|
|
 Bowling
Green State Lanes
Sep.
8. 12 Noon.
East Lansing, MI.
2007 Record: 7-4
TV: Big Ten Network
Tickets
here
2007
Schedule
| 9/1 |
at
Minny |
W,
32-31 (ot)
|
| 9/8 |
at
MSU |
L,
17-28
|
| 9/22 |
TEMPLE |
W,
48-35
|
| 9/29 |
W
KENTUCKY |
W,
41-21
|
| 10/6 |
at
Boston Coll |
L,
24-55
|
| 10/13 |
at
Miami-Ohio |
L,
14-47
|
| 10/20 |
at
Kent St |
W,
31-20
|
| 10/27 |
OHIO |
L,
27-38
|
| 11/2 |
AKRON |
W,
44-20
|
| 11/9 |
at
E Michigan |
W,
39-32
|
| 11/17 |
at
Buffalo |
W,
31-17
|
| 11/12 |
TOLEDO |
-
|
2006
Results (4-8
overall)
| 9/2 |
WISCONSIN |
L,
14-35
|
| 9/9 |
BUFFALO |
W,
48-40 3ot
|
| 9/15 |
at
Fla Int'l |
W,
33-28
|
| 9/23 |
KENT
ST |
L,
3-38
|
| 9/30 |
at
Ohio |
W,
21-9
|
| 10/7 |
at
Ohio St |
L,
7-35
|
| 10/14 |
EMU |
W,
24-21
|
| 10/21 |
at
CMU |
L,
14-31
|
| 10/28 |
at
Temple |
L,
14-28
|
| 11/7 |
at
Akron |
L,
28-35
|
| 11/14 |
MIAMI-OH |
L,
7-9
|
| 11/21 |
at
Toledo |
L,
21-31
|
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Strengths/Weaknesses
OFFENSE:
7 returning starters
DEFENSE: 8 returning starters
Rating
Scale
(5 = strong, 1 = weak)
|
POSITION
|
RATING
|
|
OL
|
3
|
|
WR/TE
|
3
|
|
QB
|
4
|
|
RB
|
3
|
|
DL
|
2
|
|
LB
|
2
|
|
DB
|
3
|
|
K/P
|
1/1
|
|
K/P
RET
|
2
|
|
COACH
|
4
|
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to top
History
vs. Bowling Green
MSU
1-0
MSU
10, BGSU 7 - 1981
back
to top
|
 The
Skinny on the Bowling Lanes:
Phil
Steele: 95 nationally/t-2 MAC East
Sporting News: 67 nationally/3rd MAC East
Schedule Strength: 114th
Coach: Gregg Brandon (30-19 career)
Series: MSU 1-0
Website: www.bgsufalcons.cstv.com
BGSU Sucks...: OK. A pair of YouTube flicks is a good way to demonstrate
the oddity that is BGSU. Watch BGSU
Boredom and Night
of the Living Impaired. Or, check out this video from some French
students about Sport
at BGSU. ... Where's the bar?
Best Player: C Kory Lichtensteiger (#78, 6-3, 300) is
one of the best in the nation to anchor a pretty solid offensive line.
QB Anthony Turner (#17) is a poor man's version of Ohio State's Troy Smith,
agile, mobile, and a good arm.
Best 2006 win: The 21-9 win at Ohio, on the road last
year, was the only loss handed to the eventual MAC co-champ Ohio Bobcats.
Worst 2006 loss: The 28-14 loss at Temple hurt. Anytime
you lose to Temple in football hurts. This ain't basketball.
2007 season clincher: Bowling Green has a tough stretch of three
games on the road: at BC, at Miami-Ohio, and at Kent State. If they can
pull of the two conference games, they could be bowling.
2007 biggest pitfall: Sep. 8 at Michigan State is the
toughest of of three non-confernece games against lower-tier BCS teams
(Minny, MSU, BC).
2007 biggest creampuff(s): Here we go again, another
school that decides to schedule a Division I Championship Division (I-AA)
team, instead of a Bowl Division (I-A) team. The Hilltoppers have great
basketball.
Biggest weakness: Kicking game. My grandma could return
kicks better than the Eagles last year. They replace a poor kicker (4-of-9)
and a poor punter (35.6 avg) with JUCOs. Corey Partridge (#1) is dangerous
on kick returns, but that's the only thing to keep an eye on. If MSU can
force BGSU into kicking the ball and FGs from newcomer PK Sinisa Vrvillo,
it can be a blowout.
Biggest strength(s): The offense for BGSU is explosive
and returns a great 1-2 run-pass punch. JUCO RB Eric Ransom will be added
to the mobile QB Turner and leading returnee RB Chris Bullock (769 yds)
to make for an efficient running attack. However, what makes it dangerous
is that Turner can throw it through the air as well WR Partridge and the
highly talented WR Freddie Barnes (#7) on receiving ends. And, the entire
defensive backfield for BGSU returns intact, with should pressure Hoyer
into making good throws and not wild pitches.
