BUFFALO — Bowling Green State University carries a four-game losing streak into western New York on Saturday for a noon game against Buffalo.
The Falcons dropped their previous contest to Eastern Michigan by allowing a season-high 55 points, and the defense has surrendered at least 34 points in each of their previous three games.
Buffalo (4-4, 2-2 Mid-American Conference) has won its previous two games and defeated Akron 45-10 in its previous outing. The Bulls defeated BGSU 42-17 in Bowling Green last season.
Here is a look at how the Falcons (2-6, 0-4 MAC) can jump back into the win column.
When BGSU has the ball
The Falcons have made improvements in their running game over the previous three weeks. A large helper in that has been the return of running back Terion Stewart from injury. Stewart rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown as part of BGSU’s team effort of 130 yards and three TDs on the ground last week against Eastern Michigan.
Buffalo notched 11 sacks last week against Akron, which was a single-game high for an FBS team since 2019.
The Falcons will have to once again establish their running game to keep Buffalo’s talented front seven honest if they want to open the passing game for quarterback Matt McDonald.
When Buffalo has the ball
Buffalo has the No. 2 scoring offense in the MAC at 32.4 points per game, and they are fourth in the MAC in total offense at 418.1 yards per game.
The Bulls are a run-heavy team with 204.4 yards on the ground, led by Dylan McDuffie’s 600 total yards (75 per game). The Bulls lead the MAC with 22 rushing TDs. McDuffie has seven TDs on the ground, and Kevin Marks has rushed for five TDs.
The Bulls have excelled at prolonging drives with the MAC's best third-down conversion rate (47.5, 56-for-118). BGSU allowed EMU to go 7-for-12 on third down last week.
Special teams
BGSU kicker Nate Needham is still perfect this season — 14 of 14 — but attempted just one field goal last week against EMU. He has made 7 of 7 from 40-49 yards and is 2-for-2 from 50 yards and beyond. Punter Matt Naranjo averages 42.5 yards per boot. Fifteen punts have landed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
Buffalo’s Alex McNulty has struggled this season with field goals. He has made just 8 of 14, and his longest make this season is from 45 yards. Punter Jackson Baltar averages 40.2 yards per punt. Three punts have been placed inside the 20.
BGSU will win if...
The Falcons will win, or at least give themselves a chance to, if they stay out of their own way. They were penalized heavily against Eastern Michigan, and every foul was a pre- or post-snap penalty. Head coach Scot Loeffler talked after the game about cleaning up mistakes that cause self-harm, and the Falcons need to play a cleaner game and eliminate unnecessary penalties that would benefit Buffalo.
Buffalo will win if...
The Bulls will win if they continue to do what they’ve been good at over their two-game winning streak. Offensively, they rushed for 231 yards and three TDs last week. Defensively, they got to Akron’s DJ Irons and Zach Gibson with ease. While BGSU’s offensive line play has improved, the Bulls still bring an elite front seven into the matchup.
View from the other side
Rachel Lenzi, sports reporter for The Buffalo News:
“The Bulls are coming off an outstanding defensive game at Akron — granted, it was Akron — but UB is also in pursuit of bowl eligibility, which seemed more like a wish than an expectation at the beginning of October. Right now, the Bulls are capitalizing in a stretch against some of the MAC’s cellar-dwellers, and finding areas to exploit against their opponents. Against Ohio, the Bulls roared back from a 21-0 deficit, and forced Ohio into making mistakes – and Kyle Vantrease for 261 yards against a team that has a decent pass defense. At Akron, the defense contained the Zips passing game and broke through the offensive line for 11 sacks. Now, against Bowling Green, the Bulls have to produce against the MAC’s top pass defense — and will be boosted by the return of running back Kevin Marks — but UB needs to limit an already low-producing BG offense. Buffalo 31, Bowling Green 14.”
First Published October 28, 2021, 2:24 p.m.
