Give this Ohio newbie a few college football conferences to track, and predictions will quickly follow. Let's continue our prediction week with a look at the Ohio Athletic Conference. The rest of this week's schedule Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Thursday) and Mountain East Conference (Friday). Previous predictions: Mid-American Conference (Monday) and Big Ten (Tuesday)

Ohio Athletic Conference

1. Mount Union -- Might be the only prohibitive favorite in the country replacing 17 starters and a legendary coach.

2. Heidelberg -- Sixteen starters return from a team that went 9-2 and reached the NCAA Division III playoffs.

3. Otterbein -- Tim Doup flipped a 3-7 team into an 8-2 group in his first season. Consecutive toss-up games against John Carroll (Sept. 28) and Baldwin Wallace (Oct. 5) might determine season.

4. Baldwin Wallace -- No reason to think the Yellow Jackets can't win at least seven games for fourth straight year.

5. John Carroll -- Quarterback Mark Myers, who started his career at Pitt, has plenty of weapons. Nice starting point for former Blue Streaks quarterback and first-year coach Tom Arth.

6. Ohio Northern -- Trying to rebound from an uncharacteristic losing season.

7. Muskingum -- Opening conference play against Mount Union and Baldwin Wallace is never fun.

8. Capital -- Remember Craig Candeto's name. The former Navy quarterback could flourish in his first head coaching assignment.

9. Wilmington -- Former Cleveland Browns defensive back Stacey Hairston working with 19 returning starters.

10. Marietta -- Linebacker Jake Hammer has a great name for a defensive stalwart.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Give this Ohio newbie a few college football conferences to track, and predictions will quickly follow. Let's continue our prediction week with a look at the Big Ten. The rest of this week's schedule: Ohio Athletic Conference (Wednesday), Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Thursday) and Mountain East Conference (Friday). Previous predictions: Mid-American Conference (Monday).

Big Ten

Leaders Division

1. Ohio State -- Schedule is weak. The talent is not. A Big Ten dynasty brewing in Columbus.

2. Wisconsin -- Diverse ground game produces eight victories. Difficult nonconference jaunt to BYU on Nov. 9.

3. Penn State -- Depth issues prevent Nittany Lions from pushing Ohio State. They won't prevent NFL teams from calling Bill O'Brien.

4. Purdue -- Wicked schedule, which includes nonconference games against Cincinnati, Notre Dame and Northern Illinois, greets new coach Darrell Hazell. Bruce Gaston, Ricardo Allen and Landon Feichter give Hazell three nice defensive pieces.

5. Indiana -- Kofi Hughes, Shane Wynn and Cody Latimer combined for more than 2,100 receiving yards last season. The Hoosiers, though, allowed 311.2 passing yards per game.

6. Illinois -- Tim Beckman might not reach Year 3.

Legends

1. Nebraska -- A long, four-team coin-flipping contest ends with the Huskers outlasting Michigan, Northwestern and Michigan State for this spot.

2. Northwestern -- Big Ten Game of the Year: Ohio State at Northwestern, Oct. 5. Big Ten Coach of the Year: Pat Fitzgerald.

3. Michigan -- November starts with games against Michigan State, Nebraska and Northwestern. Treacherous stretch yields at least one loss.

4. Michigan State -- Issues at quarterback never a recipe for a conference title push.

5. Minnesota -- Improved talent, soft nonconference schedule means Golden Gophers go bowlin' again.

6. Iowa -- Signing Kirk Ferentz through 2020 an expensive mistake. Lack of offensive firepower and innovation means another losing season.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Give this Ohio newbie a few college football conferences to track, and predictions will quickly follow. Let's start our prediction week with a look at the Mid-American Conference. The rest of this week's schedule: Big Ten (Tuesday), Ohio Athletic Conference (Wednesday), Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Thursday) and Mountain East Conference (Friday).

Mid-American Conference Predictions

East

1. Bowling Green -- Averaging 30 points per game isn't necessary with the Falcons' defense.

2. Ohio University -- Injuries a massive problem last season. Expect another bowl appearance in 2013.

3. Kent State -- Running back Dri Archer and defensive tackle Roosevelt Nix are stars. The supporting cast is pedestrian.

