Kent State Golden Flashes at Ohio Bobcats
Peden Stadium – Athens, Ohio
Tuesday, November 19, 2013, 8:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Opening Line: Ohio -5 1/2
Current Line: Ohio -6
Opening Total: 49
Current Total: 49
Opening Money Line: Ohio -200 / Kent State +170
Current Money Line: Ohio -230 / Kent State +180
Last season, the Kent State Golden Flashes were an overtime loss in the MAC Championship game to Northern Illinois from playing in the Orange Bowl. However, this season has been a disappointment. The Golden Flashes are 3-8 this season and 2-5 in the MAC East. They close out the regular season Tuesday night in Athens against rival Ohio. The Bobcats are 6-4 this season and 3-3 in the MAC. Already bowl eligible, Ohio can clinch a winning record for the fifth straight year with a win in one of their final two games.
Ohio leads the series 39-24-2, including 18-13-1 in Athens. Kent State won last year at home 28-6 in the regular season finale to complete a perfect 8-0 MAC season.
Kent State is coached by Paul Haynes who took over when Darrell Hazell left to take over the Purdue program at teh end of last season. The Golden Flashes have home wins over Liberty 17-10, and last week against Miami-(OH) 24-6, along with a road win at Western Michigan 32-14. Miami and Western Michigan have combined for one win this season. The Miami win snapped a 5 game losing streak for Kent State. The Golden Flashes have road losses at LSU 45-13, Penn State 34-0, Ball State 27-24, South Alabama 38-21, and Akron 16-7, along with home losses to Bowling Green 41-22, Northern Illinois 38-24, and Buffalo 41-21. Kent State is 3-8 ATS and the total is 4-7 this season. The Golden Flashes were 19.5 point favorites at home against Miami and the total was 50.
Kent State took a 14-6 lead at halftime against Miami. The Golden Flashes would add 10 more points in the second half to win 24-6. The RedHawks had 164 total yards and 10 first downs. Kent State had 447 total yards including 300 rushing yards. Miami had two turnovers and Kent State had one.
Kent State is being outscored 28-19 this season. The Golden Flashes are #114 out of 125 FBS teams in scoring. Kent State is averaging 353.6 total yards per game including 183 passing and 170.6 rushing yards. The Flashes are #104 in total offense and #102 in passing offense. On defense, Kent State is allowing 428.6 yards per game including 218 passing and 210.6 rushing yards. While the Golden Flashes are #39 nationally in pass defense, they are #90 in total defense and #105 against the rush. Kent State is -6 in turnovers with 16 giveaways. The Golden Flashes average 51 penalty yards per game and opponents average 52. Kent State is 63/158 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 63/138. The Golden Flashes have forced 15 sacks and allowed 13 this season. Kent State is 18/24 scoring in the red zone with 14 touchdowns, and opponents are 40/48 with 31 touchdowns. Kent State has one kickoff return for a touchdown.
KSU quarterback Colin Reardon has completed 58.5% of his passes for 1,744 yards with 11 touchdowns and 9 interceptions, along with 81 carries for 283 yards and 2 touchdowns. Back-up David Fisher has thrown for 269 yards with 2 touchdown passes along with 18 carries for 111 yards.
Running back Trayion Durham has 176 carries for 749 yards with 6 touchdowns, along with 17 catches for 136 yards. Dri Archer has 53 carries, for 389 yards and 3 touchdowns, along with 20 catches for 274 yards with 4 touchdown grabs, along with a kick return for a touchdown. Anthony Meray has 42 carries for 213 yards and a touchdown, along with 4 catches.
Receiver Chris Humphrey has 48 carries for 559 yards and 3 touchdowns. Tyshon Goode has 40 catches for 403 yards and 2 touchdowns. Casey Pierce has 28 catches for 313 yards and 4 touchdowns. Josh Boyle has 19 catches for 210 yards. Kicker Anthony Melchion is out with a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Brad Miller. Safety Calvin Tiggle and defensive end Nate Terhune are both out for the season.
