BOWLING GREEN — A trip to the Mid-American Conference title game will be on the line when Bowling Green State University hosts Miami (Ohio) in the regular-season finale.
BASICS
● Who: Miami (7-4, 6-1 MAC) at BGSU (7-4, 6-1)
● Where: Doyt Perry Stadium
● When: Friday, noon
● Spread: BGSU by 2½
● TV: ESPNU
● Radio: 100.7 FM
● Follow: Michael Burwell
● Threads: Orange helmets, brown jerseys, orange pants.
𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙄𝙩 🎅
— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) November 27, 2024
🟠🟤🟠#ToTheMoon pic.twitter.com/FVDg3D8vYS
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Miami: Brian Ugwu. The RedHawks have quite a few standouts on defense, and Ugwu is certainly one of them. The senior defensive lineman is tied for second in the MAC with 13 tackles for loss and fourth with 6.5 sacks. Both lead the team, along with his 13 quarterback hurries. Ugwu had one of Miami’s four sacks in last season’s 27-0 win over BGSU.
BGSU: Connor Bazelak. Week after week, especially in league play, the BGSU senior quarterback has put his team in a position not only to win, but to come out on top convincingly. Bazelak has been remarkably consistent in completing a MAC-best 67.6 percent of his passes (211 of 312) this season. Bazelak has yet to throw an interception in MAC play; his last pick came on Sept. 28 in a loss to Old Dominion. His 2,453 passing yards rank third in the league.
STATS TO KNOW
32.3: Third-down conversions, both offensively and defensively, could play a big part in who comes out on top. BGSU is second in the MAC in opponent third-down conversion (32.3 percent), while Miami ranks 10th in third-down conversion at the same clip. Miami has also struggled on third-down defense, ranking 10th at 42.1 percent.
7: A win for BGSU would give the Falcons seven MAC wins for the first time since 2015 when they won the conference title game and finished 10-4 overall.
4: BGSU can earn its fourth home win of the season for the first time since 2014 when the Falcons were 4-2 at Doyt Perry Stadium.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
BGSU’s rushing offense vs. Miami’s defense: With cold temperatures expected for the game, the Falcons might lean on their run game to generate offense. BGSU has rushed for at least 100 yards in every MAC game, but Miami has given up an average of just 98.6 yards per league outing. The most rushing yards the RedHawks have given up in MAC play were 128 in last week’s victory over Northern Illinois.
PREDICTION
Despite having four less days to prepare than Miami, which last played on Nov. 19, BGSU should be ready to go in its biggest game in nine years. The status of BGSU star tight end Harold Fannin, Jr., who is a game-time decision due to an undisclosed injury from Saturday’s Ball State game, will be a critical factor, as well. Even if he plays, Miami has had BGSU’s number recently (4-1 in the past five games) and overall (47-25-5) in the series. With the high temperature expected to be in the low 30s, and even a slight chance of snow possible, points could be hard to come by with both defenses playing well. Miami 16, BGSU 13.
First Published November 29, 2024, 11:30 a.m.
