For a number of different reasons I believe the value in this matchup is on Bowling Green:
The Zips can only look forward instead of pointing fingers and looking back. Akron jumped out to a 17-7 lead over Temple, but allowed the Owls to score 49 unanswered points en route to a 56-17 win. With several players sidelined due to injuries and numerous inexperienced players forced to take the field, the Zips fell victim to a lack of depth and I'm expecting a similar collapse this evening.
The Zips have had to play quarterback roulette with the senior starter being dismissed from the team and the No. 2 sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Akron has been decent against the pass so far, but is going to have its hands full with Freddie Barnes; the BGSU star leads the country with 117 receptions and ranks second with 1,285 yards receiving.
Not only is Akron 1-7 SU its last eight, its also 2-6 ATS its last eight and a horrible 2-5 ATS its last seven on the road.
On the other side of the field:
With two games remaining in the regular season, Bowling Green is in position to have a winning season and become bowl-eligible.
QB Tyler Sheehan is 298-of-465 passing for 3,189 yards and 19 TD's with only six INT's.
The Falcons had their best defensive effort of the season against Miami on Nov. 12, limiting the RedHawks to 295 yards of total offense, just 36 yards on the ground, and two touchdowns.
Bowling Green is 4-1 SU its last five and is 5-1 ATS its last six vs. Akron.
Bottom line: I expect the Falcons defense to continue to play at the same level and believe that their offense will also continues its effective production; look for BOWLING GREEN to improve to 4-3 ATS vs. conference opponents and for Akron to fall to 2-5 ATS against conference foes.
Nick Parsons 11/20
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