Ohio is coached by Frank Solich. The Bobcats have road losses at Louisville 49-7, Buffalo 30-3, and last Tuesday at Bowling Green 49-0. and were upset at home by Central Michigan 26-23. Ohio has home wins over North Texas 27-21, Marshall 34-31, Austin Peay 38-0, and Miami-(OH) 41-16, along with road wins at Akron 43-3 and Eastern Michigan 56-28. The Bobcats are 5-5 ATS and the total is 2-8 this season. Ohio was an 8.5 point underdog against Bowling Green and the total was 52.
Bowling Green scored 21 first quarter points against Ohio last week. The Falcons would never look back in a 49-0 rout. Bowling Green was dominant on both sides of the ball holding Ohio to 172 total yards and just 9 first downs. The Falcons had 460 total yards including 207 rushing yards. The Bobcats had two turnovers and the Falcons had one. Ohio has lost two straight games by a combined score of 79-3.
Ohio is outscoring teams 27-25 this season. Ohio is averaging 383.2 yards per game including 248.1 passing and 135.1 rushing yards. The Bobcats are #86 in total offense and #97 in rushing nationally. On defense, Ohio is allowing 388.1 yards per game including 218.4 passing and 169.7 rushing yards. The Bobcats are #40 in pass defense nationally. Ohio is +1 in turnovers with 18 takeaways. The Bobcats average 48 penalty yards per game and opponents average 69 yards per game. Ohio is 66/155 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 77/162. The Bobcats have forced 29 sacks and allowed 13 this season. Ohio is 34/44 scoring in the red zone with 25 touchdowns and opponents are 22/30 with 18 touchdowns. The Bobcats have three defensive touchdowns and have allowed a kick return for a touchdown.
Ohio quarterback Tyler Tettleton has completed 64.3% of his passes for 2,248 yards with 17 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Back-up quarterbacks Derrius Vick and J.D. Sprague have each taken a few snaps this year. Each has a rushing touchdown. Running back Beau Blankenship has 147 carries for 644 yards and 4 touchdowns, plus 13 catches for 50 yards. Ryan Boykin has 97 carries for 372 yards and 6 touchdowns along with 9 catches for 59 yards and a touchdown. Daz’mond Patterson has 24 carries for 146 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with 7 catches for 43 yards. He is questionable with a foot injury after missing the last two games.
Bobcat receiver Donte Foster has 53 catches for 734 yards and 6 touchdowns. Chase Cochran has 30 catches, 614 yards and 3 touchdowns. Matt Waters has 31 catches, 405 yards and 3 touchdowns. Tight end Troy Hill has 15 catches for 206 yards and 2 touchdowns. Two little used receivers and two tight ends are listed as questionable or out, as are four defensive backs.
Kent State is 6-1 ATS against teams with winning home records, 8-3-1 after a straight up win, 8-3 after passing for less than 170 yards, 9-4 in road games, 2-5-1 against teams with winning records, 1-4 in MAC games, 0-3-1 after rushing for more than 200 yards, 0-4 overall, on fieldturf, and 0-4-1 after allowing less than 20 points. The road team is 10-3 ATS in the last 13 in this series. The Golden Flashes have covered the last 4 games in the series and the last six in Athens.
Ohio is 7-1 ATS after allowing more than 40 points, 5-1 after a straight up loss of 20 points or more, 13-31 after scoring less than 20 points, 2-5-1 in Tuesday games, 1-4 in MAC games, 2-8 against teams with losing road records, 1-4 overall and on fieldturf, 0-5 in November, and after passing for less than 170 yards. The last five games in the series have gone under the total.
I know this is a rivalry game, but both teams could struggle for motivation. Ohio could clinch a winning season, but they still have a game left with one win UMass next week to accomplish that goal. Kent State looks to finish out a miserable season on a winning note, but they struggle on both side of the ball. That should be the cure for the Bobcats’ sudden offensive woes. I think Ohio wins, and -6 points is a bargain for Bobcat backers.
