Tomorrow at 4:00 PM Central the Dogs head up to the Midwest to take on the Bowling Green State Falcons. But before Tech goes and does not die, there’s a few things you need to know. That’s where we come in!
How to Watch
This one airs on ESPN+, which costs $4.99 a month and has a ton of content. I’m subscribed and honestly it’s worth it. Tech has two more games on it later in the year, so you could theoretically pony up $5 now and cancel after the game, then sign up again in November to pay a total of $10 for three Tech games.
Other People’s Predictions
- ESPN FPI: Tech has a 63.7% chance to win.
- Massey: Tech wins, 30-24
- Vegas (OddsShark): Tech wins by 11.
- SP+: Tech wins, 38-26
- BleedTechBlue: Tech wins, 31-23
- NCAA 14 Simulation: Tech wins, 28-3
What to Watch For
Evan: I’m keeping a close eye on Connor Taylor in this game. Not only has he been our player of the game in successive weeks so far, but he’s a god damn Viking (Josh: “SKOL”) warrior with “magnificent plumage” according to the NFL Network.
When you play a team like Bowling Green that wants to pound the rock, you better come armed with some stud linebackers who are ready to make some tackles. Luckily, Tech has just that in Taylor (and James Jackson and Collin Scott). Taylor leads the team with 11 solo tackles, which is vital in a game where Bowling Green will want to put a hat on a hat. Tech’s linebackers are going to have to be ready to make solo tackles.
On top of that, Taylor has forced two fumbles so far this season, both of which were in the red zone. He’s got a nose for the football, and when he hits you, he hits you hard. I’m looking for him to have a big game against the rushing attack of the Falcons.
Hot Taeks
Evan: Bowling Green is a DUMB name for a town.
Nathan: Amik (and the rest of Tech’s defense) has yet to intercept a pass this season. That changes Saturday night.
Daniel S: Bowling Green probably isn’t very good at bowling
Josh: Bowling Green goes up by two scores early. We then hold them scoreless on our comeback win.
Interesting Tidbit
Back in the 1940s, Bowling Green State’s president Frank J. Prout decided that there wasn’t enough school spirit around campus. To combat that, he chose six students, two seniors, two juniors, and two sophomores, to be members of a super secret spirit squad called SIC SIC.
On October 5, 1946 at 3:00 AM, the campus PA system announced the creation of SIC SIC, and the secret members went around campus and put up signs that read “SIC SIC SEZ…. MAUL” or “DESTROY” or “BEAT” their foes.
But how did the membership remain secret, you ask?
Well, and this is the best part…. they wear masks!
The masks allow the members of SIC SIC to retain their anonymity, and also the mystique of the group is kinda the whole point. In the Constitution of SIC SIC (yep, they take this that seriously), it says that if anyone were to discover the identity of a member before the unmasking ceremony, they have to resign immediately from the group.
Speaking of the unmasking ceremony, yep, that’s a thing. At the last sporting event of a SIC SIC member’s senior year, they are officially unmasked. Somehow, their friends and families are supposed to have been kept in the dark the whole time (I call BS on that… how would your friends possibly not figure out that although you’re a huge BG fan, you literally never go to games with them?). Anyway, here’s video from last year’s unmasking ceremony:
Over the years, the group has remained a feature of BG’s campus life, and honestly it’s pretty cool. Also, they’re on twitter, so stop by and say hi to them.
Source: https://www.bgsu.edu/about/history-and-traditions.html
Final Predictions
Nathan: I definitely think that Tech is the better team in this matchup. The part that worries me is that the general vibe I’ve gotten from Holtz & Co. in the first two games is that they were experimenting with things to see what works. And you know, I’m okay with that in games where one team is heavily favored. Against Texas, might as well see if you can stubble into a way to dethrone the giant. And against Grambling, it makes sense to see if new things like zone run-blocking schemes would work for the Bulldogs (spoiler alert: they didn’t).
But will Skip treat this game as another tune-up game? Or like a conference game that matters. For prediction purposes, I’m betting on the latter.
Tech wins, 35-14.
Evan: From listening to Skip on Inside Bulldog Football and reading the notes from his weekly press conference, it seems that he knows he went too conservative in the second half against Grambling. While Bowling Green isn’t very good, I certainly wouldn’t expect him to make the same mistake two weeks in a row… right? Right??!??!??
Tech wins, 34-21
Daniel S: Considering our slow start to the season it would be easy to see this being a close game but if we can get consistent stops from the defense I think we could run away with it. Expect to see the defense come out big this week and the play calling from Skip to be a little less uhhhh predictable en route to a huge Bulldog win.
Tech wins, 34-13
Josh: I honestly do not have a lot of thoughts on this game for reasons that were touched on by the rest of gtpdd in the podcast: Bowling Green has played two wildly different opponents, so I’m not sure what team Tech will be lining up against on Saturday. That being said, I think the offensive play calling is much better this game and Tech keeps the offense rolling until the clock hits 00:00. The defense should continue playing like they did against Grambling (which I’m still undecided on if I like the play calling mentality) and J’Mar will continue to prove me wrong as a hater as he balls out. Either way, I think this game will be the best indicator so far for how the team will perform the rest of the season.
Tech wins, 30-14