Nothing beats MACtion!
The MAC has leaned into being a wacky, entertaining Group of Five conference, and college football could use more leagues that embrace the quirks of their own league.
While MACtion can get unpredictable – and sometimes humorous when bad winter weather leads to scrambles for fumbles – the conference still boasts plenty of quality teams and players. The quarterback position features a handful of standout players entering the 2023 season, and the wide receiver rooms and secondaries across the MAC are loaded with NFL-caliber performers.
Like most years, the MAC in 2023 should be a highly entertaining conference race to monitor.
Odds to Win The MAC Via BetMGM
| Team | Odds |
| Toledo | +175 |
| Ohio | +230 |
| Eastern Michigan | +500 |
| Miami (Ohio) | +650 |
| Buffalo | +800 |
| Northern Illinois | +2000 |
| Central Michigan | +2000 |
| Ball State | +5000 |
| Bowling Green | +5000 |
| Akron | +5000 |
| Western Michigan | +5000 |
| Kent State | +15000 |
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MAC Win Totals Via BetMGM
| Team | Win Total |
| Toledo | 8.5 |
| Ohio | 7.5 |
| Eastern Michigan | 7.5 |
| Miami (Ohio) | 6.5 |
| Buffalo | 6.5 |
| Northern Illinois | 5.5 |
| Central Michigan | 5.5 |
| Ball State | 5.5 |
| Bowling Green | 4.5 |
| Akron | 3.5 |
| Western Michigan | 3.5 |
| Kent State | 2.5 |
Best Players In The MAC
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYER: DeQuan Finn, Toledo QB — Ohio’s Kurtis Rourke is another option, as Rourke is as steady a quarterback in the conference, but I’ll take Finn here. I like the Toledo quarterback’s overall athleticism, and he improved as a passer from 2021 to 2022. Look for Finn to have a massive season leading the Rockets.
TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Shaun Dolac, Buffalo LB — Dolac makes so many tackles. He made 147 last season, to be exact. Dolac, a former walk-on, plays with tremendous energy and has a nose for finding the football. He’s a solid player and should shine throughout the 2023 season. He could certainly lead the country in tackles this fall.
TOP NFL PROSPECT: Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo DB — Mitchell has additional eligibility remaining following the 2023 season, but he’s also draft eligible. Last season, Mitchell recorded 42 tackles, 19 passes defended, and five interceptions. At 6-foot and 200 pounds, Mitchell has decent size for the cornerback position. Should he decide to go pro after this season, Mitchell is one of the MAC players to keep an eye on as he embarks on an NFL career.
HERO Sports’ MAC Predicted Order of Finish
MAC East
- Ohio
- Buffalo
- Miami
- Bowling Green
- Akron
- Kent State
MAC West
- Toledo
- Eastern Michigan
- Central Michigan
- Northern Illinois
- Ball State
- Western Michigan
MAC Championship Prediction Pick
Toledo
It’s hard to go against Toledo. The Rockets bring back an experienced and dynamic quarterback in Dequan Finn, and I love players like Quinyon Mitchell on the defense. The Rockets should be strong on both sides of the football, returning seven All-MAC players from a team that won the league title a year ago.
When it comes to picking conference champions, one of the keys is finding teams with strong cultures. Talent coupled with program tradition and culture often leads to success. There’s a reason programs like Ohio State and Alabama always seem to find their way to the top of the AP Top 25. Those teams have elite players and a program standard of excellence.
Toledo has finished .500 or better every season since 2010, as the program always seems to be one of the MAC’s best. The success has spanned multiple coaches, and Jason Candle has shown he knows how to win games consistently. Toledo’s culture, from the outside, appears rock solid.
Given the overall roster talent and Candle’s previous track record, I’m comfortable backing Toledo to win the MAC again in 2023.
Bennett Conlin is a college football contributor for HERO Sports, and he works full-time covering sports betting industry news and legislation for Sports Handle and US Bets.