4. Buffalo -- Not a threat to beat Ohio State in Week 1. But capable of upending any of the division's top three teams.

5. Miami -- Coach Don Treadwell could be in trouble if Redhawks post another four-win season.

6. Akron -- Zips will score. They will also get scored on at alarming rates.

7. UMass -- Gillette Stadium boasts state's lowest population density on Saturday afternoons.

West 

1. Northern Illinois -- Did the smart thing and promoted Don Carey to head coach when Dave Doeren bolted to North Carolina State. Another BCS-busting season possible.

2. Ball State -- Pete Lembo is a rising coaching star. Some Big Ten athletic directors might want to add his number to speed dial. 

3. Toledo --Only one returning starter on the defensive front will result in some shootouts.

4. Western Michigan -- Bill Cubit left new coach P.J. Fleck some nice pieces. Broncos' talent the best among Michigan's compass schools.

5.  Central Michigan -- Don't see a No. 1 overall NFL draft pick anywhere on this roster. Don't see a .500 season in Chippewas' immediate future, either.

6. Eastern Michigan -- The Eagles can run the ball. The problem? They can't stop the run.  

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Lake Erie College might need to upend one or two solid teams to post its first winning season since joining the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Five teams receiving votes in the preseason American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches Poll appear on Lake Erie College's schedule: No. 9 Ashland, No. 22 Saginaw Valley State, No. 37 Ferris State, No. 47 Ohio Dominican and No. 56 Wayne State.

All five teams are GLIAC members. Eight GLIAC schools received votes in the poll. Lake Erie College, which went 3-8 last season, doesn't face No. 14 Grand Valley State, No. 30 Michigan Tech and No. 41 Hillsdale.

Six of the eight members from the unforgiving North Division received votes. Lake Erie College plays in the seven-team South Division, which includes NCAA playoff qualifier Ashland.

The GLIAC announces its preseason poll Monday.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Riverside graduate Scott Shafer makes his Syracuse debut in 10 days against Penn State at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.. This Syracuse.com story suggest these are tense times for Shafer.

The first-year coach is closing all practices to reporters leading to the Aug. 31 game against the Nittany Lions. The decision is a curious one considering football ranks a distant second to the school's basketball program in popularity. Syracuse football doesn't move tickets like Justin Timberlake, and the Orange's home schedule includes few marquee draws besides Clemson.

The Orange have a quarterback battle brewing. But, according to Nate Mink's report, Shafer and school officials are concerned about the impact reporting on injuries will have on betting lines.

Mink, unfortunately, has plenty of experience covering paranoid programs. He recently moved to central New York after covering Penn State football.  Full disclosure: This blogger/reporter/columnist/videographer/assistant sports editor also covered Penn State football.

Unlike the NFL, where reporters are granted incredible access, closed practices are the norm among Bowl Championship Series football programs.

Still, give Shafer and Syracuse credit for creative reasoning. Using gambling concerns as the grounds for closing practice demonstrates a bold side.

Shafer's debut against Penn State should be an intriguing matchup. Neither team has announced its starting quarterback. The winner could be positioned for an eight- or nine season. The loser might struggle to reach .500.

A prediction? Guess we don't have enough information to make a reasonable guess on how Shafer's team will perform.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

The best form of college wrestling doesn't happen in March.

The sport's most exciting moments occur in January and February, when teams are in the middle of their dual-meet seasons.

Some longtime fans will criticize the above statement. But the "Your 10 vs. My 10" format mesmerizes this aging wrestling writer.

So, to find the season's best events on the calendar, look at the recently released schedules.

Lake Erie College and Notre Dame College are among 16 teams participating in the Division II National Wrestling Coaches Association Duals from Jan. 11-12 in Des Moines, Iowa. The event will determine the nation's best dual-meet team.

Lake Erie College has never participated in the duals. Receiving an invite for the first time represents a major accomplishment for the Storm and further illustrates the program's rapid progress.

Notre Dame College reached the 2013 final in its first appearance as a Division II program. The Falcons then finished third in the NCAA Division II tournament. Notre Dame College is a strong candidate to be selected as the preseason No. 1 in Division II.

