Ball State may have the best offense in the MAC this year and that is saying something considering Central Michigan and super-QB Dan Lefevour return virtually every piece from their No. 1 ranked unit from 2007. Hopes are high in Muncie (and maybe even New York where famous alum David Letterman roots on the Cards) that they will finally take the top spot in the West. Preseason polls predictably had Central Michigan repeating, but it will be hotly contested.

All eleven starters are back to attack including top trio QB Nate Davis, WR Dante Love and TE Darius Hill. Davis has throw for 48 TDs against just 14 INTs the past two seasons as a Freshman and Sophomore, with 30 TDs alone in 2007. No doubt about it, he is a better passer than his counterpart to the north whose likeness graced a massive billboard at Ford Field for the MAC Media day. I think he has a chance to get picked up by an NFL team and make a roster as a backup, but scouts are probably a little turned off by the fact that he throws the football sans laces. Love is one of the best WRs in the conference, a shifty, speedy, though somewhat undersized, scrapper somewhat in the mold of Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers. And Darius Hill seems like a mortal lock to be playing in the NFL as a TE after this year. Where they need some improvement is on the ground and the return of MiQuale Lewis after tearing his ACL should provide a big boost. The rushing attack was already on its way up until he went down last year so look for better numbers in 2008. The offensive line is big by MAC standards and has four Senior starters with good depth behind them should the injury bug strike.

The defense isn’t quite as ironed out however. The front line is almost the exact opposite of their offensive counterparts; severely undersized and lacking quality depth. It showed last season when they gave up a staggering 5.0 ypc and 204 rushing yards per game, a continuation of a trend of poor rush defense since at least 2002. In that regard this squad really mirrors Central Michigan, a great offense and mediocre defense; we can expect a lot of shootouts. The secondary has plenty of experience but no real measurable success, routinely picked apart by the bevy of solid QBs in this league. I suppose their +17 TO margin is a building point, but I don’t think one can safely assume another 14 picks from BJ Hill, Trey Lewis and Alex Knipp.

Of course the biggest game this year, one already generating plenty of buzz despite being more than two months away is at Central Michigan. The Chipps embarrassed the Cards in Muncie last year racking up over 600 yards and 58 points in a dominant effort. It’s a tough spot considering it is sandwiched between a road tilt at Miami (OH) and rival Western Michigan. But take note, the Cards are 10-3 ATS in MAC road games the past two years.