k gman, lets break this game down...
as you said earlier, there is a reason why BG is favored against a highly ranked team. A team with the best running back in the MAC and one of the better defenses.
Whats at stake:
a chance to host the MAC Championship game -- HOWEVER, the road to that goes through Toledo
BG has 2 tough games coming up for them. This week with NIU and next week they gotta play at Miami. But everybodys motto this year is "win the west" - in fact, iam getting sick of hearing that.
Offensive Powers?:
This is hard to say who is more of a offensive weapon...NIUs players or BGs..buttt Iam gonna have to side with Bowling Green here. Josh Harris is amazing. He has ripped every single defense that he has seen - INCLUDING Ohio St's. He's a big QB, built alot like Rod Rutherford, but I think Harris is bigger then Rutherford, especially in the thighs and in the ass which is big because having a bigger lower body makes is difficult to tackle someone. Harris will have a few weapons to throw to, Cole Magner who had a career day against Ohio St. BJ Pope offers a good set of hands out of the backfield, very realible. And cant forget Charles Sharon, my favorite cuz he talks shit during the game lol. BJ Pope is not Mike Turner, but he can produce numbers out of the backfield, but more importantly, he`s a good blocker.
We all know about Mike Turner. I think he will get over 100 yards on Saturday against this defense. Obviously the Huskies are banged up - which is why I have been fading them. Not having Dan Sheldon is a big deal IMO. It wasnt a big deal last game as I thought it would be, but it`ll come and bite them when it counts. I still dont think Haldi is a quality QB. He gets too many kudos from the media.
Defense:
alright, gotta give this to NIU. I know BG is capable of being a good defense...but they havent showed it to me lately. Whats gonna be critical for BG backers is this....will Mitch Hewitt and Mike Malone play???? Their 2 best defensive players no doubt. They didnt play the last game. They are gonna be needed BADLY if BG is gonna have a chance to contain Turner.
NIU, we all know they are nailed with the injury bug. Dont think for 1 second that last week they did a good job. As I stated in another thread, the score is MISLEADING! Western drove into NIU redzone twice and twice picked off and twice turned into points. 28 point swing. Your prolly looking at the box score thinking, Western got -2 rushing yards???? wtf? Yea well, Phil Reed(top 5 back in the MAC) had to leave teh game with an injury early in the first quarter. Western had to sway away from the running game and had to throw the ball to play catch-up. And the week before, Central Michigan ripped them for over 200 yards rushing. So did Ohio, ya`ll see a trend here???
What this game will come down to:
Special Teams!! Dan Sheldon, one of the best kick returners in the NATION isnt playing in this game - so some mook will be running back kicks for the Huskies. But thats not the intangible here. For those who have been to a Bowling Green game before, you`ll know what Iam talking about. Looking at the early forecast, I see its gonna rain...with rain comes wind. That stadium is like a wind tunnel. Both ends of the stadiums are open and there is nothing but flat land laid alllll around the stadium. Kickers have a hard time kicking there. Its more of a swirly wind - hard to kick in, hard to throw. Few weeks ago with BG and Central Michigan....gman, we both saw a few missed field goals from 2 reliable kickers from short distance. Nobody really has no idea what Iam talking about - but trust me, the wind sucks coming right off of I-75.
Iam gonna wait to bet this cuz I think the line will drop due to the public hammering this game. Iam hoping for 3
Good Luck
