greats Ben Roethlisberger, Byron Leftwich and others.

2. The Cardinals return starters at every position on offense, and that should strike concern into the hearts of every defensive coordinator in the MAC. Ball State led the conference in passing last year and broke its school record for points in a season. That should be a strong portend of things to come this year.

3. Ball State takes care of the ball as well as anybody in the nation. The Cardinals ranked fourth in the country last season in turnover margin. That kind of appreciation for not committing mistakes on offense -- and taking away the ball on defense -- is especially beneficial in maintaining control of the score.

Three Reasons Ball State Won't Win The MAC in 2008:
1. Special teams can be an adventure for the Cardinals, especially their placekicking. Jake Hogue and Ian McGarvey battled all season last year for the placekicking job, and the coaching staff didn't seem to have great confidence in either one. All it takes is a key missed kick here or there to lose a big game and knock a team out of the MAC race.

2. Central Michigan won the past two MAC championships, and Ball State hasn't defeated its West Division rival since 2003. There might be a mental obstacle the Cardinals have to get past in order to knock off Central Michigan and get to the championship game. Ball State thought it was ready to do that last season, but was drilled 58-38 at home by the Chippewas. This year, the Cardinals have to play on Central Michigan's home field

3. Ball State coach Brady Hoke is at his wits end trying to figure out how to get his team to defend the run better. That problem has been a constant during his five years with the Cardinals. Ball State allowed six opponents to rush for 214 yards or more last season. If that number doesn't come down, the Cardinals will have difficulty winning a title.

BOWLING GREEN FALCONS
2007: 8-5, 6-2 MAC

Offensive Starters Returning: 9
Offensive Starters Lost: 3
Defensive Starters Returning: 9
Defensive Starters Lost: 2

Sneak Peek
By Jack Carle
Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune
Three Reasons Bowling Green Can Win the MAC in 2008:
1. Tyler Sheehan returns at quarterback after a strong sophomore season. Sheehan threw for over 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2007 and was third in the MAC in total offense, behind only Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour and Ball State's Nate Davis.

2. Erique Dozier returns at linebacker and is an All-MAC caliber player. Dozier was among the conference leaders with 112 tackles last season, tops on the Falcons in 2007, and logged a team-leading 9 tackles for loss and has the ability to be a game changing force on defense.

3. Sinisa Vrvilo has the confidence and ability to kick a long distance field goal to win a close game. Vrvilo established himself last season as one of the conference's top placekickers, converting 15-19 field goals, including going 6-8 from 40-49 yards.

Three Reasons Bowling Green Won't Win The MAC in 2008:
1. There are still too many question marks if the defense can stop the running game. The Falcons allowed 207.8 yards rushing per game last season.

2. The Falcons must replace three fifth-year seniors on the offensive line, losing Rimington Award finalist and perennial All-MAC selection, center Kory Lichtensteiger along with starting tackles Drew Nystrom and Kevin Huelsman who were the core of a unit that allowed only 32 sacks in 2007.

3. Bowling Green must learn to win on the road.

BUFFALO BULLS
2007: 5-7, 5-3 MAC

Offensive Starters Returning: 10
Offensive Starters Lost: 1
Defensive Starters Returning: 8
Defensive Starters Lost: 3

Sneak Peek
By Rodney McKissic
Buffalo News
Three Reasons Buffalo Can Win the MAC in 2008:
1. Drew Willy plays at an All-MAC level. By the time he's finished Willy could be considered the best quarterback to ever play at UB. He's a four-year starter who seemed to shift to another gear during spring ball where his passing and playmaking ability was near flawless.

2. James Starks performs like the best tailback in the MAC. In the last half of the season few tailbacks, if any, were better than Starks, who averaged 129.4 yards rushing over the last seven games. If Starks takes his game to another level, Buffalo could end up with the league title and a bowl bid.

3. The Bulls play well on the road. Playing well at home wasn't an issue last season (3-2) but playing on the road was another matter (2-5). The league road schedule includes games at Central Michigan, Ohio, Akron and Bowling Green which are all difficult matchups.

