Bowling Green
5th MAC8-4
Virginia Tech
7th ACC6-6
Bowling Green @ Virginia Tech preview
Lane Stadium
Virginia Tech is no stranger to early-season losses, having dropped seven September games in the last seven seasons, including last week's 35-17 defeat at Pittsburgh. It is also no stranger to rebounding from those early setbacks, as evidenced by the program's eight straight seasons with 10 or more wins. The road back to the top begins again when the Hokies look to rebound at home against Bowling Green, which is coming off a loss at Toledo. Virginia Tech has won the only two meetings between the schools.
TV: 12 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Virginia Tech -22
ABOUT BOWLING GREEN (1-2): Anthon Samuel rushed for 112 yards on just 16 carries and scored once last week against the rival Rockets, but it was not enough for the Falcons, who fell behind 17-0 midway through the second quarter. Quarterback Matt Schilz has completed exactly 24 passes in each of his first three games. However, he has just one touchdown against three interceptions.
ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (2-1): Last Saturday's loss at Pittsburgh snapped a string of 13 consecutive victories in true road games. The Hokies have won five in a row at Lane Stadium dating to last year. Key to a turnaround will be better play from quarterback Logan Thomas. After throwing for four touchdowns and no interceptions in the first two games of the season, he had one passing TD and a career-high three picks against the Panthers while completing only 14 of 31 passes. Following this one, Virginia Tech plays four of its next five away from Blacksburg, although it will be the home team in a meeting with Cincinnati at FedEx Field on Sept. 29.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Only 10 teams in the country average fewer points than Bowling Green, which is averaging 16.7 through the first three weeks of the season.
2. Hokies sophomore Kyshoen Jarrett's 94-yard punt return for a touchdown against Pittsburgh was the second-longest in school history. Thomas' 85-yard TD pass to Marcus Davis was the fourth-longest at Tech.
3. Virginia Tech last lost two straight when it started the 2010 season 0-2.
PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 35, Bowling Green 10
TV: 12 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Virginia Tech -22
ABOUT BOWLING GREEN (1-2): Anthon Samuel rushed for 112 yards on just 16 carries and scored once last week against the rival Rockets, but it was not enough for the Falcons, who fell behind 17-0 midway through the second quarter. Quarterback Matt Schilz has completed exactly 24 passes in each of his first three games. However, he has just one touchdown against three interceptions.
ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (2-1): Last Saturday's loss at Pittsburgh snapped a string of 13 consecutive victories in true road games. The Hokies have won five in a row at Lane Stadium dating to last year. Key to a turnaround will be better play from quarterback Logan Thomas. After throwing for four touchdowns and no interceptions in the first two games of the season, he had one passing TD and a career-high three picks against the Panthers while completing only 14 of 31 passes. Following this one, Virginia Tech plays four of its next five away from Blacksburg, although it will be the home team in a meeting with Cincinnati at FedEx Field on Sept. 29.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Only 10 teams in the country average fewer points than Bowling Green, which is averaging 16.7 through the first three weeks of the season.
2. Hokies sophomore Kyshoen Jarrett's 94-yard punt return for a touchdown against Pittsburgh was the second-longest in school history. Thomas' 85-yard TD pass to Marcus Davis was the fourth-longest at Tech.
3. Virginia Tech last lost two straight when it started the 2010 season 0-2.
PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 35, Bowling Green 10