The Bowling Green Falcons’ offense has a different look and feel from last year’s team, which upset football in the MAC title game. But, they’re still capable of giving NIU’s defense fits.

The Huskies (10-2, 7-1) duel with the Falcons (7-5, 5-3 MAC) 6 p.m. Friday at Ford Field in Detroit. Last season, the Falcons gashed the Huskies for 47 points, crushing NIU’s dream of a second-straight BCS bowl trip. This time around the Huskies are hoping to keep Bowling Green’s offense more in check.

“It’s going to be a good game,” said head coach Rod Carey. “They’re big, athletic, physical — on offense — play with great tempo. It’s just going to be a big-time challenge to go in there and try to be in a position in the fourth quarter that we want to be in.”

First-year head coach Dino Babers has brought with him an up-tempo, spread offense. The Falcons have had to go through extra growing pains as James Knapke took over for quarterback Matt Johnson, the 2013 MAC Championship game MVP, after he was injured in the season opener.

Even without Johnson, Babers’ spread offense has seen success in the passing game with the likes of wide receivers Roger Lewis, Ryan Burbrink and Ronnie Moore. Defensive coordinator Jay Niemann said Bowling Green’s receiving corps is one of the best, if not the best group NIU will face this season.

“They know what they’re doing. They’re good route runners,” said redshirt junior cornerback Paris Logan. “They know how to make plays when it’s time for them to make plays. It’s going to be a good challenge for the secondary.”

With Travis Greene back at running back after missing the two games before the season finale, the Falcons will be able to be more balanced between the run and the pass. Fred Coppet and Andre Givens got carries all season but saw an increase in their workload when Greene was sidelined.

“Their running backs … are as good as anybody we have faced this year, and that’s Toledo, that’s Ball State and that’s Arkansas included,” Carey said. “They’re really, really good running backs.”

In dealing with the Falcons’ fast-paced offense, Carey said the biggest thing is simply to “get lined up” and not get caught off guard celebrating the previous play.