Not much to say about the MAC, other than there doesn't seem to be any continuity or esteem here anymore. A hot season or two in the MAC used to be a launching pad to a nice BCS gig. Instead, Keith Dambrot gets exiled to Duquesne for his accomplishments. Duquense would be at the bottom of the MAC, and it's not for a lack of trying from Everhart or Ferry. That said, the MAC still gets coaches, they still get players, but they just don't build the resumes they used to and have fallen behind the likes of the MAAC, Summit, and Southern. I would not see any of these top 4 hanging with the Ivy top 4 over the long haul.
The WAC is up for grabs. UVU doesn't quite have the horses to maintain their pace for a full 40 and will struggle against the top 3. Bakersfield has been on a nice run, but with GCU eligible for postseason, it makes their path more difficult. The Aztecs looked ready to run the regular season table until the road went through the other top schools. This should be an entertaining race, but I expect Dan Majerle to get GCU to the promised land in their first season of eligibility.
The Ohio Valley has been a lot of Belmont, but without Bradds, that should change. Jacksonville St. finished on the upswing and will continue that way. Too much turmoil elsewhere in the conference to feel anyone else is a sexy pick.
The Summit is simple: the Dakota schools are good (the monopoly will be more apparent with UND coming over next year), ORU and Western Illinois are not. Fort Wayne had their window close, and Denver is recovering from Joe Scott.
This is the worst Big Sky I can remember. NAU, ISU, SUU are among the worst teams in the country again. There was a time when the Sky would park one team down there only to have them bounce back. I like the skill players at Idaho (Sanders) and Montana St (Hall) to drive those teams to the top of the standings.
Duggar Baucom has his system and players in place, but I think the opposition is on to his pace and The Citadel can only go as far as their defense takes them. UNC Greensboro has a fun team, but I don't think they have the overall consistency to take the regular season crown from Furman.
Vermont probably won't be on the fringes of the at-large discussion, but they should roll through the AE again. Albany provides a nice foil, but UNH is several steps below after that.
Bucknell has a NCAA weekend-caliber team. I don't see anyone in the Patriot gaining ground, though the work that Ed DeChellis has done, and Navy should improve their league win total for the 6th straight year.
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