College Football News Preview 2020: Toledo Rockets

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Toledo Rockets season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Toledo Rockets season with what you need to know.


Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
Schedule Analysis
– Toledo Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

2019 Record: 6-6 overall, 3-5 in MAC
Head Coach: Jason Candle, 5th year, 34-19
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 110
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 73
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 93

No one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.

5. College Football News Preview 2020: Toledo Rockets Offense 3 Things To Know

The 2016 Toledo offense ripped off over 6,700 yards. The 2017 attack flirted with 7,000 yards. 2018 was a down year with 5,770 yards and without the same pop, and then came 2019.

5,209 yards.

The Toledo O wasn’t all that bad by most standards – especially with the MAC’s second-best running game – but the passing attack wasn’t consistent or efficient enough, and the scoring wasn’t always there.

Two years ago, Toledo cranked up 525 points, scoring 24 or more in every game but two. Last year’s offense came up with 327 points and failed to get more than 14 in three of the last seven. With eight starters returning, there’s hope to be a whole lot better.


[jwplayer r19lG1ZP]


– Senior Eli Peters will still have to push for the job, but he has the inside track after getting work in half the season with 828 passing yards with six scores and three picks. Sophomore Carter Bradley is a bit of a bigger option, and a slew of underclassmen will get their shot.

The receivers are there to make the passing game a whole lot stronger. Senior Bryce Miller averaged over 19 yards per catch with a team-high 679 yards, and speedy Danzel McKinley-Lewis tied for the team lead with 36 grabs, averaging over 17 yards per catch. 6-4, 240-pound senior Drew Rosi is a nice tight end who can do a lot more than 18 catches.

The running game was strong. Bryant Koback led the way with 1,187 yards with 12 scores – averaging over six yards per carry – and 215-pound senior Shakif Seymour is back as a strong No. 2 back in the rotation.

Four starters are back on the offensive front after a rough year in pass protection, but they’ll once again be great for the ground game. Sophomore guard Nick Rosi is the best of the bunch, but the line should be a strength.

NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Toledo Rockets Defense 3 Things To Know

Toledo-Buffalo odds: Bulls solid home favorites

Previewing Wednesday Toledo Rockets at Buffalo Bulls sports betting odds and lines, with college football analysis, picks and tips.

The Toledo Rockets (6-4, 3-3 MAC West) and Buffalo Bulls (5-5, 3-3) play Wednesday at UB Stadium in Buffalo, NY., at 7:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Toledo-Buffalo odds and betting lines while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Toledo at Buffalo: Three things you need to know

1. Neither team finished well last week as Toledo lost late to Northern Illinois which hurt its conference aspirations. Buffalo’s bowl hopes suffered a hit when they blew a three-touchdown lead to Kent State.

2. The Buffalo line opened at 6.5 but was quickly bet up 8.5.

3. Buffalo is playing for bowl eligibility. The Bulls’ 3-3 conference record eliminates their chances of going for the MAC Championship because of tiebreakers. If Toledo wins out and gets some help, it still has a chance at a division crown.


Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.


Toledo at Buffalo: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Buffalo 31, Toledo 27

Moneyline (ML)

BUFFALO carries a -323 moneyline. Toledo comes into this game with the conference’s best rushing offense versus Buffalo’s top rushing defense. Toledo averages 245.7 yards per game on the ground and if it has a chance of winning, it must exceed 200 yards versus Buffalo.

Toledo (+250) is a pass at this point. The conference loss last week took some wind out of the sails and Buffalo will be more than motivated to become bowl eligible. The Bulls know they likely need two wins.

Against the Spread (ATS)

Buffalo is 5-5 against the spread overall and 3-1 ATS at home this year coming in at 10 points per game above the cover projections at home. Toledo is 4-6 ATS overall and 0-4 ATS on the road. The Rockets miss the road cover at a whopping 19.8 points per contest.

The 8.5-point spread seems in line with what most are predicting. Again, Toledo’s rushing attack should be able to control just enough clock to keep things within a score. Our pick is for TOLEDO to cover with -115 odds.

New to sports betting? Every $1.15 wagered on Toledo to cover profits $1 if the Rockets win outright or stay within eight points in defeat.

Over/Under (O/U)

The projected total is 54.5. This will be close but it is hard to trust both defenses fully in this game. Taking a small wager with the OVER (-105) is our pick.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @ChrisWasselDFS and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1623]

Northern Illinois-Toledo odds: Banged-up Toledo slight favorite

Previewing Wednesday’s Northern Illinois at Toledo college football matchup, with college football betting odds, picks and best bets

The Northern Illinois Huskies (3-6, 2-3 MAC) travel to meet the host Toledo Rockets (6-3, 3-2) Wednesday night at the Glass Bowl in a nationally televised game. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

We analyze the Northern Illinois-Toledo odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Northern Illinois at Toledo: Three things you need to know

1. Toledo can move within a half-game of first-place Western Michigan in the MAC’s West Division with a victory, joining Central Michigan at 4-2 in the conference. The Rockets already beat WMU and play CMU on Nov. 29.

2. Northern Illinois is coming off a 48-10 humbling at CMU, and the Huskies are 1-5 straight up and 3-3 against the spread on the road this season.

3. Toledo ranks 12th in the nation with 249.9 yards per game on the ground, but leading rusher RB Bryant Koback (leg) and dual-threat starting QB Mitchell Guadagni (undisclosed) are each question marks due to injuries. Koback was injured in the first half vs. Kent State last week, but RB Shakif Seymour stepped up and rumbled for a career-high 175 yards.


Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!


Northern Illinois at Toledo: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 7:55 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Toledo 23, Northern Illinois 20

Moneyline (ML)

TOLEDO (-129) is a tad risky with injury issues to their two biggest offensive stars. However, the pregame notes show Koback listed as the starting tailback. Even if he cannot go, Seymour did a good job carrying the mail against the Golden Flashes last week. And QB Eli Peters stepped up with 332 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception while posting a 2-0 record in the past two games in place of Guadagni. So he, too, is more than capable if needed.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on Toledo returns a profit of $7.75.

Against the Spread (ATS)

Until there are zeroes on the clock you will not feel completely at ease with a play of TOLEDO (-2.5, -106). NIU (+2.5, -115) is barely hanging on this season, needing three straight wins to finish at 6-6 and gain bowl eligibility. The Huskies are a proud team that will not go easily into the night; however, they just do not have the guns this season, and they were blasted 48-10 in Mount Pleasant last week by a team with similar talent to Toledo.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER (53.5, -110) is a good play in this one, as Toledo’s strength is on the run game and thus regardless of whether Koback plays, the Rockets will be running. Teams that are run-heavy are friends of the ‘under’ bettor, as that chews up clock. NIU is a marginal offense, ranking 98th in total yards, so that helps the under, too.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1623]