OXFORD, Ohio — Mid-week #MACtion continues as Bowling Green State University treks to Oxford to face Miami in a Mid-American Conference East Division tilt.
The Falcons are coming off an ugly 49-17 loss in the Battle of I-75 against Toledo, and the RedHawks have won three of their past four after defeating Buffalo 45-18 on Nov. 9.
The Falcons had a short week of preparation, and Miami could use a win to make the East Division-deciding game come down to the final week of its regular season against Kent State.
Here is what to know about the matchup between the Falcons and RedHawks:
Who: Bowling Green (3-7, 1-5 MAC) at Miami (5-5, 4-2)
When: Tuesday, 8 p.m.
Where: Yager Stadium, Oxford, Ohio
Spread: Miami by 15½
TV: ESPNU
Radio: 93.5
Follow: Corey Crisan
PLAYERS TO WATCH
■ Bowling Green: Northview product Trent Simms tallied a career-best 11 tackles against Toledo and has seen the field more often with Davon Ferguson out for the season. The redshirt freshman has recorded 20 stops in his previous two games after totaling three tackles in six games prior.
■ Miami: Quarterback Brett Gabbert is the beginning and the end of Miami’s offense, entering the game as the most efficient passer in the MAC. The sophomore is the younger brother of NFL QB Blaine Gabbert.
STATS TO KNOW
■ 7: Falcons linebacker Darren Anders is tied for seventh in the nation with 103 total tackles.
■ 255.1: Miami’s Brett Gabbert leads the MAC with 255.1 passing yards per game.
■ 269: BGSU running back Terion Stewart has rushed for 269 total yards (8.4 per carry) over his previous three games.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
■ Devin Taylor vs. Jack Sorenson. Miami’s leading receiver is also the MAC’s leading receiver at 109.8 yards per game. Sorenson has caught 61 passes (third in the MAC) for a league-best 1,098 yards and eight touchdowns. Taylor is the Falcons’ top cornerback and should see a lot of Sorenson, with Jalen Burton helping along on the other side and safeties Jordan Anderson, Sy Dabney, and Simms helping up top.
PREDICTION
It’s difficult to find optimism right now in Bowling Green as a whole, given what we just witnessed less than a week ago against Toledo. Falcons coach Scot Loeffler admitted the Rockets took the Falcons completely out of their game plan and outmanned them in terms of strength and physicality. Miami is not Toledo, but Brett Gabbert is one of the few QBs in the MAC that has the ability to pick apart a good-but-banged up Falcons secondary. Miami 31-14.
WARMUP READING
Scouting report: Bowling Green at Miami
Linebacker Brand's injury leaves another hole for Bowling Green football to fill
Bowling Green no-shows in Battle of I-75 loss to Toledo
First Published November 16, 2021, 1:00 p.m.
