College Football Predictions – Bowling Green Falcons 2020 College Football Preview
August 2020
October 2020 – Schedule notes updated.
2019 Recap
Record –3-9
ATS – 3-9
Year one of the Scot Leoffler era got off to a rocky start as the Falcons struggled to a three-win campaign and only managed a pair of wins over FBS foes (Toledo, Akron). They struggled down the stretch losing five of their final six games whilst allowing 38+ points in each of those defeats. Bowling Green has now accumulated a record of 12-36 over the past four seasons after bagging 10-wins in their MAC Championship season of 2015.
Let’s check in and see if there is any hope on the immediate horizon.
2020 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
East Division – TBD
MAC – TBD
Bowling Green Falcons 2020 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Falcons didn’t have much success moving the ball on the ground (#8 MAC rushing offense) or when trying to MATRICULATE the ball down the field with the passing attack. There’s a new sheriff in town at QB with the arrival of Matt McDonald from Boston College. He has almost no experience but did spend time with now HC Scot Loeffler. Two of the top-three RBs return for duty and those men (Andrew Clair, Bryson Denley) combined for 8 rushing TDs LY. McDonald gets some good news with the return of their three leading pass catchers including star TE Quintin Morris (649, 4 TD). The offensive line could be a problem area with only a pair of returning starters, and they need to break in a new starting LT and C.
It’s hard to project much improvement given the uncertainty at QB and on the offensive line.
DEFENSE
VOMIT EMOJI.
The Falcons had enormous problems stopping teams from ripping through them like a hot knife though butter last season. They were especially weak vs the run (243 YPG, #126 FBS) and allowed 38.6 PPG (#126 FBS). They gave up 40+ points on eight separate occasions. Can things get better this year? Well they need to fix that awful run defense (duh?) and it’s unclear if they have the ability to address what weakness in an adequate fashion. They only return one starter returning on the defensive line, but at least the LB group gets back leading tackler, and star performer, Kholbe Coleman. The secondary brings back three starters but recall that the Falcons were dead last in the MAC in pass efficiency defense LY (24-7 TD to INT, 67%).
They might make a slight improvement in some defensive categories but it’s clear there’s still a ton of work to do on this side of the ball.
SPECIAL TEAMS
RUH ROH.
PK Nate Needham is back to handle FGs but he was a mediocre 5/9 on FG attempts LY (0/3 from 40+). P Matt Naranjo has been mediocre over his career. They could use more spice in the return units.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – They get a nasty draw from the casedemic schedule makers (at Toledo) and it appears that their only real shot at a win comes on Dec 5 when they visit Akron.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Nothing heinous noted.
Season Win Total
TBD
MEGALOCKS says:
TBD
MEGAmazing Tidbits
The Falcons record of 12-36 over the last four years pales in comparison to their excellent mark in the four years from 2012-2015 (36-19). That’s contrast, yo.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
It seems reasonable to expect another long season ahead for the Falcons. They’re not good enough on offense or defense to expect anything more than winning a few games and maybe SHOCKING the WORLD with an upset along the way. We see improvement down the road but it almost certainly won’t manifest this year.
Want more Bowling Green football ?
WEBSITE
http://www.bgsufalcons.com/index.aspx?path=football
FORUM
http://www.ay-ziggy-zoomba.com/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=3
NEWS
http://orangeandbrown.blogspot.ca/
http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/189/bowling-green-falcons
TWITTER
Hashtags – #AyZiggy
Accounts to follow