Mount Pleasant, Mich.- Central Michigan is predicted to win the Mid-American Conference West Division this season. In the preseason polls released by the MAC on Tuesday, the Chippewas were picked to finish second in the conference behind the East Division’s Kent State.

Toledo and Eastern Michigan were predicted to finish second and third, respectively, behind Central Michigan in the West Division, and each received one vote for the predicted MAC tournament champion.

Kent State, defending MAC tournament champion, was selected to win the East Division and repeat as MAC tournament champion. The Golden Flashes were predicted to finish ahead of Miami and Bowling Green.

With 15 letterwinners coming back this season, the Chippewas look to continue their momentum from last April. Central Michigan closed out the 2012 season winning 16 of its last 20 games, including 10 straight from April 29-May 13. The Chippewas were MAC tournament runners-up last spring, losing to Kent State.

Central Michigan opens up the 2013 season on Friday, February 15, at Louisiana-Lafayette. The Chippewas  will play the Ragin’ Cajuns four times in a three day span. 

Below are the complete 2013 MAC Preseason Polls:

MAC East Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Kent State (72 points)
2. Miami (58)
3. Bowling Green (44)
4. Ohio (34)
5. Akron (25)
6. Buffalo (19)
 
West Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Central Michigan (65 points)
2. Toledo (60)
3. Eastern Michigan (54)
4. Western Michigan (36)
5. Ball State (23)
6. Northern Illinois (15)
 
Tournament Champion: Kent State (9 votes), Central Michigan (1), Eastern Michigan (1), Toledo (1)