One of the most beloved conferences in the world of college football betting is the MAC, with mid-week action coming from this league elevating it to center stage late in conference play. But the entire season in the MAC is full of intrigue, both on Saturdays and during the week. Here, we look at the MAC championship betting landscape and what bettors need to keep in mind when betting this league this year.
MAC Football Championship Odds
MAC Football Championship Betting Preview
There are two teams left with a chance to win the MAC title in 2023. Those teams are the Toledo Rockets and Miami (OH) Redhawks, who have clinched their respective divisions to earn spots in the last MAC game of the year. Toledo is the favorite to win this conference championship game, but Miami (OH) has proven that it is more than good enough to tangle with the other top teams in this conference.
Toledo and Miami (OH) have already played once this year, with the Toledo Rockets earning a 21-17 victory in that game. That game was played at the home of the Redhawks, which is a great sign for Toledo, given that the MAC championship game is going to be played at a neutral site in Detroit. With Miami not having a home-field advantage in this contest, Toledo could create even more separation in the championship game.
However, the defense of Miami (OH) has been the best in the MAC so far this season, which will give them a perfectly good chance to win against Toledo. Miami (OH) is allowing under 17 points per game on the year so far and did hold Toledo in check even in a losing effort earlier in the year. If nothing else, the MAC title game should be a competitive affair.
MAC Football Conference Betting & Handicapping
The MAC is a breeding ground for coaches, so coaches come, and coaches go. Teams get into a form cycle and play well for a few years and then fade away into oblivion. Northern Illinois was a constant in this league with four conference titles from 2011-18 and six straight Conference Championship Game appearances from 2010-15, fell on hard times from 2018-2020, and then won the Conference Championship Game again in 2021. Buffalo had a similar run over a few years before Lance Leipold jumped ship.
It can be a tough conference to handicap from a futures standpoint because just about anybody can beat just about anybody else in a given week. Very little defense is played in this conference, so the games are high-variance and often high-scoring. That kind of environment does make it challenging to pinpoint a winner and the best team.
Expect the unexpected in the MAC, where roster turnover and personnel changes are common, and teams have a hard time sustaining consistency as a result.
MAC Football Championship History
Year | MAC Champion |
---|---|
2022 | Toledo |
2021 | Northern Illinois |
2020 | Ball State |
2019 | Miami (OH) |
2018 | Northern Illinois |
2017 | Toledo |
2016 | Western Michigan |
2015 | Bowling Green |
2014 | Northern Illinois |
2013 | Bowling Green |
2012 | Northern Illinois |
MAC Football Championship Wins
All Time Wins | MAC Team | Last Yr Won |
---|---|---|
12 | Toledo | 2022 |
10 | Miami (OH) | 2019 |
9 | Bowling Green | 2015 |
7 | Central Michigan | 2009 |
6 | Northern Illinois | 2021 |
6 | Ball State | 2020 |
5 | Marshall | 2002 |
3 | Western Michigan | 2016 |
3 | Ohio | 1968 |
1 | Buffalo | 2008 |
1 | Akron | 2005 |
1 | Eastern Michigan | 1987 |
1 | Kent State | 1972 |