The Ohio Bobcats (-18) aren’t traveling far to face their MAC nemesis Bowling Green Falcons at Doyt L. Perry Stadium. The game is scheduled to get underway at 7:30 p.m. ET and ESPNU will broadcast the action.
Betting Preview: Bowling Green Falcons vs. Ohio Bobcats
Bowling Green is a live dog in this one and is currently getting 18 points. If they are wanting to play the moneyline, gamblers would currently have to spend $1,500 in order to win $100 back on the Bobcats (-1500). The Falcons are getting +810 moneyline odds. If one school finds paydirt early on, it’ll likely generate a solid live betting scenario.
This game’s line originally opened at 18 but has moved a bit recently.
The hapless Bobcats are 2-8 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 6.7 units so far in 2019. The team’s posted an O/U record of 5-5.
The Falcons are down 3.0 units this season. The team is 3-7 ATS and has an O/U record of 2-8.
The Bobcats are 4-6 straight up (SU), including 3-3 SU against conference opponents. The Falcons are 3-7 SU overall and 2-4 SU in conference play.
The Bobcats fell to Western Michigan 37-34 in a nailbiter where the passing game was on point, as Nathan Rourke completed 20-of-29 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Rourke (93 rushing yards on 13 attempts) also led the ground attack and was complemented by O’Shaan Allison (59 yards on nine carries) in the loss. Ryan Luehrman (four receptions, 52 yards, one TD) and Allison (four catches, 21 yards) handled the receiving duties.
On November 13, Miami (OH) knocked off this Bowling Green crew by a score of 44-3. The Falcons defense let the RedHawks run for 187 yards on 36 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. Jaylon Bester had a productive outing in the win for Miami (OH), recording 85 rushing yards and two touchdowns on nine attempts. For Bowling Green, Grant Loy completed 11-of-27 passes for 90 yards and three interceptions. Trevon Raymore (50 yards on 16 rush attempts) and Bryson Denley (105 yards on 14 carries) handled the ground game in the defeat as Quintin Morris (four receptions, 13 yards) and Denley (three catches, 33 yards) led the pass-catching corps.
Each squad has a remarkably similar (59-41) run-pass ratio on the season. Having said that, the Bobcats have rushed for 200.5 yards/game (including 227.7 per game versus Mid-American opponents) and have 24 scores via handoffs this year. The Falcons haven’t been quite as successful, as they’re averaging 166.7 rush yards per game (173.8 in conference) and have 12 total rushing TDs.
If the results so far this season are any indication, then the Falcons might be the more disruptive team in the trenches. Their offensive line has yielded only 12 sacks while the D-line has logged 24 sacks. The Bobcats offensive line has allowed 18 sacks and their defense has got to opposing signal-callerss on just 15 occasions.
The Bobcats offense has averaged 210.3 yards in the air overall (207.7 per game against conference opposition) and has 14 passing TDs so far. The Falcons have put up 155.7 pass yards per outing (151 against MAC competition) and have eight total pass scores.
Ohio has let opponents run for an average of 192.4 yards and pass for 240.2 yards per game. The Bowling Green defense has allowed 229.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 211.7 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Bobcats have given up an ANY/A of 8.09 to opposing QBs, while the Falcons are yielding an ANY/A of 7.9.
Offensively, Rourke has put up 1,968 passing yards this year, and has completed 60 percent of his 235 attempts with 12 passing scores and five interceptions. He has a 7.51 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.76 over the last two games.
We’re looking for Bobcats to maintain tempo by putting the ball into the hands of their running backs. In addition to Nathan Rourke (two receiving yards and one touchdown), De’Montre Tuggle (342 rush yards, nine rush TDs, one receiving TD) and O’Shaan Allison (534 rush yards, two rush TDs) have delivered in the offensive gameplans for Ohio.
For the home team, Grant Loy has completed 80-of-146 passes for 769 yards, four TDs and 10 INTs. Loy’s ANY/A sits at a terrible 2.20 for the year and 1.65 across his last two outings.
The Falcons should also look to control the clock by turning to their backfield. Quintin Morris (475 receiving yards, two TDs) has chipped in lately, but Bryson Denley (401 rush yards, two rush TDs, 264 receiving yards, three receiving TDs) and Andrew Clair (244 rush yards, four rush TDs) have gotten a lot of touches recently.
These two squads met last year with the final outcome being a 49-14 win for Ohio.
Ohio Bobcats at Bowling Green Falcons Betting Pick
SU Winner: Ohio, ATS Winner: Bowling Green
Team Betting Notes
- Bowling Green has lost two fumbles this season while Ohio has lost eight.
- The Bowling Green defensive unit has tallied 24 sacks on the year while Ohio has just 15.
- Ohio has averaged 5.6 yards per carry over its last three contests and 5.6 over its last two.
- Bowling Green has averaged 3.5 yards per carry over its last three games and 3.2 over its last two.
- In its last three matchups, Bowling Green is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
- The Over/Under for Ohio’s previous game going into it was 63.5. The over cashed in the team’s 37-34 loss to Western Michigan.
- In its last three contests, Ohio is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Bowling Green’s previous game was 47.5. The under cashed in the 44-3 loss to Miami (OH).
