Bowling Green has struggled since their last bowl appearance in 2009. They just missed out on bowl eligibility last season at 5-7 and with 13 starters returning, head coach Dave Clawson might just end the bowl drought in 2012. You can follow the odds and get expert picks on the Falcons all season long at Football Free Picks.
Offense
The offense put up 26.5 points and 385 total yards per game last season. The Falcons were obviously pretty good on this side of the ball, but their -13 turnover differential was really the reason why they weren’t able to win more games. With seven starters returning, this offense will be experienced, which will hopefully limit their mistakes in 2012.
Junior QB Matt Schill is coming back after a season in which he completed 59.5% of his passes for 3,024 yards with 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. 2012 should be his most productive season yet as he enters his third year as starter.
Bowling Green running back Anthon Samuel was the Freshman of the Year in the MAC last year thanks to 844 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. He returns this year and should be even more productive as a sophomore. Jordan Hopgood and Jamel Martin may see some sporadic carries, but Samuel will carry the bulk of the load.
The team’s biggest losses come at wide out as Bowling Green loses its top two pass catchers from a year ago in Kamar Jorden and Eugene Cooper. Their top returnees are junior WR Shaun Joplin and junior TE Alex Bayer. The Falcons have a very talented Michigan transfer in junior WR Je’Ron Stokes heading their way, and he will likely be their go-to-guy this year.
With four starters returning up front in senior C Chip Robinson, junior LG Dominic Flewellyn, senior LG Dominique Wharton and senior RT Jordon Roussos, this unit has a great opportunity to be the best that Clawson has had in his four years here. Talented redshirt freshman RG Alex Huettel and LT Fahn Cooper are expected to be inserted into the starting lineup this year.
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Defense
Bowling Green’s defense allowed 28.8 points and 406 yards per game last year. With 10 returning starters, this may end up being the most improved unit in the conference.
This team is going to be strong at the point of attack on both sides of the ball considering the defensive line returns nine of its top 10 players from last season. The projected starters are first-team All-MAC DT Chris Jones, junior DT Ted Ouellet, sophomore DE Charlie Walker and sophomore DE Zach Colvin. Junior DT Jairus Campbell and junior DE Ronnie Goble return to provide solid depth.
The linebacker corps returns intact and features the team’s #1, #2 and #5 tacklers from last year. They are first-team All-MAC MLB Dwayne Woods, junior Jerry “BooBoo” Gates and junior BLB Paul Swan. Gates has moved to strong safety, which allows sophomore Gabe Martin to start at the team’s Rover position. Sophomore DJ Lynch is a nice option coming off the bench.
With Gates moving to safety in the spring, the secondary now features six players who all have starting experience. The main players coming back in the defensive backfield will junior CB Cameron Truss, sophomore CB DeVon McKoy, sophomore S Ryland Ward and sophomore CB Darrell Hunter.
MAC East Prediction – 3rd Place
Under the tutelage of Clawson, there is no doubt that the Bowling Green is on the rise. The past few years have been a rebuilding year for Clawson, and he will finally have his work payoff as he has a ton of talent coming in to 2012. This team is in a prime position to contend in the next few years as only four of the 22 projected starters are seniors. They also have a favorable schedule in 2012 as they have easy road games at Akron and Umass, while avoiding Western Michigan, Northern Illinois and Central Michigan from the West. Their matchup against Ohio on November 7 could easily decide the East, and the Falcons are definitely capable of going to their first MAC title game since ’03.
Jack Jones is an expert handicapper who writes for Betfirms.com. You can head there now to read more about the Falcons’ upcoming season.