Area college football previews
9/28/2012Rhode Island at Bowling Green
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Records: Rhode Island is 0-3; BGSU is 1-3
TV: BCSN
Radio: 1470, 99.1
Series: First meeting
Notes: The Falcons will celebrate Homecoming against Rhode Island, which is winless this season and has lost its last nine consecutive road games. … Junior QB Bob Bentsen has completed 48-of-79 passes for 440 yards and two TDs but also has two interceptions. … His favorite target has been senior WR Brandon Johnson-Farrell, who has caught 16 passes for 158 yards and one score. … Rhode Island has struggled to run the ball, averaging just 47.7 yards per game. Bentsen is the leading rusher with just 65 yards. … URI coach Joe Trainer served briefly as an assistant at BG before taking over the Rams. … Falcons sophomore RB Anthon Samuel already has 1,094 yards in his 13-game career and has seven games of 100 yards or more.
No. 14 Ohio State at No. 20 Michigan State
Record: OSU is 4-0; MSU is 3-1
Time: 3:30 p.m.
TV: 13
Radio: 106.5
Series: OSU leads 27-13
Favorite: MSU by 2 1/2
Notes: The Big Ten opener will match the league's top defense against one of the top offenses. Michigan State paces the Big Ten in yards allowed per game (233.5) while average of 37.8 points ranks third. MSU has won 20 of its past 21 home games, though the Buckeyes have not lost in East Lansing since 1999. ... OSU coach Urban Meyer is 10-0 in conference openers and is aiming for the fifth 5-0 start of his career. His teams at Bowling Green in 2002, Utah in 2004 and Florida in 2006 and 2009 also reached the sixth game unblemished. ... The Buckeyes will head north at close to full strength. Defensive starters Bradley Roby (shoulder), C.J. Barnett (ankle) and Michael Bennett (groin) and running back Carlos Hyde (knee) are all expected to return. ... ESPN's "College GameDay" will broadcast from East Lansing today -- the 30th time the traveling show will originate from the site of an OSU game. Only Florida with 34 appearances has been featured more.
Toledo at Western Michigan
Time: 7 p.m.
Records: Toledo is 3-1, Western Michigan is 2-2
Radio: 1370
Series: Toledo leads 38-28
Favorite: WMU by 1.5
Notes: WMU quarterback Alex Carder, who threw for 548 yards in Toledo's 66-63 win last year, is out with an injured hand. Replacing him is Tyler Van Tubbergen, a junior who has appeared in 17 games and has started two. ... A basketball score similar to last year's meeting is not expected. WMU ranks second in the MAC in total defense (353.5 yards per game) and second in rushing defense (121.8). UT is fourth in points allowed (24.5). ... Defensive tackle Danny Farr (knee) is the only player of note for UT who won't play. ... The Rockets are 5-3 in their last eight games at WMU's Waldo Stadium. ... UT quarterback Terrance Owens has attempted 230 passes without throwing an interception, a streak that began after he tossed a pick in the second quarter of last year's meeting with WMU. ... Broncos freshman receiver Jaime Wilson ranks second in the nation with 37 catches. ... UT is second in the MAC on third down stops (31 percent).