A month later, the NWCA will bring its Division I duals to Ohio. Ohio State is hosting the two-day, Sunday, Feb. 16, and Monday, Feb. 17. In theory, the nation's top 16 Division I dual-meet teams should gather in Columbus. Unfortunately, colliding agendas and egos result in some top programs skipping the event.

The field for the Division I tournament will be announced at a later date.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Case Western Reserve should be a serious contender for another University Athletic Association title.

The Spartans were picked to finish second in the coaches poll released Thursday. The coaches selected Washington (Mo.) as the preseason favorite. Washington received two first-place votes, with Case and Carnegie Mellon each receiving one vote. The University of Chicago was picked to finish fourth in the four-team conference.

The Spartans, who went 6-4 overall and 2-1 in the OAA last season, return eight offensive starters. Case has won four conference championships in the last six years.

Running back Ricky Hanzlik (Mentor), linebackers Scott Campbell (Chagrin Falls) and Everett Dishong (Chagrin Falls), and cornerback Fady Haddad (Mayfield) are among the local players competing for starting jobs with the Spartans.

Case, along with Carnegie Mellon, are joining the President's Athletic Conference as associate members next season. The Spartans open this season Sept. 7 against Marietta College at Case Field. The conference title race will hinge on the final two games as Case visits Washington on Nov. 9 and Carnegie Mellon on Nov. 16.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

What do an embattled sophomore quarterback, defensive end and Mid-American Conference player have in common?

They all could be serious factors in one of the all-time great Heisman Trophy races.

To obtain a second Heisman, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel must stay eligible -- and perhaps eclipse the gaudy numbers he produced in 2012.

This year's candidates could emerge from unlikely positions such as South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and unlikely places such as Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch. Michigan's Charles Woodson is the lone primarily defensive player to win the award. A MAC player has never clutched the trophy.

The list of other players to watch is lengthy and impressive. 

Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota and burner De'Anthony Thomas could be popular picks among West Coast voters. Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron and running back T.J. Yeldon are steady performers on the nation's preseason No. 1 team. Clemson's Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins are the nation's best pitch-and-catch combination. Quarterback Aaron Murray and running back Todd Gurley will gain momentum if Georgia enters the SEC title game undefeated.

Not every candidate must be paired with an equally talented player.

Quarterback Braxton Miller is primed to lead Ohio State to a second straight undefeated season, although a weak schedule could hurt him with some voters. Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater also could lead his team to an undefeated season yet get dinged in the voting by a weak schedule.

USC's Marqise Lee might be the nation's top receiver. Northwestern's Venric Mark might be the nation's best multipurpose player. Baylor's Lache Seastrunk might rush for 2,000 yards.

It's possible somebody missing from the above list will enter the discussion.

Sign your name on a photo if you considered Manziel a Heisman contender last year at this time. Make sure you don't charge anybody for the signature.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Hit a bunch of homers, and baseball executives notice.

Just ask Ryan Rua.

The former Lake Erie College star received a major promotion this week when the Texas Rangers promoted him from Single-A Hickory to Double-A Frisco. Hickory is the Rangers' Low-A affiliate, meaning he skipped the High-A level.

The reason for promotion is obvious. Rua is one of the minors top power hitters. He cracked 29 homers in 104 games at Hickory. The total ranks second in the minors this season.

Rua, a 17th-round pick in 2011, plays second base, a position not associated with inflated power numbers. He entered this season with 11 homers in 126 professional games.

The Rangers have one of baseball's top farm systems, and their middle infield includes Ian Kinsler, Elvis Andrus and Jurickson Profar. But if Rua can match his Single-A power numbers in Double-A, he could be in position to become the first former Lake Erie College player to reach the major leagues.  

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

The Mountain East Conference coaches received a difficult preseason chore.

Pick a favorite in a conference that has never existed.

The conference announced its first preseason poll at its first media Tuesday in Bridgeport, W.Va., the conference's first home base. Get ready to see "first" often when reading about the new league this season.

Judging by the poll, those below the Mason-Dixon Line have little preseason respect for those above it.

MEC coaches picked Notre Dame College to finish eighth out of 11 football-playing schools. Urbana, the conference's other Ohio program, was selected to finish sixth. Urbana joined Shepherd and Charleston as teams receiving first-place votes. Shepherd, the preseason favorite, returns eight offensive and defensive starters from a team that went 8-3 and reached the NCAA Division II playoffs last season.

