Bowling Green vs. Ohio Prediction and Odds for College Football Week 13 (Kurtis Rourke's Health is Key)

The MAC West division will be decided on Tuesday night in Athens.

Bowling Green kept their MAC Championship hopes alive last week, winning as two touchdown underdogs against Toledo, and now need to win again as significant dogs to make the title game. The Falcons head on the road to face Ohio, who could be without their starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who didn't finish the team's win against Ball State last week due to a knee injury.

What's the latest on Rourke, and what is his impact to the point spread?

We got you covered below, but first let's check out the odds for this pivotal MAC matchup:

Bowling Green vs. Ohio Odds, Spread and Total

Bowling Green vs. Ohio Betting Trends

• Ohio is 8-3 against the spread (ATS) this season
• Ohio is 3-1 ATS as a favorite
• Bowling Green is 4-6-1 ATS this season
• Both teams have gone OVER in seven of 11 games this season
• Bowling Green has gone OVER in every away game this seaosn

Bowling Green vs. Ohio Prediction and Pick

Rourke's status is the key to this whole game. Not only is he the starting quarterback for the Bobcats, he is one of the most effective passers in all of the Group of Five. Nationally, the Ohio offense is top 20 in EPA/Pass and success rate as well as completition percentage and yards per pass attempt.

The quarterback covers a deficient defense up that is outside the top 100 in success rate, typically this team is winning high scoring affairs.

However, he left the team's win last week with an apparent knee injury and was on the sideline with a brace around his knee. However, there could be good news on the way as head coach Tim Albin hinted that Rourke could be in line to play Tuesday.

If Rourke is in, Ohio is in line to win this one big. This line is likely a halfway number between Rourke playing or not as I project the Bobcats as 11-point favorites with him, but that number should be closer to -3 if he is out. That's how big of a drop off there is from Rourke and backup Chris Harris, who is more of a dual threat QB.

The Bowling Green defense is vulnerable in the secondary, 94th in success rate against the pass but 26th against the run. If Rourke is in, expect the Bobcats to carve up this Bowling Green secondary en route to a MAC Championship Game appearance. However, if Rourke can't go, this game is going to be a rock fight and the under would be the play.

For the sake of this article, I'll manifest good health for Rourke and for Ohio to roll.