MAC championship: Bowling Green v. No. 16 Northern Illinois

12/6/2013

MAC championship

Bowling Green v. No. 16 Northern Illinois

Where: Ford Field, Detroit

Time: 8 p.m.

Records: BGSU is 9-3, 7-1 MAC; NIU is 12-0, 8-0

TV: ESPN2

Radio: 1470, 99.1

Series: BGSU leads 10-7

Notes: The Falcons will look to claim the program’s first MAC title since 1992 with a victory over the Huskies. … BG is making just its second appearance in this contest, and its first since it moved to Ford Field in 2004. … A win by the Falcons would deny NIU’s bid for a third consecutive MAC championship, as well as entry into the BCS bowl picture. … The Huskies are one of only three undefeated FBS teams and have won 25 straight games against MAC teams. … This year NIU became the first MAC team to beat two Big Ten teams in the regular season with its wins over Iowa and Purdue. BG was the first MAC school ever to turn that trick, beating Purdue during the 2003 regular season before knocking off Northwestern in the Motor City Bowl played at Ford Field. … Junior James Spencer, a Fremont Ross grad, is a running back for Northern Illinois. He is fourth on the team in rushing with 167 yards on 27 carries and has scored three touchdowns. … BG is looking for its first win over a ranked opponent since knocking off No. 25 Pitt to open the 2008 season. … The Falcons have lost its last three games against NIU. The last win came in 2003 when BG beat the Huskies, who were ranked No. 12 at the time, at Doyt Perry Stadium.