BG Football Heads to Athens

 Wait, football is back, too.

The 0-3 Falcons will take on the 1-1 Ohio Bobcats.

OU was picked to be 3rd in the East.  (Can you believe that Buffalo was picked #2 in the East?)

As mentioned, they are 1-1.  They lost 30-27 to CMU and beat Akron 24-10.  Because their Miami game was cancelled due to COVID, they have not played since November 10.

OU is QB'd by Kurtis Rourke, who takes the reins from his brother Nathan, who was the original Air Canada.  He's been effective.  He's completed 61% of his passes, at 16 a completion, with 2 TDs and 0 INT.  Usually OU has a decent QB run game, but they haven't done it much this year.

However, as always, this is a run-focused team.  They have run the ball 66 times and passed it 36.

At RB, they are led by Tuggle is a JUCO guy who was their #3 RB last year.  He's averaging 5.7 YPC, in the top 5 of the MAC.  We saw how BG responded to a run-focused offense in our last game and hopefully, BG has used their break to lock that down a little.  (Note that half of Tuggle's output has been against Akron, but Akron's YPC allowed is 6.4 and BG is 6.3).

OU always has big play WRs.  Isiah Cox is probably their top WR, averaging 21.5 per reception.  Shane Hooks has 7 total receptions to lead the team and he's averaging 15 a catch.

They lost 3 All-MAC OL since last year.

On defense, OU typically plays pretty well.  They allow 4.5 yards per rush so far, which is 5th in the MAC.  With only two games and one against Akron, it's very tough to know what's happening.  (Akron has a high-performing JUCO RB).

They have been difficult to pass against.  They have allowed 57% completions at 11.2 YP Completion, 2 TD and 2 INT.

They also have 8 sacks and 5 against CMU.

For special teams, they are 1-4 on FGs with a 44 long.  They are 8th in net punting and lead the MAC in kickoff returns, as it seems they always do.

Overall, BG showed some signs of improvement on the offensive side of the ball against UB.  If that can continue, BG has a shot to compete in this one.  My fear is that our inability to stop the run will allow OU to do what they are comfortable doing and they will put the game away.  But who knows?  They have been off for a while.  Maybe they are rusty.