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The Mid-American Conference (MAC) will square off against the Big 10 in this year's Quick Lane Bowl in downtown Detroit. BGSU vs. MIN features Bowling Green with a 7-5 record while the Golden Gophers come in at 5-7. Minnesota received an invite because not enough teams held 6-6 records to fill the bowl games in 2023. Even with a losing record Minnesota goes into the game as a 3.5-point favorite with the over/under set at 39.5.
Broadcast Info:
Kickoff: Tuesday, December 26, 2023, 2:00 p.m. EST
Location: Ford Field, Detroit Michigan
Television: ESPN,
On the Call: Connor Onion, Dustin Fox, Tori Petri
Radio: Bowling Green -WFRO 99.1FM, Minnesota -100.3KFRAN and KTCN 1130AM.
What's at stake?
Both teams will be heading to Detroit, hoping to build momentum going into the off-season. Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck is looking for anything good to take away from what was a disappointing 2023. After going 9-4 in 2022 the Gophers only managed to win 5 games this year and finished last in the Big 10 West. Fleck didn’t just lose games this season he also lost defensive coordinator Joe Rossi after new Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith hired him for the same position at MSU.
Bowling Green is playing in only their 3rd bowl game since 2015 and is riding a 2 game bowl losing streak. This will be the Falcon's 2nd straight year playing in the Motor City after losing to New Mexico State 24-19 in 2022. Bowling Greens head coach Scot Loeffler is looking for his first bowl win at BGSU, and the school’s first bowl win since the Camellia Bowl in 2014.
Transfer Portal:
Bowling Green: DL Kitione Tau, TE Andrew Bench, RB Nick Mosley, K Jack Sauder, QB Hayden Timosciek, RB Ta’ron Keith, CB Jalen Huskey
Minnesota: WR Dino Kaliakmanis, IOL Tyrell Lawrence, QB Athan Kaliakmanis, QB Drew Viotto, RB Zach Evans, RB Marquese Williams, RB Max Grand, OT JJ Gue
Key players
BGSU: QB Connor Bazelak, RB Terion Stewart, TE Harold Fannin Jr
Minnesota: QB Cole Kramer, RB Darius Taylor, DB Jack Henderson, DB Tyler Nubin
Key matchups: Quick Lane Bowl
Darius Taylor vs Bowling Greens Rush Defense
Minnesota Running Back Darius Taylor will be looking to have a big impact on the game considering he is playing in his hometown of Detroit. As a freshman Darius led the Gophers in rushing yards with 591, he did it on 103 carries, had 4 touchdowns, and averaged 5.7 yards a run. Playing at home should get Taylor excited for the game and it’s going to be up to co-defensive coordinators Steve Morrison and Sammy Lawanson to stop him.
If Bowling Green is going to win this game, they will need to hold Darius under 3 yards a carry or it could be a very long day for the Falcons. In 12 games this year the Falcons have given up 137.2 yards a game, teams have averaged 3.9 yards per carry, and have gotten into the endzone 14 times. If Bowling Green is going to win, they are going to need to hold Darius under 3 yards a carry or it could be a very long day for the Falcons.
Cole Kramer vs Minnesota Offense
Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck's biggest challenge going into the game is how to get anything out of now-starting quarterback Cole Kramer. After the regular season ended 2 of Minnesota QBs entered the portal 1 being starter Athan Kaliakmanis leaving Fleck to go with Kramer. Cole is in his 5th year and will have one year of eligibility remaining. In his college career Kramer has attempted a total of 14 passes, he has 103 total passing yards and 2 touchdowns to go along with 2 interceptions. In 2023 Kramer threw 1 pass and it was an interception back on September 16 against North Carolina.
Minnesota's offense will need Kramer to make throws to soften up BGSU's run defense, if he can’t the Falcons will bring an extra man up making it almost impossible to run. Because BGSU will be looking to stop the run first the Golden Gophers will have a few opportunities for big plays in the passing game depending on if Kramer can make the throws necessary.
Prediction and counterpoint
BGSU vs. MIN, the Gophers are favored, but without their starting QB they just won’t be able to generate enough offense to win the game. Bowling Green will be able to move the ball in the absence of Minnesota DC Joe Rossi. Bowl Green will end their 2 game bowl slide and win their first bowl game since 2014.
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