MAC Week 12 Preview: Kent St. vs. Bowling Green
With no high-profile games taking place in the Mountain West taking place this week to speak of, we turn our attention to the MAC conference to look at a hugely significant battle in East division, as Kent State visits Bowling Green. A win for Kent State today means clinching the East, securing a date with Northern Illinois the MAC Championship game, while a win for Bowling Green would give the Falcons the edge in a tiebreaker scenario for first place with just one conference game remaining. Can the Golden Flashes seal the deal? We’ll find out, plus we’ll take a quick glimpse at the rest of the action in the MAC conference today.
Kent State 9-1 (6-0) at Bowling Green 7-3 (5-1)
However, the key contest of the day in the conference takes place in Bowling Green, Ohio between Kent State and Bowling Green. Kent State cracked the top 25 rankings at No. 25 this week for the first time in 39 years, as the Golden Flashes are enjoying their first winning season since 2001. It’s been a good one for Kent State, who comes into today’s game riding an eight-game winning streak and seeking a berth in the MAC title game. However, Bowling Green should have something to say about it, as the Falcons also are coming in on a winning streak, one of six games and are actually the favorite in the point spread today by 2.5. When two hot teams collide, someone’s gotta go down.
Look for Kent State to set a school record today with its ninth straight win
This matchup will be a classic case of a great offensive team against a great defensive team. Kent State brings in one of the conference’s most potent offensive attacks, scoring 35.4 points per game (30th in NCAA) that does most of its damage on the ground, rushing for 235.7 yards per contest (15th in NCAA).
The Falcons will counter with the league’s best defense, which is allowing just 103.7 yards per game on the ground and 15.1 points. Needless to say, Kent State’s two 1,000 yard rushers, Trayion Durham and Dri Archer will find less running room against Bowling Green than they are accustom to.
Although ranked teams have been unlucky so far this season in the MAC, I think this will change today. Bowling Green may limit the two star backs of Kent State to under their game averages, but to shut both of them down will prove to be too much of a challenge to overcome. And even if they do, look for Archer, who also happens to be the nation’s leader in kick return average, to be an X-factor in the special teams and field position game. These are multi-faceted weapons that will be too difficult for Bowling Green to stop completely.
Look for Kent State to muster enough first downs and control the ball and pace of the game enough to set the tone and defeat the Falcons today. Take the other K State to cover +2.5 and win outright. Now let’s take a peek at a few other games going on in the conference.
Miami (OH) 4-6 (3-3) at Central Michigan 4-6 (2-4)- The nation’s 22nd ranked passing attack of Miami will be too much for Central Michigan to handle. Miami covers +4.5.
Eastern Michigan 1-9 (0-6) at Western Michigan 4-7 (2-5)- Western Michigan’s balance will allow them plenty of options in disposing of their rival today. Take W Mich in a landslide at home.
Buffalo 3-7 (2-4) at UMass 1-9 (1-5)-Â At least UMass got one win during its first year in division 1A. That’s better than some teams can say, but sadly, I don’t think they’ll get two. Take Buffalo to storm away with the W.
