DaytonDailyNews.com

If the RedHawks lose in today's MAC Championship Game, would they still have a shot at a bowl game?

No, even though the MAC appealed to the NCAA, which ruled that it would allow a bowl invitation to be extended to a team with a 6-7 record that lost in the conference championship game, provided there were no other seven-win MAC teams available. Unfortunately for the RedHawks, there are. The MAC has three bowl ties and three teams with at least seven victories in Central Michigan, Bowling Green and Ball State. So Miami does need to win in order to clinch a bowl bid.

How well did the MAC News Media Association do in predicting the contestants of today's championship game?

Not well at all. The teams favored as division champions were Western Michigan and Ohio. Western Michigan finished tied for fourth in the MAC West, Ohio tied for fourth in the MAC East. The media picked Central Michigan for second placed in the West and Miami for fourth place in the East. The RedHawks received only one first-place vote of the 36 cast.

Was there anything unfair about this week's All-MAC selections?

One obvious blunder was the lack of Miami defensive players chosen. Linebacker Clayton Mullins made the first team, linebacker Joe Hudson was selected to the second team and defensive end Joe Coniglio made the third team. Punter Jake Richardson was, officially, a defensive pick on the third team, but he's really a special teams player. Miami ranked first in the league in scoring defense and second in total defense. Central Michigan ranked 12th in scoring defense and last in total defense. Yet CMU had two players named to the first team and Miami had one. Linebacker Caleb Bostic without doubt should have been recognized, and safeties Jordan Gafford and Robbie Wilson would have been good picks.

How has Miami fared in MAC Championship games?

The RedHawks are 1-1. They defeated Bowling Green 49-27 in 2003 and lost to Toledo 35-27 in 2004.

When will MAC schools receive their bowl game invitations?

The invitations will come this weekend, Sunday at the latest.