On Saturday, the Cards travel to Kalamazoo where they will take on Western Michigan for the opportunity to go to 7-1 while handing WMU their 8th loss of the season. Western is trying to win their first game of the 2013 campaign, and it’s safe to say that the boat PJ Fleck has been rowing this season had drastically different results pictured in his head. For BSU, there was an apparent big win hangover against Kent State stemming from their victory at Virginia, so this week the Cards have had to endure grumbles, commentary, and a fanbase that is lusting for blood in the form of a MAC blowout. I’m no scientist, but it seems to me like a tasty little morsel of winless failure known as Western Michigan seems like just the ticket. The numbers suggest the same…
| NCAA Stat | BSU | WMU |
| Scoring Offense | 21st (39.3) | 121st (12.9) |
| Rushing Offense | 95th (137.3) | 112th (105.0) |
| Passing Offense | 12th (332.9) | 98th (199.3) |
| Total Offense | 32nd (470.1) | 118th (304.3) |
| Scoring Defense | 49th (24.4) | 112th (37.4) |
| Rushing Defense | 108th (210.3) | 124th (274.1) |
| Passing Defense | 48th (217.9) | 6th (163.4) |
| Total Defense | 90th (428.1) | 97th (437.6) |
| Sacks | 64th (11.0) | 120th (5.0) |
| Sacks Allowed | 31st (8.0) | 82nd (13.0) |
| Turnover Margin | 21st (+5) | 121st (-11) |
| 3rd Down Conv. % | 32nd (47.2%) | 122nd (25.2%) |
| Opp. 3rd Down Conv. % | 89th (42.3%) | 81st (41.2%) |
| Red Zone Conv. % | 46th (86.1%) | 97th (76.5%) |
| Opp. Red Zone Conv. % | 36th (76.2%) | 92nd (87.1%) |
| Punting | 61st (41.4) | 98th (39.9) |
| Fewest Penalty Yards Per Game | 10th (32.9) | 78th (54.7) |
Vegas had BSU as a 21-point favorite at the open and most lines have stayed right there or moved it down only a point or two. A three touchdown spread in the MAC makes me a little nervous, but much like last week, this opponent just isn’t very good. The stat above that gave me pause was their top 10 pass defense, but then I saw their total defense in the high 90’s and rushing defense in the bottom 10 of the entire FBS and it dawned on me their numbers are low against the pass because teams haven’t had to pass on them to be successful. That’s a good thing for Quake Edwards and I hope Rich Skrosky gives him the ball more than the 11 carries Edwards saw last weekend. It would seem to me that a heavy does of Quake early and often is just what the doctor ordered. Row that boat indeed.
Filed under: BallStateFootball, ByTheNumbers |
Over The Pylon 
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