FACTS & STATS: Site: Dix Stadium (29,287) -- Kent, Ohio. Television: None. Home Record: BGSU 2-0, KSU 1-1. Away Record: BGSU 1-3, KSU 2-3. Neutral Record: BGSU 0-0, KSU 0-0. Conference Record: BGSU 1-1, KSU 1-2. Series Record: Bowling Green leads, 52-16-6.

GAME NOTES: The Bowling Green Falcons will try to return to the win column this Saturday afternoon when they take on the Kent State Golden Flashes at Dix Stadium in a Mid-American Conference showdown. Since opening the year with three wins in their first four games, the Falcons have been clipped for back- to-back losses, falling to Boston College, 55-24, and most recently, Miami- Ohio, 47-14. The Falcons have struggled on the road recently, and dating back to the beginning of last season the team is just 3-8 outside of Bowling Green. As for the Golden Flashes, they have dropped three of their last four games, including two consecutive setbacks. The most recent loss came this weekend, as the Flashes was dismantled by now top-ranked Ohio State, 48-3. Since the beginning of the 2004-05 season the Golden Flashes have had trouble on their homefield, posting a meager 8-9 ledger and that includes the team's 1-1 mark this year. Last season the Golden Flashes snapped a five-game losing skid to BGSU with a convincing, 38-3 victory. However, despite the loss, the Falcons still have a commanding, 52-16-6 edge in the all-time series.

The Falcons are clearly a "one-trick pony" this season, as the team is averaging well below 100 rushing ypg, while passing for well over 300 ypg. The team continued this offensive pattern this past weekend against Miami, as the Falcons rushed for just 25 yards in the loss, while throwing for 207 yards. Quarterback Tyler Sheehan did not have his best performance of the year, as the signal caller threw for only 140 yards in the setback. He completed just 16-of-27 passes in the game and was sacked six times. Despite the poor outing Sheehan has done a solid job on the season, completing 65.4 percent of his passes. The QB has thrown for 1,719 yards and has 11 touchdowns against just nine interceptions. His top two targets have been Freddie Barnes and Corey Partridge. Barnes leads the Falcons with 41 receptions, 472 yards and five scores, while Partridge has hauled in 40 passes for 367 yards and one touchdown.

Sadly enough the Falcon defense has actually done worse this season, as the team has had trouble against the run, as well as the pass. BGSU heads into this weekend yielding 201.5 ypg on the ground and another 233.5 ypg through the air. In the loss to Miami this past weekend, it was the team's inability to stop the run that cost BGSU, as the defense was battered for 262 yards on 53 attempts. Overall, Bowling Green surrendered 499 total yards and that led to a whopping 47 points. The Falcons surrendered 26 first downs and struggled on third down, allowing the RedHawks to convert on 7-of-14 chances. Third down is an area where BGSU has struggled all season, as teams are currently converting 48 percent of their opportunities. John Haneline has been a machine for BGSU this year, collecting 68 tackles, while Diyral Briggs has been a powerhouse on the front line, grabbing 5.5 TFLs and a team-best four sacks.

Not much went right for the Golden Flashes this past weekend against Ohio State, as KSU finished the game with 223 total yards of offense and just three points. The only bright spot was the ground game, which churned out 161 yards on 48 carries (3.4 ypc). Leading the way was Eugene Jarvis, who rushed for 84 yards on 16 carries. Jarvis has been one of the top tailbacks in the MAC this season and currently has 935 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 5.8 ypc. As for the passing attack, quarterback Julian Edelman was beaten and battered in the loss, completing just 4-of-10 passes for only 49 yards. The signal-caller was intercepted once and sacked five times. Edelman has been inconsistent at best throughout the season, and thus far has completed just 51.1 percent of his passes. he has thrown for 1,190 yards on the year, but has only six touchdowns against nine interceptions.

The defense had an even worse time, allowing the Buckeyes to produce 401 total yards en route to a 48 point performance. The unit held its ground against the run, yielding just 138 yards on 3.8 ypc, but the team's major problems came against the pass, as the defense was torched for 263 yards. It was one of the worst efforts put forth by this unit, as the Golden Flashes are currently surrendering only 199.4 ypg via the pass. Kent State was unable to force a turnover in the loss and also finished the game with only two sacks. Both areas have been major concerns as the team has just 10 turnovers and 15 sacks in the seven games on the year. The defense has also been atrocious inside its own red zone, allowing opponents to convert on 25-of-26 chances thus far. Kevin Hogan has been a beast on the front line and is currently leading the defense with four sacks.

Expect a much better performance from KSU this weekend as the team will go up against a Bowling Green squad that has plenty of holes offensively, as well as defensively.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Kent State 31, Bowling Green 24