BC-Bowling Green preview

This is the last hurdle of the midseason lull. Notre Dame looks terrible, but our players and fans are always ready for that game. This game is the one lacking juice. It shouldn’t. Bowling Green is good and their strength plays to our weakness. I expect a real fight Saturday.


Theme that won’t be discussed on television. Gregg Brandon shows that timing is everything. He took over the Bowling Green job after Urban Meyer left for Utah and kept the Falcons on a good track. His name was mentioned for a few bigger jobs in his first few seasons, but he never jumped. Then last year the team struggled dimming his star a bit. For example, he didn’t even get a mention for jobs that might have been a good fit like BC or Cincinnati. So when people wonder why TOB left when he did or suggest that Jags might have been up for an NFL job if he had stayed with the resurgent Packers, remember you have to take the opportunities when they arise. Waiting for everything to be perfect at the next step is not always the right move for a coach trying to climb the ladder.


Three Simple Keys
1. Get to Sheehan. Bowling Green only runs to keep their opponents honest. They will pass and pass and pass. We have shown that we can give up the big play in the passing game. I feel the primary problem with our pass D is that we generate little pass rush. That needs to change as the season rolls into the second half. The front four will have to put pressure on the Falcons’s QB, Tyler Sheehan.
2. Return a punt or two. Tribble has been great on D and saved our butts on kick and punt coverage. He’s been a liability on punt returns. By letting so many get by him, we continue to hamstring our offense with poor field position. He needs to be more aggressive in catching and returning the punts.
3. Get the ball to Callender. Bowling Green cannot stop anyone on the ground. They are letting opponents gash them for 4.5 yards a carry. Get the ball to AC and control the tempo of this game early.

Gambling Notes
-- BC hasn’t won seven in a row since 1993
-- BC has won 15 in a row at home
-- Bowling Green is 2-4 on the road against BCS opponents under Brandon
The current line is BC-20

What would be a pleasant surprise? After the last two battles with heavy underdogs, this answer is getting routine, but I would be pleasantly surprised by an easy BC victory.

What would be a letdown? Winning despite an off day from Ryan. If Matty Ice doesn’t put up some big numbers in a BC win, the Heisman is gone for good.

What would be a shocker? Getting hammered. I think Bowling Green will score on us, but no way do they run away. Even after getting up early on a flawed Minnesota team, they let the Gophers back in the game.

Bottom Line
This game doesn’t have any implications in the ACC standings, so it doesn’t matter. But a real ACC Champion doesn’t lose this game. BC needs a strong 60 minute performance to build up momentum for the second half of the season.
Final Score: BC 38, Bowling Green 27