Three Reasons Buffalo Won't Win The MAC in 2008:
1. Drew Willy gets hurt. If Willy goes down, Buffalo has as many as five backups to replace him but none have his experience or have performed at his level.

2. They don't find suitable replacements at linebacker. The Bulls lose two starters in Kareem Byrom and Larry Hutchinson and while Fred Branch and Josh Copeland have experience, both missed the spring with injuries. The staff signed a host of linebackers, giving Buffalo depth but not much experience.

3. The secondary doesn't improve. Although the Bulls ranked 5th overall in the MAC, the pass defense ranked next to last. Buffalo started two true freshmen, a sophomore and a junior in the secondary for most of the season and all were first-year starters which had a lot to do with its inconsistent play. The staff is hoping with a year of experience, the unit will perform better.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS
2007: 8-6, 6-1 MAC (Conference Champion)

Offensive Starters Returning: 8
Offensive Starters Lost: 1
Defensive Starters Returning: 8
Defensive Starters Lost: 3

Sneak Peek
By Drew Ellis
Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun
Three Reasons Central Michigan Can Win the MAC in 2008:
1. Dan LeFevour. The hottest quarterback in the MAC is back for his junior year after passing for 3,000 yards and rushing for 1,000 yards in 2007. LeFevour can seemingly do no wrong and has already played in numerous big games, so pressure is not a factor like it could be with Ball State's Nate Davis.

2. The offense. LeFevour is just one part of an amazing CMU offense that couldn't be contained last season. With Bryan Anderson and Antonio Brown each going for over 1,000 receiving yards last season, and both back for their junior and sophomore years respectively, the passing game shouldn't miss a beat. CMU will have a slew of running backs in Justin Hoskins, Ontario Sneed, Carl Volny, and Marcel Archer, along with a handful of incoming freshmen. The offensive line loses guard Eric Tunney, but brings in junior transfer Joe McMahon, who is filling in nicely.

3. The entire CMU coaching staff is back for the Chippewas next season, marking the first time in seven years this has happened for CMU. Last season the Chippewas struggled early in learning the new systems of coach Butch Jones, but this year the terminology has been the same for the players and allowed for a smoother spring as far as execution is concerned.

Three Reasons Central Michigan Won't Win The MAC in 2008:
1. The Chippewa defense wasn't very strong in 2007 and gets even younger next year with the loss of All-MAC linebackers Red Keith and Ike Brown. Add in the loss of DT Steven Friend and the Chippewas have a lot of holes to fill in an already questionable defense.

2. The schedule. The non-conference schedule is brutal enough as CMU travels to Georgia, Purdue, and Indiana. If the Chippewas can avoid injuries in those games they will then face a difficult MAC schedule which opens at Ohio, and has three of their final four conference games on the road, with the lone home contest being against their most likely contender in Ball State.

3. History. Central Michigan has won just six MAC championships in the school's history, so winning three straight would be hard to imagine. Marshall is the last team to do so and had tremendous talent that I don't think CMU quite matches up with right now. Ten years ago the idea of the Chippewas going for three straight MAC titles would have been laughable. Can it be done? Sure, but history is not on their side.

EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES
2007: 4-8, 3-4 MAC

Offensive Starters Returning: 7
Offensive Starters Lost: 4
Defensive Starters Returning: 8
Defensive Starters Lost: 3

Sneak Peek
By Dave Ruthenberg
MAC Report Online
Three Reasons Eastern Michigan Can Win the MAC in 2008:
1. Quarterback. Junior quarterback Andy Schmitt may have flown under the radar of most observers of MAC football last season, but those close to the EMU program believe Schmitt may be a top-tier signal caller...if he stays healthy. Schmitt battled shoulder issues and a concussion last season but still recorded 14 aerial scores and six rushing TD's. Schmitt has a strong grasp of being a field commander and is a solid decision maker. He also has surprisingly deceptive speed and agility and was the Eagles' second leading rusher last season. Schmitt showed no residual issues from his injuries last season during the spring and was extremely accurate in practice. Sophomore Kyle McMahon gained valuable game experience last season and provides the Eagles with a solid backup option.

