By Alan Gerould, Senior Columnist

NAPLES, FL — One of the highlights of my career as a hobby journalist was calling Western Michigan’s 12-0 regular season in a similar column in August of 2016. I have been pretty close on my win totals ever since, off by a game or two the last four years. Since the NCAA granted student athletes an extra year of eligibility due to Covid-19, most teams are returning most of its starters from last season. This bodes well for the Broncos, who were thought to be one of the two or three best MAC teams last season. Of course, the other programs will also be experienced. I just have a feeling that the Broncos are going to put it together this season.

Sept. 4 at Michigan — Last year would have been the year to catch Michigan, when they were down. The Wolverines and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh are looking to erase the memory of last years 2-4 debacle cut short by three games due to COVID 19. The Broncos will show up and I expect the offense will make some big plays. The Wolverines have too much in the end, winning 41-24. (0-1)

Sept. 11 Illinois State — How sweet it is. Communivercity under the newly installed lights in the home opener. The Redbirds will be competitive but The Broncos will probably turn the horses loose and have one of its big offensive shows. Let’s ride 52-27. (1-1)

Sept. 18 at Pitt — Panthers fans are expecting big things this season and Coach Pat Narduzzi knows that a break here and there in the ACC schedule could mean a plum of a bowl game. Let’s not fool ourselves, like Michigan, Pitt is a solid Power 5 program that will beat a good MAC school 9 out of 10 times. The Broncos make it respectable but come up on the short end of 38-27. (1-2)

Sept. 25 San Jose State — The Spartans are coming off a 10-2 season and Mountain West Championship and expect to be as good this season. It’s a battle between two very good Group of 5 schools and something has got to give. I expect San Jose State to be favored in this one but I’m not so sure. The Spartans are used to long road trips but they rarely travel to the Eastern Time Zone. Coach Brent Brennan will bring ‘em here, the Broncos send ‘em home, on the short end of a 38-34 score. (2-2)

Oct. 2 at Buffalo — The Bulls were arguably the best team in the MAC last season and much of that team returns. I really think this should have been a rematch of last year’s MAC Championship game. Problem is of course that WMU never made the trip to Detroit. The last time the Broncos traveled to Eastern New York they needed seven overtime’s to defeat the Bulls. This time it will only take four quarters, but count on a shootout win for the Broncos 45-41. (1-0 MAC, 3-2)

Oct. 9 Ball State — The Cardinals just seemed to be destined to have a magical season last year. The Broncos were beating up on the Cardinals, coasting along with a two touchdown lead when a couple of freak plays and a missed field goal turned victory into a season ending loss. Ball State went on to defeat Buffalo in the MAC Championship game and win its bowl game. The Cardinals return almost the entire team from last season and the Broncos will be looking to avenge last seasons debacle. The home cooking makes the difference as the Broncos prevail 35-31. (2-0 MAC, 4-2)

Oct. 16 Kent State — It has been a long time since the Golden Flashes have been relevant but lo and behold Kent State has been picked to emerge as the favorite to win the MAC East. The Flashes, like the Broncos, can score in bunches and I expect this to be a real shootout. This is a dangerous game for the Broncos but when the smoke clears I expect WMU to be on top 45-42. (3-0 MAC, 5-2)

Oct. 23 at Toledo — The Rockets outplayed the Broncos last season at Waldo before a shocking, crazy series of plays culminating with a touchdown on a fake “clock it” play. This time Toledo won’t allow this to happen. It will take a couple of other teams (Ball State, CMU) to trip up the Rockets for the Broncos to get back to Detroit. Toledo has too much firepower for the Broncos in the Glass Bowl as the Broncos suffer it’s only MAC loss 38-34. (3-1 MAC, 5-3)

Oct. 30 OPEN DATE

Nov. 3 Central Michigan — The Chippewas head coach Jim McElwain is in his third season in Mt. Pleasant and now has a large number of his own recruits in the pipeline. These players learn early on about its arch nemesis and the battle for the Cannon Trophy. The Cannon has resided in Kalamazoo most years recently but the Chips will be fired up to return the Cannon to the reservation. My sources tell me to expect the Chips to surprise some people this year, I just hope it’s not the Broncos. It will be close for sure but I like the Broncos in this one 38-34. (4-1 MAC, 6-3)

Nov. 9 Akron — The Zips have won one game in its last 23 FBS games and are not projected to do much again this season. Head Coach Tom Arth is in a rebuild and the team is still relatively young. I expect that you will see a lot of players get their first reps of the season in the second half as the Broncos build a 42-21 win. (5-1 MAC, 7-3)

Nov. 16 at Eastern Michigan — The Broncos were stampeding into this game last year needing only a win to insure a trip back to Detroit for the MAC Championship. The Eagles, under head coach Chris Creighton, had other ideas, sneaking up and defeating the Broncos 30-27. I think the Bronco veterans are tired of these type of losses and will be on a mission when they travel to Rynearson Stadium. The weather could be nasty and turnovers an issue but I expect WMU to come out on top 35-27. (6-1 MAC, 8-3)

Nov. 23 at Northern Illinois — Oh how I hate DeKalb, Illinois in late November. The wind will be howling and there is inevitably, snow, sleet or freezing rain or all of the above. The Huskies offense is still in a rebuild, this season with a new center piece. The Huskies welcome in quarterback Rocky Lombardi, transfer from Michigan State who showed flashes of brilliance the last two seasons wearing green. We haven’t had much luck the last several years but a win this season would give us a two game winning streak. The weather keeps the score down. I’m calling WMU by 28-20. (7-1 MAC, 9-3)

If the season develops as I envision above, it would easily be the best season of the Lester era and should be very satisfying to Bronco Nation ( for those hoping for another 2016, return to a New Year’s Bowl, etc don’t hold your breath). It will be a little empty if they don’t get back to the MAC Championship. Every game is important and a slip in the first five MAC games against the better teams on the schedule will be hard to recover from. I just hope that I’m wrong and the Broncos go into Toledo and battle to a win. If not Toledo will have to lose a couple of games elsewhere on its schedule for the Broncos to get a chance for its fourth MAC Championship. Either way the Broncos will get a nice post season bowl game and all the perks that go with that including the all important extra practice sessions. It all begins at noon Saturday in the Big House or on ESPN so get your popcorn and Lets Ride!