DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University Huskies have been tabbed as the preseason favorites to win the Mid-American Conference West Division by league coaches as the MAC released its 2018 MAC Football Coaches Preseason Poll Monday. 
 
NIU received 61 total points to take the top spot in the West, one point better than second place Toledo (60 points).  Western Michigan (45 points), Eastern Michigan (35), Central Michigan (33) and Ball State (18) rounded out the West Division voting.  All six West teams received at least one first-place vote, with NIU receiving five and Toledo three. Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan and Ball State each collected one first-place vote.
 
This year marks just the first time since the MAC did a Preseason Media and Coaches Poll that the Huskies were picked to win the division by both polls. The coaches have picked the Huskies to win the West in 2014 and 2015. 
 
The league coaches selected Ohio as the team to win the East Division. The Bobcats earned 70 points and 10 first-place votes on the East side, followed by Buffalo with 70 points and two first-place votes Miami (42), Akron (36), Bowling Green (29) and Kent State (16) were in the three through six spots for the East. 
 
The Huskies open the 2018 season at Iowa Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. and the game will be televised on the Big Ten Network. NIU returns home Saturday, Sept. 8 and will play host to Utah. Full season tickets, three-game mini-plans and, beginning today, single game tickets, for 2018 NIU Football games are on sale now through the NIU Athletics Ticket Office in the Convocation Center, online at NIUHuskies.com/tickets and by calling 815-753-PACK (7225). Season tickets start at as little as $55 each (via the Family Pack) and mini-plans, featuring two Saturday and one #MACtion game, are $70.
 
Team (First Place Votes)       Points
MAC West Division
1.   NIU (5)                                  61
2.   Toledo (3)                              60
3.   Western Michigan (3)            45
4.   Eastern Michigan (1)             35
5.   Central Michigan (1)              33
6.   Ball State                               18
 
MAC East Division                             
1.   Ohio (10)                              70
2.   Buffalo (2)                             59
3.   Miami                                    42
4.   Akron                                    36
5.   Bowling Green                      29
6.   Kent State                             16
 
-NIU-