2. Depth. For the first time in head coach Jeff Genyk's five year tenure, the Eagles have enough depth at several key positions to overcome the inevitable injuries that will occur during the course of the season, affording the team the luxury of redshirting some players that would have otherwise been forced into playing in seasons past. The Eagles will also be able to plug in players with enough skill and experience at backup positions once the rigors of the season begin to take its inevitable toll.

3. Schedule. Eastern Michigan will have thee home games within the first month of the season, opening against Indiana State and hosting Toledo and Northern Illinois, two teams that finished below EMU in the MAC West in 2007. Sandwiched in are road trips to Michigan State and Maryland but with a favorable early home schedule, the Eagles have an opportunity to start fast out of the gate in the MAC West.

Three Reasons Eastern Michigan Won't Win The MAC in 2008:
1. Running backs. While there has been strong competition this spring for the starting tailback spot, none of the candidates enter with a significant amount of starting experience as EMU looks to replace last year's leading rusher, Pierre Walker. Leading the charge are senior Terrence Blevins and sophomore Dwayne Priest. Blevins is strong between the tackles and Priest is a solid edge runner but their durability is a bit of an unknown factor at this point and if the Eagles are going to keep QB Andy Schmitt healthy, their relatively untested running backs are going to have to be counted on for significant contributions.

2. Defensive line. This is probably the area of biggest concern for EMU heading into the 2008 campaign. The Eagles lost significant performers in future NFL draftee Jason Jones as well as Eric Young from the d-line. This will put added pressure on EMU's linebackers with All-MAC performer Daniel Holtzclaw, the team's leading tackler, likely having to take on a larger leadership role, especially with the departure of Darran Matthews, the Eagles' second-leading tackler from last season, and with strong side linebacker Andre Hatchett being held out of spring to focus on academic matters.

3. Placekicking. With a significant amount of parity within the MAC, games can frequently come down to a crucial field goal or PAT. Coming out of the spring, the Eagles' placekicking is less than confidence-inducing. Neither Zach Johnson, who took over the placekicking duties last season in addition to handling punts, nor Sean Dutcher, who lost the placekicking job to Johnson, have shown they are up to the task. Both kickers struggled badly during the spring, missing on chip shot FG's and PAT's. The coaching staff is hoping to add a scholarship kicker before the season begins but this is an area of significant concern.

KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES
2007: 3-9, 1-7 MAC

Offensive Starters Returning: 7
Offensive Starters Lost: 4
Defensive Starters Returning: 8
Defensive Starters Lost: 3

Sneak Peek
By David Carducci
Record Courier
Three Reasons Kent State Can Win the MAC in 2008:
1. Loaded Weapons ... Eugene Jarvis is still only 5-foot-5, but as the nation's leading returning rusher (1,669 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2007), he is arguably the most dangerous weapon in the Mid-American Conference. Kent State's secret weapon may very well be tight end Jameson Konz, a 6-3, 220-pound converted linebacker who could be a difference maker now that he is at tight end for his senior year. Konz is the fastest player on Kent State's team, with 40-yard times in the 4.26 range, and so far this spring he has been both the Golden Flashes' big-play threat in the passing game and their most consistent pass-catcher.

2. Developing Depth ... KSU found some talent in recent years, but when injuries ravaged the Flashes roster, they didn't have the depth to recover. That could be different in 2008. Senior quarterback Julian Edelman is healthy and looks to be ready to return to his old form, but if he struggles or suffers another devastating injury, sophomore star-in-the-making Giorgio Morgan is ready to take over. Both should see action this season. Behind Jarvis, the Flashes think they have another running back worthy of consideration for the title of the MAC's best in sophomore Andre Flowers. Don't be surprised to see Jarvis and the bigger Flowers line up in the same backfield on occasion this season. There is also more depth than ever at linebacker and both the offensive and defensive lines.

