Bowling Green @ Miami

[The Big Tease]

I have seen just about every Bowling Green game this year and about 3 Miami games this year and I can tell you that these quarterbacks are amazing. But you probably already knew that. Miami gets a lot of hype for putting up 40 points a game, but their defense is nothing to laugh at either! Bowling Green on the other hand, in my opinion has a few problems in the secondary. Miami will score tonight. There is no question in my mind that at home, they will put up at least 30. Bowling Green is quick on defense and I would imagine that they will blitz often tonight to take some pressure off the secondary.

OK I am going to cut to the chase. Most people on this board do their homework so I may be repeating what others have said, so here is the deal....From a gamblers standpoint, I think Vegas got burned on the Northern Illinois/BG game with sharpies that were on BG. The betting public will take the higher ranked underdog 75% of the time. That line was only 4 or so. I think that this game reeks of the same situation. BG is now the team with all the hype in the MAC and they go into a hostile environment to play what may be a better lower ranked team.

They have raised the line so that this doesnt happen again. I really think that Miami will win this game. That is just the way MAC sports works, expecially in basketball. The home field is so important and these fans all live in towns where there is nothing else going on so they are crazy. But the fact of the matter is that I cannot trust Miami giving a touchdown. This is an inflated line, no doubt about it. Vegas is taking a stand against the sharpies and the sharpies wont win this one. BG will get the cover tonight, Whether this be a close game or a backdoor, BG will get this cover.

Just my opinion.....

 

[hoyt]

Miami (7-1) - 7:30 pm EST ESPN2
Why to watch: This is a likely preview of the MAC title game and a showdown of two of the top NFL quarterback prospects, Miami's Ben Roethlisberger and Bowling Green's Josh Harris. Miami has been incredible over the last two months winning seven straight game led by one of the most explosive offenses in the country. Bowling Green's offense has been even better at times ranking first in the MAC and second in the country in total offense. What else are you going to do on a Tuesday night, watch Playmakers?
Why Bowling Green might win: Miami has a balanced offense, but things revolve around Roethlisberger and the passing attack. The Falcon have the MAC's best pass defense even after facing passing teams like Purdue and Western Michigan. The RedHawks had problems with Kent State's multi-talented quarterback Josh Cribbs last week allowing him to throw for 349 yards and two scores and run for 42 yards and two touchdowns. Harris has even better skills.
Why Miami might win: As good as Bowling Green has been, Miami has been better with the top scoring offense in the league and a run defense that held Colorado State to 39 yards and Kent State to 68. The Falcons are a running team leading the MAC with 202 yards per game, but they're going to have a nightmare of a time doing what it wants to on the ground.
Who to watch: All the focus will be on the quarterbacks, but they need someone to catch all their passes. Bowling Green's Cole Magner doesn't look like a superstar, but he's always making plays in big games with 13 gabs for 168 yards and a touchdown against Ohio State, 11 catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns against Western Michigan and seven grabs for 100 yards against Northern Illinois. MU sophomore Martin Nance is an excellent pro prospect as well at 6-4 and 190 pounds. He's coming off a ten-catch, 181-yard, three touchdown game against Kent State and has at least one scoring grab in each of his last three games.
What will happen: This isn't the be-all-end-all MAC game that it might appear with Bowling Green still needing to beat Toledo and Miami having a showdown with Marshall next week. Even so, both teams are going to be pumped with the national spotlight on them. Expect Harris and Roethlisberger to put on one heck of a show, and the RedHawks to come up with an exciting win in one of the best games of the year.

BG +7

 

[The Big Tease]

You know that little writeup brings up a good point.....Josh Cribbs put up some pretty good numbers against this Miami defensive unit, and if he can do it, then Josh Harris can definatly put a hurting on them. Josh Harris has a lot more weapons at his disposal then Cribbs.

The contrarian in me is saying go with Miami, but I am convinced that vegas took a beating on the Northern Illinois game and wont let it happen again. We will know where the money is going a little closer to gametime, maybe in about 30-40 minutes