 Chance
to win: Rating scale -
MSU needs
easy wins this year, but this will not be as easy as many might think.
Bowling Green is considered by many to be a dark horse for the MAC title.
When you think of pundits ranking MSU #9 or #10 in the conference, all
you can say is PRAISE THE LORD WE PLAY THEM AT HOME.
The
Doctor's newly installed bump-and-run pass defense system will get a stern
test in this game from a pair of explosive receivers. BGSU's quarterback
Turner is the type to give teams fits with his mobility. A Spartan pass
rush from the ends would help tremendously to flush Turner forward into
the MSU line and reduce that mobility. Pass rush? What stinking pass rush?
Whatever tricks the Doctor can use to force this team to kick the ball
will help, as these kickers are the worse MSU will face all year. Maybe
we can block a kick or two?
Offensively,
MSU should be able to move the ball. With a full complement of experienced
DBs for BGSU lined up against inexperienced but physical MSU wideouts,
it will force Hoyer to lengthen the field with his throws. The best way
to do that is to get that running game churning, and MSU matches up well
here against a subpar Eagle defensive line. I would expect Ringer and
Caulcrick to have huge days against Bowling Green. MSU should put 200
or more yards on the Eagles on the ground.
Turnovers
will be especially critical in this game. If the Doctor's squad decides
to treat the ball like rock, they'll lose. But, if they can treat that
pigskin like fine wine, and have the defense force a few takeaways, they'll
win easily. The ES is calling for a tight ball game here, but the home
field and the need for Ws makes this a must Spartan win. Don't be surprised
if the Spartans are trailing at the half. The first fire and brimstone
halftime speech may be in order for the MD.
Make
it: MSU 30, BGSU 21.
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2006
Statistics
| MSU |
OFFENSE |
BGSU |
| 302 |
Points |
234 |
| 25.2 |
Points/Game |
19.5 |
| |
|
|
| 4281 |
Total
Yards |
4149 |
| 356.8 |
Total
Yards/Game |
345.8 |
| |
|
|
| 1550 |
Rush
Yards |
2120 |
| 129.2 |
Rush
Yds/Game |
176.7 |
| 387-4.0 |
Attempts
- Avg. |
505-4.2 |
| |
|
|
| 2731 |
Pass
Yards |
2029 |
| 227.6 |
Pass
Yds/Game |
169.1 |
| 417-248-13 |
Att-Comp-Int |
347-195-11 |
| 59.5% |
Comp
% |
56.2% |
| |
|
|
| -1 |
Turnover
Ratio |
+1 |
| |
|
|
| 81-672 |
Penalties
- Yds |
66-578 |
| |
|
|
| 221 |
1st
Downs |
227 |
| 18.4 |
1st
D/Game |
18.9 |
| |
|
|
| 73-173 |
3rd
Down Conv. |
76-186 |
| 42% |
3rd
Down % |
41% |
| |
|
|
| 15-19 |
FG
- FGA |
4-9 |
| MSU |
DEFENSE |
BGSU |
| 341 |
Points |
340 |
| 28.4 |
Points/Game |
28.3 |
| |
|
|
| 4365 |
Total
Yards |
3822 |
| 363.8 |
Total
Yards/Game |
318.5 |
| |
|
|
| 1594 |
Rush
Yards |
1731 |
| 132.8 |
Rush
Yds/Game |
144.2 |
| 416-3.8 |
Attempts
- Avg. |
505-4.2 |
| |
|
|
| 2771 |
Pass
Yards |
2091 |
| 363.8 |
Pass
Yds/Game |
174.2 |
| 355-206-8 |
Att-Comp-Int |
294-188-12 |
| 58.0% |
Comp
% |
63.9% |
| |
|
|
| 56-451 |
Penalties
- Yds |
74-647 |
| |
|
|
| 224 |
1st
Downs |
201 |
| 18.7 |
1st
Downs/Game |
16.8 |
| |
|
|
| 58-160 |
3rd
Down Conv. |
59-145 |
| 36.3% |
3rd
Down % |
41% |
| |
|
|
| 14-20 |
FG
- FGA |
7-12 |
Score
by Quarters
| Team |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
OT |
Total |
| BGSU |
45 |
82 |
41 |
45 |
21 |
234 |
| Opp |
77 |
100 |
71 |
79 |
13 |
340 |
| MSU |
66 |
57 |
68 |
111 |
0 |
302 |
| Opp |
54 |
133 |
92 |
62 |
0 |
341 |
|
