vs. Old Dominion (9/28)

[mbenecke]

Following a really strong showing against some tough competition at Penn State and at Texas A&M, our Falcons (1-2) return home to face the Old Dominions Monarchs (0-3) on Homecoming. The game on Saturday, 9/28 will kick off at 5:00pm, and it will be available to watch on ESPN+.

Old Dominion’s record is a bit deceiving. They are winless, but they played South Carolina within 4 (23-19) and played East Carolina within 6. SO it’s not as though they are simply a doormat game. However, BG enters as a 12 point favorite, and for good reason - this BG team has a lot of talent all over the field, and they play as hard as we have seen in a while around here.

Should be a good battle, and I’m looking forward to being there for it. Happy Homecoming, Falcons!

Beat ODU!

[Beaker]

I've been impressed with our play so far this year. Only 2-3 plays going the other way in each of these last 2 games and we come out on top and that really stings, but the team needs to build on the positives, learn from the negatives and focus on the next opponent. My worry this week is that we see a non P-4 team with a 0-3 record coming in and think we don't need to prepare as hard as we did for the last 2 games. If that happens, we could very easily lose this one. I'm pretty sure NIU didn't think they were going to get beat by Buffalo.

SL has done a good job putting this team together, now I think the challenge is keeping them focused and motivated in these games where they won't be in the national spotlight. The MAC race is going to be tight and we can't take a week off and have a slip up or it will cost us. Legitimate opportunities to win a conference championship don't come around all the time. I hope we can get it done because we are going to lose a lot of talent next year.

Running the ball against defenses like we've seen the last 2 weeks has been tough, but we had some success. I think we need to really work on solidifying that area this week, especially with the change at left tackle. We have a very strong stable of backs and when the weather turns cold coming down the stretch, a strong run game will give us an advantage. I've always thought Jamal Johnson was a good back and I'd like to see him get the ball more. He looks bigger and stronger this year. With Stewart's injury issues, I'd give Johnson and Patterson more carries to help protect Terion so we can hopefully still have him all the way through.

[mbenecke]

Interestingly, BG has moved into the position of MAC favorite via the betting odds on most/all sites.

BG is +250. Toledo is next closest at +300. Miami is +500. Ohio is +650.

[jpfalcon09]

No time for a let down. ODU has a sneaky good defense and an offensive scheme with a dual threat QB who might give BG some fits. My internals have BG -5 with an O/U of 43.

[mbenecke]

Getting a little anxious about the weather forecast for this weekend.

[jpfalcon09]

Getting a little anxious about the weather forecast for this weekend.

Yeah, potential remnants of the expected hurricane moving up this way. Still a ways out to know exact impacts. Obviously any threat of rain is going to suppress the crowd, and if it's both wet and breezy can reasonably assume a run heavy game. Definitely something to watch this week.

[BGSU33]

Getting a little anxious about the weather forecast for this weekend.

Just noticed the same thing. It looks like the hurricane paths and its remnants are projected to headed right up over the western part of Ohio on Saturday of all days. Major bummer since it's been basically sunny and nice for the past month. But, that's the risk you run not having your second home game until practically the month of October.

[jpfalcon09]

Getting a little anxious about the weather forecast for this weekend.

Just noticed the same thing. It looks like the hurricane paths and its remnants are projected to headed right up over the western part of Ohio on Saturday of all days. Major bummer since it's been basically sunny and nice for the past month. But, that's the risk you run not having your second home game until practically the month of October.

Good news is it's not looking like a washout. Scattered showers and breezy around kickoff. General admission tickets are selling pretty fast if anyone is still waiting on purchasing.

[Falconfreak90]

No time for a let down. ODU has a sneaky good defense and an offensive scheme with a dual threat QB who might give BG some fits. My internals have BG -5 with an O/U of 43.

This. We have to bring the same mentality we've shown all season...ODU is a solid team and we will need to keep playing at this high level to get a win. I think we win but I don't see a BiG margin.

[jpfalcon09]

Weather Channel showing 73 and cloudy at kickoff, slight chance of a shower or two during the game, 10-15mph winds from the NE. Hopefully there's a nice crowd tomorrow. This group deserves it.

[Hammer]

Defense non existent on first drive. Are we back to our old ways of only getting up for “big” games?

[mbenecke]

Didn’t love the first drive on defense, but the 2nd drive on D was much better.

And then we follow it with a TD on offense (Harold Fannin rocks!) and it’s 7-7.

Let’s go, boys.

[mbenecke]

Didn’t love the first drive on defense, but the 2nd drive on D was much better.

And then we follow it with a TD on offense (Harold Fannin rocks!) and it’s 7-7.

Let’s go, boys.

Well crap. ODU goes with a tricky little fake QB draw into a jump pass and that goes 75 yards.

Gotta get it back at the other end.

[mbenecke]

End of 1. ODU 14, BG 7.

Having a tough time running the ball so far. Need to figure that out.

[mbenecke]

Touchdown Falcons!

After a ridiculously disrespectful spot on 3rd down, BG converts a 4th and 1, gets a nice throw from Bazelak, and then finishes the drive with a big Patterson run to make it 14-14 here in the 2nd.