Mid-American Conference Preview: Bowling Green

Bowling Green Falcons 

2015 Results: 10-4 (7-1, 1st in East)
Lost to Georgia Southern in Go Daddy Bowl 

Returning Starters: 5 OFF, 6 DEF, 1 SP

2016 Schedule: 

September:

3rd at Ohio State

10th NORTH DAKOTA

17th MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE

24th at Memphis

October:

1st EASTERN MICHIGAN

8th at Ohio

15th at Toledo

22nd MIAMI (OH)

November: 

1st at Northern Illinois

9th at Akron

15th KENT STATE

25th BUFFALO

Bowling Green was awesome in 2015. AWESOME. They were a guaranteed cover and made me a decent bit of money last year. They were all about offense and said " screw it" every time the other team had the ball. Dino Babers abandoned ship and went to Syracuse, leaving the program better than he found it. Mike Jinks is new man in charge. Coming over from Texas Tech, I'll let you figure out what kind of offense he prefers. It's looking like the team try to match up with their previous team, but the question will be how the new guys can fill in.

The offense was crazy last year. You could count on BG to drop points, let the ball fly, and have a fun game. Matt Johnson was second nationally in passing yards and touchdowns. You could set your watch by BG. They were going to throw the ball around like mad men and put up points. Johnson threw for 49 touchdowns, which would be around the 50-60 range in team touchdowns. Let that sink in. Their offense was bonkers and if the system can catch on, this next crop can do similar things.

Defensively, BG couldn't care less. They weren't as bad as the Hal Mumme teams who would let the opponent score just so they could get the ball back, but they weren't far ahead. They return half of their starters, which doesn't instill much confidence in them getting better. They need to make monumental strides in order to keep up last year's record and team toughness. They lost far too many offensive weapons to struggle defensively in the coming season.

Player to watch: Austin Valdez

I've been bashing the defense, but Valdez is a beast and he's back for his Junior year. Last year, he was the star of the defense with 101 tackles, 11 TFL, and 2 interceptions. He was everywhere and he had to be. Otherwise, BG may have given up 75 points per game. For them to have success this season, he'll have to step his game up and carry the load.

If you only watch them once, watch: 10/15 at Toledo

They're fighting an absolute battle vs Toledo and it's going to be a revenge game from last year. I have them stunning the Rockets and pulling out the W. "How can you do that after they lost all of those weapons?", you may ask. Simple, I'm the blogger and you're the reader. Kidding. Toledo is replacing a lot of offensive players too, so I'm going with Bowling Green in this one.

Prediction: 8-4 (6-2, MAC)

All my love,

@corbeech