Ohio preview

[MarkL]

I just don't have a read on Ohio this year and haven't seen them play a game yet. Who has some good insights on the Bobcats?

Here's what I've got so far ... they're 3-3, 1-1. The MAC loss was last week to CMU and it was ugly. They were outgained 187 to 467 and were completely useless on third down on both sides of the ball. Break it down, they were outrushed 89 to 234 and outpassed 98 to 233 on 7-21. I think of OU's six opponents, CMU is the most similar to us and the game is only one week before our game with Ohio, so I call all of this relevant. Quite simple, CMU thoroughly dominated OU.

The offense uses two QBs, Sprague and Vick. They're both pretty mobile (Sprague: 36 rush for 126, 3 TDs, Vick: 25 rush for 193, 0 TDs). The only running QB our team has seen so far is Wisconsin's QB and our defense had their hands full with the rest of UW's offense that day, so I just don't have a beat on how our D will react to a running QB of a MAC team. Their QBs have combined for a total of 5 passing TDs on the season and 3 interceptions.

OU rotates their running backs but primarily use two guys (Ouellette: 49 for 288, 4 TDs, Patterson: 59 for 264, 0 TDs). All runners combined there are only 8 TDs on the ground - 4 by one RB, 3 by one QB, 1 by a reserve RB.

Ohio's strength is definitely not offense. In 6 games it seems the offense has scored a total of 13 TDs.

Defensively they seem pretty solid with two exceptions. They allowed 44 points to Marshall (no surprise) and allowed CMU to run all over them. CMU has a transfer from Michigan named Rawls who seemed to do more damage to OU than Buffalo's Anthone Taylor did to us. For an OU positive, Kentucky scored 14 on OU in the first quarter but only 6 for the rest of the game.

Their D has picked off 4 passes, 3 of which are by a freshman linebacker. I don't have the best stats in front of me but if I'm reading stats correctly, they've only recovered one fumble. There isn't a tackling star on the team as it seems they play good team D, but of note is their top three tacklers are all linebackers. That is an indication that runs do not get into the secondary very much. Our offense thrives on big runs, so the running game will be challenged.

That's all I've got in terms of reads on the team. My thoughts on the program under Solich are mostly positive. Clawson used OU as a model for how to run a program - Solich has done a phenomenal job of recruiting players who make it all four years and he has built workable depth. When a senior graduates from a position, the position is generally filled by an experienced player. We all remember our dropoffs in 2006 and 2010 after big senior classes left, and those dropoffs just don't happen under Solich. That all being said, the team has taken a definite backstep since their first loss of the 2012 season to that team down south. OU had been undefeated in 2012 until that big upset (though several of the wins up to that point were close calls) and after that loss, we took them out and then Ball State completely destroyed the Bobcats. In 2013 OU had their moments but the whole team fell apart midway through the season. Buffalo beat them 30-3 aided by a "safety", we shut them out, Kent got one of their few wins of the season at the expense of OU, and the Bobcats somehow got into a bowl game and were hammered by ECU.

My thoughts on the upcoming game is the offense has just not gotten it done so far so our D has an awesome opportunity to play a complete game. I say that statement with hesitation for three reasons. First, our D has had some great moments like the second half of the Buffalo game, but they've not shown consistency. Second, OU is a talented team even if the results on the offensive side are not there. And third, we have not seen a running QB yet and I just do not have a read on how our D will react. Defensively Ohio will be the best, most disciplined D we've played at the non-Big Ten level. Our offense has shown me a whole lot to be excited about and I think we have improved and become more resilient and diverse on that side of the ball each week. Still, this will be a test for our offense big time.

From what I've pointed out so far, I expect a win and am hoping for this to be the first multi-possession win over an FBS team. Going on the road certainly worries me, but the stats I've seen are in our favor.

So there's my thoughts, but again I have not seen OU play.

[Falconfreak90]

I see us putting up 40+ on Ohio...and if there was ever an offense to play this week to build on last week's performance by the D, it's Ohio. We usually fare pretty well in Athens.

GO FALCONS

[ziggy17]

There needs to be continuing improvement on D on a weekly basis. Against UMass they gave up some big plays but on a positive note they also created a few turnovers. The 2nd half of the UB game they came out and looked like a totally different unit. Not expecting a perfect game against OU but maybe somewhere in the neighborhood of 38-24.

[zete]

This Saturday in Athens, I think our D will show up. I expect a hard fought game with BG pulling away in the second half. Paden Stadium is a great setting for football. Should be lots of color surrounding the area as trees are beginning to turn. Wish I was going.

[Dayons_Den]

Falcons- 42
Cats- 31

[Flipper]

OU is one of those teams that probably isn't as good as their record indicates. 3-3, 1-1 in the MAC...seems mediocre, right. Nope...wins against 0-5 Kent and 0-5 Idaho and FCS program Eastern Illinois. They've lost to a good UK team, a top end G whatever team in Marshall and a decent but not elite MAC team in CMU. They don't seem to have much in the way of an offense scoring 17 on Kent and 10 on CMU.

This is a game that we could really roll in if Knapke and is "on". We just have too many weapons for the Slobcats.

[bgsufalcon24]

I see us putting up 40+ on Ohio...and if there was ever an offense to play this week to build on last week's performance by the D, it's Ohio. We usually fare pretty well in Athens.

