BG vs NIU - MAC Championship thread

[BGSU33]

Looks like QB Ryan Graham and WR Tommylee Lewis could play in the MACC:

Carey said he hopes to have quarterback Ryan Graham and wide receiver Tommylee Lewis available Friday but called both "day to day." Graham suffered an unspecified injury in the third quarter against Ohio and didn't return. Lewis has missed the last three games with a sprained left knee.

[Falconfreak90]

I have no problem remembering that last TD Cary tacked on with 48 seconds left last year, up 44-17. I sure hope Coach Babers and the team do as well.

[jpfalcon09]

Carey announces that Graham is day-to-day and that Fielder will get the start on Friday, he's a freshman walk-on.

[Falconwriter]

Well, those folks putting money on the game are thinking it's not the starter or back up playing QB for NIU: BG was an 8 point favorite in this morning's paper. That's a pretty steep spread all things considered. I suspect as the money comes in, it will likely drop a bit. The key, of course, is for BG not to turn the ball over and get out to a lead early in the game. If they are using these young guns at QB, it would be great to see BG putting on tons of pressure to try and rattle them.

[apollo]

There is really no excuse for BG not to win by double digits...but if I was NIU I would focus on keeping both safety's back and force BG to earn every score by getting several first downs. Teams that have struggled to stop us consistently get beat over the top.

If I'm NIU I'm keeping the keeping the safety's back, mixing in some creative blitzes particularly up the middle. I think Johnson will get a little impatient and try to force some deep balls and possibly cause some turnovers. If I give up 150yds on the ground, so be it, but I wouldn't let us go over the top for a couple easy touchdowns.

Bottom line, it's going to be tough for NIU, there only chance to to tackle well and make us earn it. They won't be able to keep up if it turns into a shootout.

[BGSU33]

Sounds like Paris Logan will play, Tommylee Lewis is possible and Ryan Graham is questionable. Tommy Fielder will start at QB, but who knows if that means one snap, one series or the entire game.

[jpfalcon09]

Sounds like Paris Logan will play, Tommylee Lewis is possible and Ryan Graham is questionable. Tommy Fielder will start at QB, but who knows if that means one snap, one series or the entire game.

Doubt Graham plays, Santacaterina will likely be their backup unless it's an emergency.

[Schadenfreude]

Tommy Fielder will start at QB, but who knows if that means one snap, one series or the entire game.

Doubt Graham plays, Santacaterina will likely be their backup unless it's an emergency.

I was surprised to see Fielder get in over Santacaterina. I thought I heard Fielder was a walk on, and I'm pretty sure Santacaterina isn't. (Maybe that isn't correct.) Maybe Northern Illinois fans have thoughts on this.

I also wonder if the NIU coaches are trying to fake out BGSU by saying Fielder will go, when in fact they may have someone else. I would be wary of that if I was Babers.

Interestingly, Babers won't be discussing injuries this week. Could it be related?

[jpfalcon09]

Tommy Fielder will start at QB, but who knows if that means one snap, one series or the entire game.

Doubt Graham plays, Santacaterina will likely be their backup unless it's an emergency.

I was surprised to see Fielder get in over Santacaterina. I thought I heard Fielder was a walk on, and I'm pretty sure Santacaterina isn't. (Maybe that isn't correct.) Maybe Northern Illinois fans have thoughts on this.

I also wonder if the NIU coaches are trying to fake out BGSU by saying Fielder will go, when in fact they may have someone else. I would be wary of that if I was Babers.

Interestingly, Babers won't be discussing injuries this week. Could it be related?

The NIU fans seem pretty adamant that Graham isn't playing Friday and that his possibility of playing is a smokescreen by Carey.

[NIU007]

QB Santacaterina apparently had elbow surgery early in the year. I believe that's why Fiedler is playing ahead of him.

[Falconfreak90]

Simply put, the Huskies will be a major challenge IMO. They are gunning for their 4th MAC title in the last 5 years and know how to win these games. On paper, BG should win by 2 scores. But we all know...

Gotta earn the title and take it from the champ.

[BGSU33]

My #1 focus and concern is the NIU run game and those RB's. But there are three guys I feel BG really needs to worry about and prepare for. The first one is DE Perez Ford. That guy seems like he's been there for 10 years but he's really fast off the edge and gives OT's fits. He gave Toledo's OL (which hadn't allowed a sack all season at that point) all kinds of trouble and it seemed like every other time UT dropped back to pass he came screaming off the edge. Another guy we need to gameplan around is KR Argeros Turner. We can't kickoff to this guy and need Tate to find the back of the endzone with his knockoffs to get touchbacks. The third is WR Kenny Golladay. He is s huge big-play guy who you can thrown deep to and he can haul in the ball, but NIU also uses him a lot on stretch plays where he drags his defender across the field and they hit him on crossing routes. NIU hit UT with those routes all game long.

[BGSU33]

IT'S GAMEDAY!!!!!!

[Falcon137]

Just to make everyone feel a little anxious...

This will be the 7th MAC title game with a double digit spread.

The favorite is 0-6 vs the spread.

The favorite is 3-3 straight up.

[BGSU33]

Just to make everyone feel a little anxious...

This will be the 7th MAC title game with a double digit spread.

The favorite is 0-6 vs the spread.

The favorite is 3-3 straight up.

I mentioned it before, the MACC has featured some very unexpected games. Each day this game has taken to get here I've grown a little more uneasy about it. I don't care about point spreads but I sure hope BG gets the win tonight.