NDC, which played in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference last season, went 3-8 last season. The Falcons return a bevy of key players, including 1,000-yard rusher Pedro Powell, veteran quarterback Ray Russ (South) and athletic wide receiver Colton Wallace (Mentor).

Powell and Coach Adam Howard represented NDC at the media day.

Mountain East Conference Preseason Coaches Poll 

1. Shepherd (117 points, eight first-place votes), 2. Charleston (101, two), 3. Concord (94), 4. Glenville State (83), 5. West Liberty 79, 6. Urbana (75, one), 7. Fairmont State (51), 8. Notre Dame College (40), 9. Virginia-Wise (31), 10. West Virginia State 28, 11. West Virginia Wesleyan (27)

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

CANTON -- A new coach and only five returning starters hasn't clouded perceptions of Mount Union's football program.

The Ohio Athletic Conference revealed preseason coaches and media polls during Tuesday's media day at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In a banquet room with huge renderings of Emmitt Smith, Joe Montana, Willie Roaf and Howie Long looming in the background, one of the sport's storied teams received the bulk of the attention.

Big things are expected at Mount Union -- again.  The Purple Raiders, who are bracing for their first season under Vince Kehres, the son of legendary coach Larry Kehres, were tabbed preseason favorites in both polls. Mount Union went 15-0 and claimed its 11th NCAA Division III title in 2012.

Vince Kehres sounded like a veteran head coach when discussing the polls with The News-Herald.

"First and foremost, we don't put too much stock into those polls," he said."They are largely based on what has happened in the past. We understand that what's going to be said will be said on the field this year."

Mount Union received 80 points and eight of 10 first-place points in the coaches poll. The Purple Raiders received 353 points and 31 of 36 first-place votes in the media poll. Heidelberg, which advanced to the NCAA playoffs last season, was picked to finish behind Mount Union in both polls.

John Carroll, which is preparing for its first season under Tom Arth, was selected in fifth in both polls. The Blue Streaks went 6-4 last season.

John Carroll junior wide receiver Aramis Greenwood said the Blue Streaks will use the preseason polls as motivation. John Carroll opens the season Sept. 7 against St. Norbert in Chicago.

"Everyone rating us fifth in the conference has me stoked,"  Greenwood said. "I'm just excited to get the season started against St. Norbert with a win."

Ohio Athletic Conference Preseason Polls

Coaches Poll

1. Mount Union (80 points, two first-place votes), 2. Heidelberg (73, two), 3. Baldwin Wallace (60), 4. Otterbein (58), 5. John Carroll (49), 6. Ohio Northern (49), 7. Muskingum (31), 8. Capital (26), 9. Wilmington (16), 10. Marietta (13)

Media Poll

1. Mount Union (353, 31), 2. Heidelberg (324, five), 3. Baldwin Wallace (270), 4. Otterbein (238), 5. John Carroll (222), 6. Ohio Northern (192), 7. Muskingum (129), 8. Capital (123), 9. Marietta (61), 10. Wilmington (60)

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

So much for sending draft picks to short-season leagues.

The Captains begin a four-game series against the Great Lakes Loons on Saturday at Classic Park. The Loons, the Los Angeles Dodgers' Midwest League affiliate, feature seven 2013 draft picks on their roster.

Saturday's starter Tom Windle is a second-round draft pick from the University of Minnesota. The Dodgers used the 58th overall pick on the left-hander. And he's not the highest draft pick in the Loons' rotation.

The Dodgers also sent 2013 first-rounder Chris Anderson to Great Lakes. Anderson, the 18th overall pick, attended the University of Jacksonville. The 6-foot-4, right-hander is not scheduled to start in the series.

Thomas Taylor (26th round, Kansas), Crayton Bare (28th round, Baylor) and Rob Rogers (32nd, Keystone College) are 2013 draft picks on the Loons' staff. Infielders Brandon Dixon (third round, Arizona) and Brandon Trinkwon (seventh round, UC-Santa Barbara) were also drafted this past June.

Lefty reliever Kyle Crockett (fourth round, Virginia) is the lone 2013 draft pick on the Captains' roster.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsherladguy