Six teams, three from each division, will battle for the MAC crown in 2014, with little room separating all six. Bowling Green appears to be a slight favorite, but the Falcons will encounter still competition from within the East Division from Ohio and Buffalo. In the West a very close race is expected between Northern Illinois, Toledo and Ball State, with the division crown likely hinging on the crucial November games of Northern Illinois at Ball State and Northern Illinois hosting Toledo the next week.