Miami (OH) at Bowling Green
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
This Wednesday the Miami RedHawks will look to keep pace in the MAC East when they go on the road to take on the Bowling Green Falcons. The RedHawks come in off a 21-9 win over Buffalo and will look to win back-to-back games for just the second time this season, as they have exchanged a win with a loss over their last seven games. The Falcons snapped a five game losing streak with a 17-14 win over Central Michigan in their last outing for their first conference win of the season. If you are thinking about betting on the game this weekend, the current odds have the RedHawks favored by 4-points over the Falcons on the road.
Miami (5-4, 4-1 MAC): Miami is a much better team than their 5-4 record might indicate. Three of their four losses have came against Florida, Missouri, and Cincinnati. At 4-1 in the MAC, the RedHawks still have a shot at winning the East Division, but will need some help. Miami needs to win out an hope that either Temple or Kent State can beat Ohio.
The RedHawks rely heavily on the arm of quarterback Zac Dysert, who has already thrown for 2,185 yards and 12 touchdowns, but does have 12 interceptions on the season, including six in the RedHawks last two games. With a running game that comes in ranked 114th in the country, averaging just under 63 yards a game, defenses know the RedHawks are going to pass and that is a big reason Dysert has had so many mistakes this season.
While the RedHawks come in allowing just over 27 points a game, they have been much better defensively in conference play, allowing just 21 points a game, and should be able to keep the Falcons 109th ranked offense in check this weekend.
Bowling Green (2-7, 1-4 MAC): The Falcons nearly blew a 10-0 halftime lead in their last game against Central Michigan, as Jordan Hopgood scored on a one year run with just 22 seconds remaining to give Bowling Green the win. After losing three games by three points or less, this win should give the Falcons confidence that it can win the close games.
The Falcons have also struggled running the ball this season, as they come in ranked 115th in the country, averaging just over 62 yards a game. The running game was working in the Falcons latest win over Central Michigan, as senior Willie Geter carried it 26 times for season-best 103 yards. Miami comes in allowing nearly 141 yards a game on the ground, and another performance like that from Geter will really increase the Falcons chances of winning this week.
Quarterback Matt Schilz completed 22 of 39 attempts for 200 yards, but finished with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Schilz now has just five touchdowns to 9 interceptions on the season.Schilz doesn’t have to be great this week, but he can’t keep turning the ball over at the rate he has been if the Falcons are going to keep winning games.
Defensively Bowling Green has really struggled to keep opposing teams from putting up big numbers on them this season, as they come in allowing 34 points a game. Last week was the first time this season the Falcons kept their opponent under 28 points, so don’t expect another strong performance from the defense this week.
Looking at the Odds: All signs point to a RedHawks win this week, and I just think you have to give the points and look for Miami to win easily on the road. In the RedHawks four conference wins this season they have won by an average of eight points, and with the struggles Bowling Green has had on defense they should have no trouble matching that mark in this one. My final score prediction is Miami 35, Bowling Green 24.
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