The Bowling Green Falcons and Kent State Golden Flashes do battle Wednesday in week 11 MAC college football action from Doyt Perry Stadium. Kent State is 3-6 following a loss to Ball State in their last game. As for Bowling Green, they played Western Michigan in their last game. The Falcons ended up powering out a victory.
Kent State started off the year at 1-3 with a win over LIU among losses to Washington, Oklahoma and Georgia. The Flashes went 2-2 in the next four with wins over Ohio and Akron mixed with losses to Miami-OH and Toledo.
In the Ball State game last Tuesday, the Flashes had a 13-0 lead after the first quarter. Kent State was unable to score again until the fourth quarter in a 27-20 loss. QB Collin Schlee put up 183 yards and one TD, and Marquez Cooper rushed for 168 yards and a score.
Over on the Bowling Green side, they also opened up the year at 1-3 with losses to UCLA, Eastern Kentucky and Mississippi State. The next quartet was a 3-1 run however, with wins over Akron, Miami-OH and Central Michigan.
In last Wednesday’s game versus Western Michigan, the Falcons carried a 13-6 lead into the fourth quarter and held on for the 13-9 victory. QB Matt McDonald posted 161 yards, and Jaison Patterson managed 56 yards on 10 carries.
Kent State is 10-4 ATS in their last 14 in November and 4-11 ATS in their last 15 road games. The Flashes are 0-5 ATS in their last five overall.
Meanwhile, the Falcons are 11-27 ATS in their last 38 at home and 1-4 ATS versus a team with a losing record. Bowling Green is 2-9 ATS in their last 11 in November.
PICK: I’m probably staying with Bowling Green but not touching it. The Falcons didn’t exactly generate a ton of confidence in their last win, notching just 291 total yards, 16 first downs and three lost fumbles. That said, Bowling Green did a nice job defensively on the other side (318 yards allowed; two turnovers) to preserve the victory.
As for Kent State, they managed 408 yards (225 rushing) with 27 first downs against Ball State in their last outing. The Flashes went just 8-of-20 on third downs however, and gave up 438 total yards on the other side. I like Kent State to keep the pace initially before Bowling Green manages a cover here.