GO FALCONS

I do know that since I've been following the program, BG has only lost once in Athens, in 2010. The Falcons have won 3 of their past 4 games in Athens within the past decade. I'm not sure about further back, but since Ohio football was pretty bad before Solich showed up, I think it's safe to say Athens has been a nice place for BG to show up and leave with a W over the year. On the flip side, BG has just a 2-3 record vs the Bobcats in BG over that same span, for 5-4 overall.

Incredibly, BG has put up road win % of greater of at least .750 against 5 other MAC schools in the past decade. The Falcons are 4-1 against Kent State, losing only in 2011, and 4-1 against Miami as well, losing only in 2007. Against Ball State (2-0), Eastern Michigan (2-0), and Buffalo (5-0), BG has never lost within the past decade in Muncie, Ypsilanti, or Buffalo.

Just think how good the last decade would've been had we not dropped so many games in conference at home! Thankfully we've been better in recent years in this regard...the Brandon era was littered with games against inferior opponents leaving the Doyt with Ws.

[kdog27]

Would like to see us win a game easily but I'll be happy if we win in the last minutes yet again.

BG 41
OU 31

[jpfalcon09]

Ohio is having a down year coupled with injuries. I follow their beat writer on Twitter and its been a long year already in Athens. The 49-0 game is still fresh in their minds from last year and they're practically playing for their season this week. 1-2 in the MAC with a loss to BG with Akron still to play makes it very tough for the Kitties to really be able to do much. I expect they'll open things up this week in hopes of getting a spark for their offense. I'm hopeful BG can finally put together a complete game and come away with a comfortable victory, but I'm not quite ready to do that yet.

BG 48
OU 35

[Falconwriter]

I got this from the Dispatch...OU is pretty beat up right now, especially on defense. How many of these guys will be able to come back for BG is unknown.

Ohio defense beat up after Central Michigan loss

Ohio is facing a worst-case scenario on defense against Bowling Green on homecoming on Saturday.

Not only are the Falcons averaging 37.3 points and 501.5 yards, the Bobcats lineup could be severely depleted by injuries.

In a 28-10 loss at Central Michigan on Saturday, linebackers Jovon Johnson and Blair Brown, safety Thad Ingol and cornerback Devin Jones suffered injuries and did not return.

Jones was seen on the sideline with an ice bag on one knee and on crutches. Brown apparently took a helmet-to-helmet hit.

“It’s a situation that causes concern,” coach Frank Solich said. “Where they’ll be at for the upcoming game, there is some question. That was a heavy loss during the game, and it could continue to be a heavy loss. You look at our secondary, and it has been makeshift for a while.”

Starting safety Nathan Carpenter of Lancaster might not play the rest of the season because of a groin injury that has not mended after surgery. Safety Josh Kristoff of Pickerington Central returned two weeks ago from an injury.

Not all the news is bleak. Solich said cornerback Ian Wells is expected to return for Bowling Green. Junior cornerback Brett Layton and redshirt sophomore safety Blake Scipio of Hilliard Bradley have returned to practice after being injured.

Bowling Green defeated Ohio 49-0 last season.

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@MarkZnidar

[Falconfreak90]

Falcons 48, Ohio 21...I just have a gut feeling the D is gonna play a pretty complete game this weekend. And, I don't see Ohio's D stopping us. Our ST's have been very solid all season and I think we finally put it all together in Athens. I wanna see us rip a team apart.

[BGSU33]

I see this game going one of two ways. One, we finally put together an all-around solid game (offense, defense and special teams) and win a tough road game, or two, we finally get nipped for our shortcomings (mainly on defense). We've already talked about it 100 times, but my biggest concern is that we're allowing over 700 ypg on defense in road games....that's seven-hundred-yards! We can toss out the Wisconsin game all together but in games against peer-like opponents such as WKU and UMass, they still shredded us and they both have losing records and a combined one win between the two of them minus WKU's win over BG.

This is going to be another sellout crowd (less than 1,000 tickets remain), we're another Homecoming foe and Ohio is undefeated at home. OU is also getting RB's Ouelette (leading rusher) and White back from injuries this week and I have no clue if we'll have anyone coming back as each passing week we're told nothing and they still appear as starters on the depth chart despite being out. So I'm expecting nothing to change. A BG win would be HUGE because we'd stay out ahead of everyone in the East, but a loss would send us falling back into the pack. I expect to see a competitive game but think we're gonna lose a close one. I expect them to feed Ouelette, then bait us with the run and exploit us with deep post routes by Cochran (averages over 26 ypc). They run them every game several times and he makes the catches and our secondary has been awful and they WILL take their shots with him. They have an excellent kicker in Yazdani who already kicked a game-winning kick at Kent State this season and I think he wins it for them again the same way.

BG 31
OU 34

[Flipper]

Take of the green tinted glasses...we're going to stomp them

BG 48
SC* 21

* SC=slobcats

[Falconwriter]

Take of the green tinted glasses...we're going to stomp them

BG 48
SC* 21

* SC=slobcats

I don't see BG stomping anyone this year. And despite the improvement in the defense in the last game (at least in numbers), I don't have confidence it will continue all year long.

I'll take a win and be thrilled, even if it's another nailbiter. Honestly, I don't see any other kind of wins coming this year.

[Flipper]

I see us gaining momentum and becoming an unstoppable band of rage cannons leveling stadiums across the Midwest....