3. The Pass Rush ... Monte Simmons showed some signs of becoming a difference maker as an edge rusher during his freshman season. In part-time action in 2007, he recorded 3 1/2 sacks and regularly disrupted plays behind the line of scrimmage. So far this spring, Simmons has been the best player on the field for KSU. He is smart, athletic and fast. The Flashes single-season sack record could be in danger during the next three years. With Simmons on one end and the already dangerous Kevin Hogan coming from the other, MAC quarterbacks will have plenty to worry about on third downs in the coming year.

Three Reasons Kent State Won't Win The MAC in 2008:
1. An Unstable Corps ... KSU's receivers have continued their struggles from 2007 onto the spring practice field. They have speed and athleticism, but they don't make up for their lack of size with consistency catching the football. The loss of Rashad Tukes, who was kicked off the team for violating team rules, could hurt. He had a nice up-side. Coach Doug Martin is high on a large group of incoming freshmen at the position, including two recent signings, but will the newcomers be ready to produce in their first year? For now, Edelman's most reliable targets appear to be at the tight end position where Konz and Jonathan Simpson combine size, speed and great potential with consistent hands.

2. Lingering Questions ... The Flashes have some questions to answer on special teams, with the punt game chief among them. Jake Kilroy was threatened with the loss of his job after the 2007 season, and he hasn't been any better in the spring. Since he hasn't been able to rise to the challenge, his duties will be handed to a raw freshman recruit in 2008. KSU also hopes to find improvement in a secondary that failed to make plays on the football when given the opportunity last season. To avoid the same passive play, the Flashes have dumped their traditional two-deep zone to play more man defense this spring. So far, they have liked the results.

3. Tradition ... When a program enjoys just one winning season in 20 years, losing becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. The Flashes have seen an increase in talent on the field during the Doug Martin era, but the results on the scoreboard have changed little. With one of their most talented teams in decades, the Flashes opened 2007 as a pre-season favorite to win the MAC East by several national media outlets. Martin's 2008 team may be even more talented, but it won't be met with the same high expectations.

MIAMI REDHAWKS
2007: 6-7, 5-2 MAC (MAC East Champion)

Offensive Starters Returning: 8
Offensive Starters Lost: 3
Defensive Starters Returning: 9
Defensive Starters Lost: 2

Sneak Peek
By Ellis Townes
MAC Report Online
Three Reasons Miami Can Win the MAC in 2008:
1. Defense. The RedHawks return nine starters from the MAC's top defense from last season, including defensive player of the year Clayton Mullins, who is joined by Joey Hudson and Caleb Bostic, giving Miami potentially the top linebacking trio in the conference. Miami also topped the MAC in QB sacks in '07 and returns nearly the entire defensive line losing only Craig Mester up front. The RedHawks claimed a MAC East title last season on the strength of their defense which led the MAC in total defense, passing defense, rushing defense and scoring defense and could find themselves needing their defense to shine just as brightly this season.

3. Bitter taste from last season. The RedHawks claimed the MAC East title last season but finished the 2007 campaign by losing to Ohio in the regular season finale and then were steamrolled by Central Michigan in the MAC title game and failed to quality for a bowl game. Don't underestimate the sting that the RedHawks felt after finishing under .500 and sitting at home during bowl season. Many of the players feel they have something left to prove and want to atone for last year's late-season swoon.

Three Reasons Miami Won't Win The MAC in 2008:
1. Quarterback. There is no way around it, quarterback play was the Achilles Heel of the RedHawks offense last season. Junior Daniel Raudabaugh eventually supplanted Mike Kokal as the starter last season but struggled, throwing an equal number of picks and touchdowns (12) with many of his picks coming at the most inopportune of moments, killing potential scoring drives. Redshirt freshman Clay Belton is getting a long look this spring. Belton is considered a stronger-armed passer and will get every opportunity to earn the starting job.

2. Running back. Miami was decimated by injuries in the backfield last season. How bad was it? The RedHawks' leading returning rusher, Thomas Merriweather, recorded 143 yards rushing in 2007. Merriweather has a lot of upside and has looked good in the spring but his durability is unknown as it is with the rest of the running backs. Miami loses all three of its top rushers from 2007 and will be scrambling again this season for answers in the backfield, especially if Merriweather or Andre Bratton struggle in their development.

