Patriots Crushed by Fatal Mistakes
Fatal mistakes that cost the patriots their fourth Super Bowl Championship. Read more...
FACTS & STATS: Site: Dix Stadium (20,500) -- Kent, Ohio. Television: None. Home Record: BGSU 2-2, KSU 1-2. Away Record: BGSU 2-2, KSU 0-4. Neutral Record: BGSU 0-0, KSU 0-0. Conference Record: BGSU 2-2, KSU 0-3. Series Record: Bowling Green leads, 55-17-6.
GAME NOTES: Still searching for their first league win, the Kent State Golden Flashes will take the field this Saturday afternoon against the Bowling Green Falcons in a Mid-American Conference matchup at Dix Stadium.
The Falcons snapped a three-game slide with an impressive win over Temple. However, it wasn't a typical Bowling Green decision, as the Falcons tallied only 13 points and relied more on defensive play. It was the second league win for Bowling Green, which has clearly thrown its hat into the ring for the East Division title.
There is not many positive things that can be said about Kent State. The Flashes only have one win this year and that decision came against South Alabama. Since then the Golden Flashes have lost three straight games, and all three losses came in conference play.
This is a one-sided series, as the Falcons have won 55 of the 78 meetings, with six ties. Kent State did punish BGSU last season 30-6, but when at home against the Falcons the Golden Flashes have struggled, losing 30 of the 37 matchups.
The success of Bowling Green's offense has mainly been the passing attack. Quarterback Matt Schilz has thrown for 1,901 yards and 18 touchdowns against eight interceptions.
Schilz has two reliable targets in Kamar Jorden and Eugene Cooper and the two players have combined for 88 receptions, 1,119 yards and 12 touchdowns. The rushing attack might play second fiddle, but it is still effective, thanks in large part to Anthon Samuel, who is leading the team with 704 yards and four touchdowns.
In Bowling Green's three wins before its meeting with Temple, the Falcons needed 30 or more points to land in the win column, but against the Owls the offense only needed 13 points. Schilz was not at his best in the matchup, but he hung in there and tossed the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. The signal caller completed 20-of-34 passes for only 204 yards, but he managed the game well and got the team in the win column. However, Schilz did not do it alone, as Samuel kept the defense honest by rushing for 112 yards.
If the Falcons were victorious prior to the win against Temple it was because of the offense, but that was not the case this past weekend, as BGSU was able to shut down Temple, holding the conference foe to just 10 points.
The Falcons did struggle against the run, but that is understandable when considering the Owls possess the best back in the conference in Bernard Pierce. Pierce rushed for 107 yards and one score, but he finished second to Matt Brown's 119 yards. Even though Bowling Green was victorious, this is clearly the weak spot for the defense.
On the year, the Falcons are being dismantled for 197.1 rushing yards per game and opponents have already scored 17 rushing touchdowns against Bowling Green. Fortunately the team has performed well against the pass and comes into this game limiting the opposition to just 195.1 ypg.
Bowling Green did a tremendous job against Temple's passing attack, but that is not a true test since the Owls are one of the worst passing teams in the nation. Nonetheless the Falcons surrendered just 66 passing and collected four sacks in the win. Three of those sacks were collected by Chris Jones, who now has a team best seven on the year.
The Golden Flashes have been one of the worst scoring teams in the nation and come into this weekend with just 10.7 ppg. Outside of the 33 point outburst against South Alabama, the Golden Flashes have not scored more than 12 points in any of their six losses.
The last time the team was on the field the Flashes finished with only a field goal in a loss to Miami-Ohio. Kent State continued to struggle on the ground, rumbling for only 75 yards on 2.1 yards per carry. That is right around the team's average on the year (75.3 ypg).
Unfortunately the team is not much of a threat through the air either, as Kent State is producing just 105.3 ypg via the pass. Spencer Keith has been miserable for KSU, as the quarterback has completed less than 50.0 percent of his throws and has only three touchdowns against eight interceptions.
In the recent loss to Miami-Ohio, Keith finished with only 169 yards, was intercepted once and sacked five times.
The poor play offensively has taken away from a defense that has been solid at times. Kent State is allowing 28.0 ppg, which is not great, but good enough for the team to earn a couple of wins if the offense was better.
This past weekend the defense for KSU was tenacious, holding the RedHawks to just nine points.
The unit was relentless, holding Miami-Ohio to just 166 total yards, while forcing two turnovers and recording five sacks. Throughout the season the Flashes have pressured teams, forcing them into mistakes. So far KSU has collected 18 takeaways, eight of which are interceptions.
Defending the pass has been the best part of this unit, as the Flashes are holding teams to just 182.6 ypg, while allowing only seven touchdowns. Calvin Tiggle has collected two of the interceptions on the year and also has two fumble recoveries.
The Flashes have played well defensively at times, but they will have to figure out a way to limit BGSU to only a couple of touchdowns and even that might be too much with an offense that is barely averaging double figures in points.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Bowling Green 21, Kent State 14

Where the players come to play and STAY.

Sportsbook & Sports Betting at SBG Global

Sports Contests – Think you know the game?

Sports Information you need to win BIG.
Fatal mistakes that cost the patriots their fourth Super Bowl Championship. Read more...
Arrests have been made in New Jersey in relation to a sports betting operation that took m... Read more...
Sportsbook Directory | Casinos Directory | Poker Room Directory | Racebook Directory | Partners Directory