Bowling Green State Falcons at Ohio Bobcats
Wednesday, November 7, 2012, 8:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Peden Stadium – Athens, Ohio
Opening Line: Ohio -3 1/2
Current Line: Ohio -2
Opening Total: 49
Current Total: 48 1/2
Opening Money Line: Ohio -155 / BGSU +135
Current Money Line: Ohio -130 / BGSU +110
The Bowling Green State Falcons and Ohio Bobcats meet for the 64th time Wednesday night in Athens. The Falcons leads the series 36-25-2, including 20-11-1 on the road. Ohio has won three straight in the series including 29-28 last year in Bowling Green.
Both teams are 4-1 this season in MAC play, a half game behind 4-0 Kent St for the East division title. BGSU and Ohio still control their own destiny for the division because they have yet to play Kent St.
Bowling Green is 6-3 this season under coach Dave Clawson. The Falcons have won 5 straight games after a 1-3 start. BGSU has road losses at Florida 27-14, Toledo 27-15, and Virginia Tech 37-0. The Falcons have home wins over Idaho 21-13, Rhode Island 48-8, Miami-(OH) 37-12, and two weeks ago against Eastern Michigan 24-3. BGSU has road wins over Akron 24-10, and UMass 24-0. The Falcons are 6-3 ATS and all 8 games with a posted total have gone under. BGSU was a 14 point favorite in the Eastern Michigan game and the total was 52.
Bowling Green is averaging 383.4 yards per game on offense, including 213.8 passing yards and 169.7 rushing yards. The Falcons are outscoring teams 23-15 this season. BGSU is #9 in scoring defense. The Falcons are +6 in turnovers with 6 giveaways. BGSU is averaging 66 penalty yards per game and has allowed 12 sacks. The Falcons are 52/145 on third and fourth down conversions and 21/34 scoring in the red zone with 17 touchdowns. Bowling Green has one of the best defenses in the country. The Falcons are allowing 290 yards per game including 185.8 passing yards and 104.2 rushing yards. BGSU is #16 or better nationally in all three categories, including #8 in total defense. The Falcons have forced 17 turnovers and 25 sacks. BGSU opponents are 43/139 on third and fourth down conversions and 17/21 scoring in the red zone with 10 touchdowns. The Falcons have 4 defensive/special teams touchdowns this season.
Bowling Green quarterback Matt Schilz has completed 165/287 passes (57.5%) for 1,752 yards with 9 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He has been sacked 10 times. Running back Anthon Samuel has 128 carries, 725 yards and 8 touchdowns, along with 19 catches, 181 yards and a touchdown. He is questionable with a neck injury for Wednesday’s game. John Pettigrew has 82 carries, 388 yards and 4 touchdowns, along with 5 catches for 40 yards. Andre Givens has 19 carries, 138 yards, and a touchdown. He is probable with a head injury. Running back Jamal Martin is out for the season with a knee injury. Receiver Shaun Joplin has 31 catches, 478 yards and 2 touchdowns. Alex Bayer has 27 catches, 331 yards and 3 touchdowns. Chris Gallon has 31 catches, 314 yards and 3 touchdowns. Ryan Burbrink has 30 catches for 253 yards. Four reserve wide receivers are questionable or out for the season.
Ohio is 8-1 this season under coach Frank Solich. The Bobcats suffered their only loss of the season at Miami-(OH) 23-20. Ohio has road wins over Penn St 24-14, Marshall 27-24, and Massachusetts 37-34, along with home wins against New Mexico St 51-24, Norfolk St 44-10, Buffalo 38-31, Akron 34-28 and last week against Eastern Michigan 45-14. Buffalo, Akron, UMass, and Eastern Michigan have a combined 4 wins overall and only one in the MAC. The Bobcats are 4-5 ATS and the total is 4-4 this season. Ohio was a 16.5 point favorite against EMU and the total was 58.5.
Ohio is averaging 462.2 yards per game on offense, including 241.4 passing yards and 220.8 rushing yards. Ohio is #19 rushing nationally. The Bobcats are outscoring teams 36-22 this season. Ohio is +15 in turnovers with only 5 turnovers. The Bobcats are averaging 53 penalty yards and have allowed 11 sacks. Ohio is 71/153 on third and fourth down conversions and 37/44 scoring in the red zone with 24 touchdowns. On defense, the Bobcats are allowing 387.4 yards per game, including 251.8 passing yards and 135.7 rushing yards. The Bobcats have forced 20 turnovers and 19 sacks this season. Ohio opponents are 81/171 on third and fourth down conversions, and 24/27 scoring in the red zone with 18 touchdowns.
Ohio quarterback Tyler Tettleton has completed 150 of 244 passes (61.5%) for 1,900 yards with 15 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, along with 70 carries, 207 yards and 3 touchdowns. Running back Beau Blankenship has 225 carries, 1,097 yards and 8 touchdowns, along with 15 catches, 153 yards and a touchdown. Ryan Boykin has 64 carries, 416 yards and 4 touchdowns. Daz’mond Patterson has only 155 combined rushing and receiving yards but he does have a rushing touchdown and a 100 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Receiver Donte Foster has 38 catches, 487 yards and 7 touchdowns. Bakari Bussey has 24 catches, 227 yards and no touchdowns. Landon Smith has 8 catches, 198 yards and 2 touchdowns He is questionable with an ankle injury. Troy Hill has 14 catches, 169 yards and 3 touchdowns. Not counting Blankenship, 5 other Bobcats have at least 8 catches. Twelve Bobcats are listed at questionable or out for Wednesday’s game including 4 receivers and 4 defensive players.
Bowling Green is 4-0 ATS in MAC games, after a straight up win, after a cover, after allowing less than 100 rushing yards, and after allowing 20 points or less, 5-0 overall, and on fieldturf, 5-1 after rushing for more than 200 yards, and after a straight up win of 20 points or more, 4-1 after allowing 170 passing yards or less, 24-8-1 after passing for 170 yards or more, 13-5 in November, 24-11-1 in road games, 2-6-1 in road games against teams with winning home records, 2-7 against teams with winning records, and 1-4-1 in Wednesday games. The Falcons are 10-3 ATS in the last 13 against the Bobcats including 5-1 in Athens.
Ohio is 5-0 ATS against teams with winning records, 4-0 at home against teams with losing road records, 10-3 in November, 1-5 in MAC games, overall, on fieldturf, after a straight up win of 20 points or more, 1-5 after rushing for more than 200 yards, 0-5 after scoring more than 40 points, and 0-4 after a straight up win.
Bowling Green is red hot having won 5 straight games, and also has one of the best defenses in the country. They do have some injury problems at receiver and running back. Ohio is battling injury problems of their own. The Bobcats are much better on offense. I think Bowling Green’s strong defense will be enough to pull off the mild upset on the road.
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