3. Offensive Line. With the loss of center Steve Meister and left tackle Charlie Norden, the RedHawks are looking to rebuild an already-suspect offensive line. Several players are being moved around this spring in the hopes of finding the right combination but with a struggling running and passing game, the offensive line will need to jell quickly into a cohesive unit for Miami to develop any semblance of an offensive attack and the early returns in spring indicate that the O-line may take a while to hit its stride.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES
2007: 2-10, 1-6 MAC

Offensive Starters Returning: 9
Offensive Starters Lost: 2
Defensive Starters Returning: 9
Defensive Starters Lost: 2

Sneak Peek
By John Sahly
Daily Chronicle
Three Reasons Northern Illinois Can Win the MAC in 2008:
1. New coach Jerry Kill brings a new offensive system to DeKalb. The Huskies will still run the ball, but expect to see more shotgun and more downfield passing. It won't be the same offensive team people have grown used to seeing.

2. Speaking of a new coach, Kill has everyone in the program excited and has forced the entire team to be competitive for everything on a day-by-day basis.

3. The Huskies are an experienced team. They return nine starters on offense and nine on defense from last year's team. That doesn't necessarily mean they will start under Kill, but there are plenty of players with experience.

Three Reasons Northern Illinois Won't Win The MAC in 2008:
1. Injuries. NIU is without 13 players in spring football, including last year's Vern Smith Award winner Larry English, quarterback Dan Nicholson and wide receivers Britt Davis and Matt Simon. Injuries were a major factor last season for the Huskies and until these players prove they can stay healthy, NIU won't have a chance to win the MAC.

2. A change in offensive systems could be a disaster if the players can't pick it up in time for the season. Former coach Joe Novak recruited players for the running game, Kill's system requires players that can excel in both the run and the pass.

3. Talent and depth. Does this team have the talent and the number of capable players necessary to compete? Only time will tell on that.

OHIO BOBCATS
2007: 6-6, 4-4 MAC

Offensive Starters Returning: 8
Offensive Starters Lost: 3
Defensive Starters Returning: 7
Defensive Starters Lost: 4

Sneak Peek
By Jason Arkley
Athens Messenger
Three Reasons Ohio Can Win the MAC in 2008:
1. Junior quarterback Theo Scott is developing into the dual threat signal-caller that head coach Frank Solich has been looking for. Scott, who split time at the position last fall, has been in command of the offense this spring. A sharp thrower with good athleticism, Scott has an excellent grasp for many of the intangibles of the position despite just being one year removed from junior college.

2. Ohio returns several key components of last year's offense -- which had one of the best seasons in the program's history. Senior tight ends Andrew Mooney and David Carter can both stretch the field and made excellent receivers. Junior Taylor Price and sophomore LaVon Brazill give the Bobcats their best wide receiver tandem since Solich took over in 2005.

3. Ohio should be improved defensively. Ohio returns six of its top seven linebackers from last season, play-making strong safety Michael Mitchell and All-MAC defensive end Jameson Hartke. The 'Cats were the stingiest MAC defense in 2006, but yielded 30 points a game last season.

Three Reasons Ohio Won't Win The MAC in 2008:
1. A brutal schedule. Ohio plays six of its first eight games on the road, including tough road trips to Wyoming, Northwestern and national power Ohio State. The start could have the Bobcats limping by the time they dive into MAC play.

2. New faces in the backfield. Ohio loses the program's all-time leading rusher in tailback Kalvin McRae. The Bobcats have four quick, albeit inexperienced, runners fighting it out to see who gets the first shot to fill his shoes. McRae was the Bobcats' identity the last three seasons, it may take time to find a new one.

3. Ohio remains on the smallish side in its defensive front seven. The Bobcats have good team speed defensively, but too often last season were gouged between the tackles by opposing offenses. With a new pair of defensive tackles, it's uncertain whether Ohio will be any better at clogging the middle.

