Temple is the pick by the MAC news media, but Kent State is expected to be a threat in the East Division based on the return of sophomore quarterback Spencer Keith and senior tailback Eugene Jarvis.
Detroit -- The Temple Owls are expected to continue their rise as the football power in the Mid-American Conference as they were the overwhelming choice to win both the MAC's East Division title and the overall MAC football championship.
In the MAC media poll released at Media Day in Ford Field, it was all Temple. The Owls, who finished 9-4 in a breakout 2009 season, return 16 starters that helped them go 7-1 in league play and ultimately landing in a post-season bowl game. The key returner is tailback Bernard Pierce, a sophomore who rushed for 1,361 yards and 16 touchdowns and is now being touted as a Heisman Trophy Candidate by Temple.
The Owls received 17 of 20 media votes for first place with Ohio University picking up the other three and landing second in the poll. Behind those two in the East are Kent State, Bowling Green, Miami, Buffalo and Akron. In the MAC West Northern Illinois is the favorite picking up 15 first place votes followed by Central Michigan (3), Western Michigan (2), Toledo, Ball State and Eastern Michigan. Temple was picked to win the MAC title game on 11 ballots followed by NIU on five and OU on one. Three voters did not pick a MAC winner.
Kent, which finished 5-7 last season, is projected as a contender based on the return of sophomore QB Spencer Keith (2,147 yds. passing, 14 TD) and sixth-year senior tailback Eugene Jarvis (2,470 yds rushing SO/JR, 19 TD) , who returns after missing most of last season with a kidney injury.