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MAC Championship Game: Bowling Green vs. Northern Illinois Prediction, Preview
MAC Championship Game: Bowling Green vs. Northern Illinois prediction and full game preview for the highly-anticipated matchup between the Falcons and Huskies
December 2, 2015
This looks familiar. Toledo had a huge year and Western Michigan was great, but this is the third straight season it’s Bowling Green (9-3) and Northern Illinois (8-4) for the MAC title. The Huskies won last year 51-17, the Falcons won 47-27 in 2013, and NIU, in its sixth straight title game, is going for its fourth conference title in five years. Check out the MAC Championship Game prediction and preview.
MAC Championship Game Preview
Broadcast
Date: Friday, December 4
Game Time: 8:00 pm
Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Network: ESPN2
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Why You Need To Care
Northern Illinois hasn’t been quite the juggernaut it’s been in past seasons, especially after losing QB Drew Hare for the season, but it cranked out six straight wins and got the break it needed – Toledo blew it in the final week of the year – to get its shot at yet another title. The 26-21 home loss to Ohio with everything on the line was galling, and the offense hasn’t been there compared to what Bowling Green has been able to do, but the team and the program knows how to win conference championships. The problems early in on the season, and that loss to Ohio, won’t matter a bit, if the Huskies can pull this off. Already a MAC dynasty, a win would cement the team’s place.
Why Bowling Green Will Win
Does Northern Illinois have the scoring punch? The Huskies put up big numbers against the Eastern Michigans and Ball States of the world, but against the big boys the O has fallen relatively flat.
It’s not like the Bowling Green defense is a rock, but it’s been good enough against the run to get by, and the secondary isn’t getting beaten enough to be a problem. The really scary part about NIU is going to be the Falcons’ offensive side that’s becoming more diverse. With 236 rushing yards against Western Michigan, and 337 against Ball State, the BGSU offense isn’t just about the passing attack at this point.
Why Northern Illinois Will Win
Time of possession hasn’t been on NIU’s side this year, but this might be the game to grind it out. The Bowling Green defense gives up lots of first downs, the team commits lots of penalties, and the secondary gives up lots of yards – mostly in comeback mode, though – but this week the Huskies have to run and run big.
Ohio stopped the Huskies cold last week, but before that everything was humming with three, 300-yard games in the previous five outings and six 200-yard days in the previous seven games. This has to somehow get ugly in the pristine conditions of Ford Field. This is the game for the NIU offensive line.
Player Who Matters
Bowling Green QB Matt Johnson came up with an excellent 2013 season, but it was his MAC championship game against Northern Illinois that he’ll always be remembered for with 393 yards, five touchdown passes, and 33 yards on the ground. He hasn’t had to push the ball down the field quite as much over the last three games, but he’s still been effective with eight touchdown passes and over 200 yards in each game. More than the big yards, this week it’s about accuracy, with three of his six picks on the season coming in the two games before the blowout over Ball State. The Falcons should have this, but they can’t sputter and give NIU a slew of easy scores.
What’s Going To Happen?
Northern Illinois knows how to rise up in MAC championship games, but Bowling Green’s offense will be too potent and too effective. Johnson will be the difference, the Falcon run defense will hold serve on a few key stops, and the program will have its second MAC title in three seasons.
MAC Championship Game Prediction
Final Score: Bowling Green 38 … Northern Illinois 27, Line: Bowling Green -12, o/u: 70
Must See Rating: 5: The Big Short – 1: CMA Country Christmas … 4