TEMPLE OWLS
2007: 4-8, 4-4 MAC

Offensive Starters Returning: 10
Offensive Starters Lost: 1
Defensive Starters Returning: 11
Defensive Starters Lost: 0

Sneak Peek
By Shawn Pastor
Owls Daily.com
Three Reasons Temple Can Win the MAC in 2008:
1. Defense - With no seniors on the two-deep, and just a handful of juniors, the Owls led the MAC in total defense last season. Everybody is back, and now Coach Al Golden has added much-ballyhooed sophomore Daryl Robinson to the cornerback stable. Robinson played tailback last season.

2. Adam DiMichele - The senior signal caller is well ahead of schedule in recovering from the broken tibia he suffered against Miami last season. DiMichele was in the midst of leading the Owls to their third straight MAC win when he went down. He threw the ball in non-contact drills this spring and will definitely be ready in September.

3. Recruiting Dividends - Golden is three for three in signing the MAC's top recruiting class, according to Scout.com. This should be the year that really pays dividends, as many of those talented prospects are now experienced sophomores and juniors.

Three Reasons Temple Won't Win The MAC in 2008:
1. Suspect Offensive Line - The Owls surrendered a MAC-worst 45 sacks last season and their running game was rarely productive. Surely, the guys up front will get better with age. But Golden shuffled and re-shuffled the five-man group this spring, and there's no telling who's going to line up where this fall, except for senior center Alex Derenthal. It's hard to imagine great chemistry on day one.

2. Who Wants The Ball? - With Robinson at cornerback, the Owls have one less option at tailback, where fumble-prone junior Jason Harper was the best of the bunch last season. Golden will likely need some immediate help from a rookie - either former UConn signee James Nixon or one-time Pitt commitment Jared Williams, both of whom practiced with the team this spring. Redshirt freshman Joe Jones will return from an Achilles injury this summer.

3. Special Teams - Kicking specialists Jake Brownell and Jeff Wathne were ordinary at best last season, as was super-speedy Travis Shelton on kickoff returns. That can't happen again. The Owls also need to improve a great deal on punt returns and long snapping.

TOLEDO ROCKETS
2007: 5-7, 3-5 MAC

Offensive Starters Returning: 6
Offensive Starters Lost: 5
Defensive Starters Returning: 8
Defensive Starters Lost: 3

Sneak Peek
By Nick Gerogosian
Vandelay Sports.com
Three Reasons Toledo Can Win the MAC in 2008:
1. Former receivers coach and new offensive coordinator Chris Hedden was a welcome promotion after former OC and the much maligned John Shannon left for Marshall. Hedden has been Toledo's best assistant coach during the Amstutz era and will get the Rockets underachieving offense much more explosive and consistent. UT's offense was good last year, ranking 20^th nationally in total offense and 31^st nationally in scoring offense, but there is far too much talent at the skill positions not to average almost 40-points per game after averaging 33 last season and 23 in 2006. Under Shannon, eight times in the past two seasons (out of 24 contests) the Rockets failed to score more than 17 points.

2. Along with the new offensive coordinator, former Liberty head coach Ken Karcher was added as the quarterbacks coach to work with Aaron Opelt. Opelt has shown flashes of brilliance at times during his two years as a starter but finally having a specific position coach with detailed knowledge of his position will push him to his full potential. Karcher is a former QB himself with 16 years of coaching experience and was John Elway's back-up with the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII.

3. Toledo is loaded with star players. Along with Opelt likely having a break out season, wide receiver Stephen Williams is quickly becoming a stat machine that NFL scouts are noticing. RB DaJuane Collins and WR Nick Moore each should have all-conference type of seasons while safety Barry Church would start at almost any school in the country.

