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An undefeated Broncos season? Why not? A 2016 game by game preview

by Alan Gerould

senior writer

KALAMAZOO -- At first glance, the Western Michigan University Broncos 2016 football schedule seems "favorable." I suppose that anything would seem that way after the challenging schedule the Broncos faced last season. The 2015 season opener, against the nation's fourth ranked Michigan State University Spartans, was arguably the most anticipated game in program history.

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The Broncos played the Spartans close throughout and had a chance to get within a score late in the game, but an interception in the end zone allowed Mark Dantonio and the green and white faithful to let out a collective sigh of "that was close."

WMU went on to finish the regular season with a 7-5 record, falling to top ranked Ohio State University as well as Sun Belt Conference powerhouse Georgia Southern University and Mid-American Conference East champion Bowling Green University and MAC West Co-champion Northern Illinois University before the Broncos won their first ever bowl game over Middle Tennessee State University in the Bahamas Bowl to finish with an 8-5 record for the second straight year.

Expectations are even higher this year, as head coach P.J. Fleck's first recruiting class reaches its final year and the entire team strives to change its best. Despite another tough schedule featuring two games at Big Ten Schools, a return contest against Georgia Southern and a full compliment of MAC competition, the 2016 schedule sets up well for WMU.


I am boldly going where no Bronco has gone before, the MAC Championship game at Ford Field in December. Look for Western Michigan to put up a MAC Championship banner along side those earned in 1966 and 1988.


The 2016 schedule has traded the top two teams in the Big Ten from 2015 for two teams in the middle of the pack, one with a first year coach. It has Georgia Southern at home, also with a first year coach. Most importantly perhaps, is that WMU gets fellow Co-West Division champs NIU and Toledo at Waldo Stadium after having to face both teams on the road last year.


Sept.3rd at Northwestern

If the Broncos are going to lose a game, it will most likely happen in week one. The experts agree installing Northwestern as a six point favorite to start the season. The Wildcats won ten games last year including a season opening victory over PAC-12 powerhouse Stanford. The purple and white will be led by running back Justin Jackson who has 2,605 yards in his first two seasons. The strength of the Wildcats will be their defense, which allowed only five passing touchdowns in 2015, the fewest in the nation. If the Broncos do win this one they will be brimming with confidence to carry with them all season and will likely be favored in 12 of their last 13 contests. Northwestern has struggled with MAC teams in the past and I think they struggle against what I believe is the best the MAC has to offer. WMU's experience will win 27-24 to start off 1-0 on the season.


Sept. 10th vs. North Carolina Central

I would like to tell you this one is going to be a breather, a CommUniversity Night cupcake, but not so much. The Eagles will be battle tested, coming into Waldo Stadium after opening with a much improved Duke squad. NCCU has won the competitive MEAC the last two seasons and went 8-3 last year. Coach Jerry Mack lost some key players on both offense and defense, but has developed depth throughout the lineup. The Broncos, fired up to impress the hometown crowd, pulls away in the second half wearing down the Eagles and winning 38-20 to move to 2-0 on the season.


Sept. 17th at Illinois

This was really shaping up as an (even more) interesting battle at one point before Bill Cubit, former Bronco coach, who had recently had "interim" removed from his title, was unceremoniously let go in favor of Lovie Smith. Smith will bring the Fighting Illini back...eventually. Unlike Jim Harbaugh at the University of Michigan, who was brought in to turnaround a program too, Lovie doesn't have much tradition to fall back on, with a program that last had a winning season in 2011. The Illini offense was ranked near the bottom of the Big Ten last season and the defense wasn't anything to beat the band about but Lovie will get his team ready to play and may be favored but I like the Broncos to win this one 34-21 to move to 3-0 on the season.


Sept. 24th vs. Georgia Southern

This game starts a stretch of three scary games for the Broncos. Last year, the Eagles dismantled the Broncos in Statesboro, handing them its most decisive loss of the season 43-17. Not much has changed from last year talent wise. The big change is at the top where Willie Fritz has gone to Tulane and Tyson Summers is the new head man. I don't know yet if the Eagles will run the ball at Waldo like they did in Georgia, out gaining the Broncos 413 yards to 25 on twice the carries. The Broncos are a ball control team, ranking third in the nation in time of possession last year, and are arguably more explosive this year, despite the loss of Daniel Braverman. The defense, headed by coordinator Ed Pinkham will not be tolerating any Eagle shenanigans this season. The Broncos will get revenge from last years loss, beating Georgia Southern at home 38-28 to remain undefeated on the season at 4-0.


