CMU Picked to Win MAC West, MAC Title Game

DETROIT - Central Michigan University has been picked to win the Mid-American Conference West Division and the MAC Championship Game in the conference's preseason football poll. The poll was released Friday morning in conjunction with the 2009 MAC Football Preview at Ford Field in Detroit.

Twenty-six conference media members voted in the poll, with 18 selecting the Chippewas to win the 2009 MAC Championship Game.

This marks the second straight year CMU has been tabbed the favorite to win the conference in the preseason poll. The Chippewas were not picked to win the West Division in either of their most recent MAC championship seasons; CMU was picked to finish fourth in the division in 2006 and second in 2007.

Central Michigan opens the 2009 season at Arizona on Sept. 5. The Chippewas’ first conference game is against Akron on Sept. 26.



2009 MAC Football Preseason Poll

West Division

1. Central Michigan (154 points)

2. Western Michigan (126)

3. Northern Illinois (103)

4. Toledo (71)

5. Ball State (58)

6. Eastern Michigan (34)



East Division

1. Buffalo (155 points)

2. Temple (144)

3. Akron (128)

4. Ohio (116)

5. Bowling Green (101)

6. Kent State (51)

7. Miami (33)



MAC Championship Game

Central Michigan (18), Western Michigan (4), Buffalo (2), Temple (2)