Three Reasons Toledo Won't Win The MAC in 2008:
1. Defense, defense and more defense. Toledo ranked 116^th (out of 119) in scoring defense, 112^th in rush defense and 102^nd in total defense last season. This has been a trend for Toledo's Tom Amstutz, a former defensive coordinator himself, for the past four seasons. The Rockets do not have the defensive line personnel to make many gains this season as their defensive tackles are small and the schemes do not highlight their speed, if they even have any. This is evident by two dubious stats last season, ranking dead last in the nation for both quarterback sacks and tackles for loss.

2. The Rockets graduated three star players who will be playing in the NFL this fall. RB Jalen Parmele, OT John Greco and punter Brett Kern will be very difficult to replace. Toss in TE Chris Hopkins and safety Greg Hay, each of whom are expected to sign NFL free agent contracts, and that's five very solid players who had stellar careers for UT who will be sorely missed.

3. That defensive line once again. It can't be stated enough that Toledo just may have the worst defensive line in major college football. At times it's difficult to tell if they are playing a 3-4, 4-2-5 or 2-5-4 defensive scheme. No kidding. When a defensive line is playing 240 and 250-pounders at defensive tackle and there is no pass rush, do you really have a defensive line at all?

WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS
2007: 5-7, 3-4 MAC

Offensive Starters Returning: 8
Offensive Starters Lost: 3
Defensive Starters Returning: 11
Defensive Starters Lost: 0

Sneak Peek
By Graham Couch
Kalamazoo Gazette
Three Reasons Western Michigan Can Win the MAC in 2008:
1. WMU's nonleague schedule. By the time the Broncos reached their league slate last season, their confidence was completely shot after rough outings at West Virginia and Missouri, and a disastrous home game with Indiana. This season, WMU opens at Nebraska - a tough place to play but a struggling program going through a coaching change - before hosting Northern Illinois, playing at Idaho and hosting Tennessee Tech. WMU has a legitimate shot at coming away 3-1 (or even better) and should be feeling good about itself heading into the heart of MAC play.

2. A defense with a chip on its shoulder. With nine or more senior starters back from a defense that flopped after entering 2007 with sky-high expectations, this unit is pissed off at itself for letting egos and its respect for 2005-06 defensive coordinator Scott Shafer get in the way of buying into Bill Miller's defense. Miller is gone but the schemes are the same under Steve Morrison - a beloved three-year defensive assistant. This is a defense with three potential pros - safety Louis Delmas, corner Londen Fryar and linebacker Boston McCornell - and the players know this is their best and only shot at a league title.

3. The odds are in their favor. Take away an 85-yard return on the final play in a loss to Akron and Jamarko Simmons being booted for using his boot against Central Michigan and WMU finishes 2008 at 8-4 (the loss to Eastern Michigan was strictly a hangover from a rough few weeks) and wins the MAC West. If WMU doesn't run into a string of rough luck -- mostly, if the players keep their heads -- this should be a better team than the one that should have won it last year. Folks forget that the Broncos looked like they were about to run over eventual MAC champ CMU before Simmons' ejection - which left WMU's offense stagnant for a while - in a 34-31 loss.

Three Reasons Western Michigan Won't Win The MAC in 2008:
1. Tim Hiller could be the reason WMU wins the league or the reason it doesn't. Either way, much of the Broncos' season hinges on their junior quarterback. Hiller struggled with confidence, accuracy and turnovers in 2007 and was yanked and scolded repeatedly because of those woes. He has played much better this spring and Broncos coach Bill Cubit has let him be a bit more -- with son Ryan Cubit as QBs coach - but Hiller has got to do it when the lights come on. His MAC freshman of the year season (in 2005) came with Greg Jennings and Tony Scheffler as targets and with the coaches scaling back the offense - all but saying "Throw it here on this play." The entire offense, for the second year, is at his disposal ... as is WMU's fate.

2. Injuries. Every team can have a year ruined by injuries and the Broncos have better depth than in any of Bill Cubit's previous three seasons. Still, the loss of quarterback Tim Hiller, receiver Jamarko Simmons or saftey Louis Delmas could be too much to overcome. Anywhere else, the Broncos can withstand losing a starter.

3. Playing Central Michigan on the road. WMU's schedule is much more favorable than a year ago, except for this game on Oct. 18.