Oct. 1st at Central Michigan

This game makes me cringe. My favorite two teams are WMU and whomever is playing CMU, but as we all know, this is clearly a game where you can throw the records out the window. Furthermore the Chips are just a good team. Good enough to tie for the 2015 West Division championship at 6-2 . It will be a great battle of senior leaders with quarterbacks Cooper Rush and Zach Terrell going at it with their respective teammates. Last year the Broncos held off the Chips at Waldo with some gutsy late game calls by Coach Fleck 41-39. This year I expect the game to be even closer with a final score of 41-40 and the Broncos moving to 5-0 on the season.


Oct. 8th vs. Northern Illinois

Homecoming and this is the year that the Broncos get the Huskies. Last year the Broncos were up 19-14 going into the final quarter, only to get out scored 13-0 to lose another hearbreaker to NIU 27-19. Ryan Graham, childhood friend of Bronco superstar wide receiver Corey Davis, led the Huskies to the win but it was done largely on the ground as the Huskies churned out yardage late in the game. Drew Hare is back healthy this season but it matters not, Hare or Graham the Broncos will not be denied in front of the returning Alumni winning 27-20 and moving to 6-0 on the season.


Oct. 15th at Akron

As much as the last three games scare me, the next four don't. That being said, we know that on any given day, any team is capable of winning or losing in the MAC. Akron won't be a pushover, at all. Coach Terry Bowden, who leads MAC coaches with 159 wins, led the Zips to an 8-5 record and second place finish in the East last year and hopes are high again in Akron. The game is on the road for the Zips homecoming and could be a trap game, but the Broncos are on a roll now and getting some votes in the national polls. Coach Fleck and the seniors won't look past this one, pulling out a close 37-27 victory, moving to 7-0 on the year and remaining undefeated.


Oct. 22nd vs. Eastern Michigan

This one should be a laugher if last year was any indication. In 2015, the Eagles took an early 7-0 lead before the Broncos scored eight of the next nine times, eventually winning 58-28. The Broncos had five rushers over 42 yards, Tom Flacco threw a 64 yard touchdown pass and the game was out of hand early. This year at home, I expect the Broncos to be a little flat with an upcoming bye week, but a win by the Eagles would make it's season. That won't happen as the Broncos win 51-24 to move to 8-0 on the season.


Nov. 1st at Ball State

Coming off a bye week with an extra couple of days to heal the bumps and bruises but not so long that you lose their mojo, I expect the Broncos to continue to roll. In 2015, I expected Ball State to be better than the year before but the Broncos spanked the Cardinals 54-7 in front of a crowd of 12,000 plus. Corey Davis had three touchdown grabs in the first 20 minutes in a game that got of hand fast for the Ball State. There is some excitement in the BSU chat rooms surrounding this years team, but I don't think that they will pose much of a challenge to the Broncos who are really "feeling it" at this point. Chalk another win up for the Broncos with a 44-20 victory over BSU remaining undefeated at 9-0 on the season.


Nov. 8th at Kent State

The Golden Flashes are just not that good this year. The Broncos will be trying to get to double digit wins for the first time in program history. They will do it, winning big time, 42-14 moving to 10-0 on the year.


Nov. 19th vs. Buffalo

I'm not bullish about Buffalo in this one. Buffalo doesn't look as imposing as they have in some years past, but who knows until the kickoff. Second year coach Lance Leipold loses only two starters off of last years defense that was solid through the first nine games. The Bulls buckled down the stretch, losing its last three games when they needed only a single win to become bowl eligible. I expect the Broncos to be looking at a lot of underclassmen by the second half in this one. It will be chilly and the Broncos will ride their strong run game. I like Broncos to beat the bulls 35-15 and move to 11-0 on the season.


Nov. 25th vs. Toledo

It's very nice to finish with two home games even though they come in November. Toledo is going to be a revenge driven team when they step on the Waldo Stadium turf. The Broncos went into Toledo last year and messed up what had been another storied season beating the 25th ranked Rockets 35-30. I like to think that the Broncos have the best backfield one-two punch in the MAC with Jarvion Franklin and Jamauri Bogan but the Rockets have two great backs themselves in Kareem Hunt and Terry Swanson who together totaled over 2,500 yards last season. While coach Jason Candle is in his first year as the top Rocket, he was offensive coordinator previously so the transition should be easier than others. I can't help but remember the last time Toledo was here two seasons ago. The Broncos took a late lead with just a little over a minute to go in regulation only to have Toledo tie it up on the last play of the game to send it into overtime where the Broncos lost when an extra point hit the upright and bounced away. This time it will be the leg of freshman Butch Hampton that will secure an undefeated regular season 12-0 season with a 30-27 victory.

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