2013-14 Football Previews – (MAC) – Falcons
Bowling Green has made a lot of progress in the last couple years, but this season’s team has the highest upside of any Bowling Green football team in a very long time. There are nine starters returning on offense and nine starters returning on defense.
This is easily the most experienced team in the MAC, and they should be a dangerous team in 2013.
Mid-American Conference 2013 College Football Previews: Bowling Green Falcons
Head Coach: Dave Clawson
2012 Record: 8-5
Bowling Green Gambling Odds to win BCS Championship: +2,000 (Part of Field)
Bowling Green Gambling Odds to win MAC: +400
The changes this team has made in the past couple years are pretty amazing. Two years ago the defense was torched on a weekly basis. Last year, the defense was the biggest strength of the team. The offense actually took a minor step backward last year, and they’ll need to be better again this season.
The Falcons are the favorites in the MAC East division.
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Let’s see how this team looks heading into the season.
Team Strengths:
Bowling Green has a star in the middle of their defense in linebacker Gabe Martin. Martin led the team in tackles last year, and he’ll have even more on his plate this year without star Chris Jones on the defensive front. Martin has what it takes to be the MAC Player of the Year.
Matt Schilz has tons of experience in the offense, and I expect him to have a very good year at the quarterback spot. Schilz needs to be more consistent than he was last year, and I think he will be. He has all the tools to get it done, and he’ll have a solid offensive line in front of him this year.
The secondary is extremely deep with lots of talented cornerbacks and safeties. This is arguably the deepest unit on the entire team, and Bowling Green is going to be a very tough squad to the throw the football against this season.
Senior safety Jerry Gates is a huge hitter at the back of the defense.
Team Weaknesses:
The Falcons offense is definitely going to miss Anthon Samuel. Samuel surprised everyone by transferring to FIU in the offseason. He was an elite running back who carried the team in several big games during his time at the school. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Jamel Martin is a quality back, but he isn’t the same as Samuel.
The rushing defense isn’t all that good. Chris Jones was the best defensive player in the MAC last year, and even with him this Falcons defense was susceptible against the run. Bowling Green allowed 334 rushing yards against Kent State last year, and they gave up 246 against Virginia Tech.
If anything, the rushing defense should be a little worse this season, and that has to be a concern.
2013-2014 Bowling Green Football Prediction: 9-4
Bowling Green is a well-balanced team, and they deserve to be the favorite in the MAC East. I’m not sure they can stick with the top teams in the MAC West, but they’ll have a very good year.
The home opener against Tulsa will tell us a lot about this team. Tulsa is a great running team, and Bowling Green’s weakness looks to be their rushing defense.
In the end, Bowling Green should improve a bit from last year. Expect a good year from the Falcons.
2013 Falcons Schedule
8/29/13 7:00 PM ET TULSA
9/7/13 12:00 PM ET @KENST
9/14/13 12:00 PM ET @IND
9/21/13 3:30 PM ET MURST
9/28/13 TBD AKR
10/5/13 3:30 PM ET MASS
10/12/13 TBD @MISST
10/26/13 TBD TOL
11/5/13 8:00 PM ET @MIAOH
11/12/13 7:30 PM ET OHIO
11/23/13 1:00 PM ET @EMICH
11/29/13 1:30 PM ET @BUFF
