Toledo vs. Bowling Green Prediction, Game Preview
Toledo vs. Bowling Green prediction and game preview. The Rockets look to deal the Falcons are fifth straight loss in Saturday's MAC contest.
Toledo vs. Bowling Green prediction and game preview. The Rockets look to deal the Falcons their fifth straight loss in Saturday’s MAC contest.
Toledo vs. Bowling Green Game Preview
When: Saturday, Oct. 15 – 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Glass Bowl, Toledo, Ohio.
TV Broadcast: ESPN3
Toledo has one of the country’s most dynamic offenses, and Bowling Green has one of the nation’s most generous defenses. That doesn’t bode well for the Falcons in what’s expected to be a rout for the Rockets, who are looking to win a seventh straight meeting on Saturday.
Toledo is averaging 42.3 points per game and would be 5-0 if not for allowing BYU to kick a field goal as time expired in a 55-53 loss on Sept. 30. Its fewest yards in a game this season came last week: 467 in a 35-20 win over Eastern Michigan. That’s not a number to scoff at, especially considering the Rockets’ efficiency in not turning the ball over.
That’s something the Falcons have done far too often. They had four giveaways in last week’s 30-24 loss to Ohio, their fourth consecutive defeat. Bowling Green’s five losses – their only victory is over FCS foe North Dakota – already are more than it had all of last season.
What to Know About Toledo
The Rockets are averaging 570 yards per game, which ranks third in the nation behind only Louisville and Texas Tech. Logan Woodside is one of the most underrated quarterbacks with a passer rating of 208.01 that ranks second in the country behind Washington’s Jake Browning, 20 touchdown passes that are tied for third and a 70.2 completion percentage that’s tied for fifth. Four receivers have at least three touchdown grabs, showing that Woodside can spread it around.
Toledo’s defense forced its first two turnovers last week as Eastern Michigan joined BYU as its only opponents to crack 300 total yards with 317. Only BYU has scored more than 20 points against the Rockets.
What to Know About Bowling Green
The Bowling Green defense likely will be in for a very long afternoon. It is allowing 515.5 yards per game – an average that ranks 125th out of 128 FBS teams – and has given up 101 plays of at least 10 yards to rank 119th in the category. The Falcons also have allowed 77 points in a game – twice.
Of course, the offense isn’t making things any easier the defensive unit. Bowling Green’s 19 turnovers are the most in the nation for a minus-13 margin that’s also the worst in the FBS. James Knapke threw nine interceptions in just 119 attempts before being bench for redshirt freshman James Morgan, who threw three picks last week.
Advantages
Offense: Toledo – Running back Kareem Hunt complements Woodside nicely.
Defense: Toledo – The Rockets’ offense is the focus, but it’s also allowing the fewest yards per game in the MAC at an average of 331.6.
Special Teams: Toledo – The Rockets might be kicking off a lot, and Bowling Green ranks last in conference with a kickoff return average of 14.6 yards.
Coaching: Toledo – First-year coach Jason Candle moved up from offensive coordinator and has his unit averaging roughly 110 yards more than last season.
Intangibles: Toledo – Hunt ran for 153 yards and two scores in the Rockets’ 44-28 win over Bowling Green last season.
Matchup To Watch
Logan Woodside vs. Bowling Green’s defense
The Falcons are allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete 66.8 percent of their passes – the second-worst mark in the country – and throw the nation’s most touchdown’s with 21. Woodside might have this game out of reach by halftime.
Betting Odds
Spread: Toledo -30.5
Over/Under: 72
Toledo vs. Bowling Green Prediction
Woodside goes for 450 yards and five touchdowns, the Toledo defense intercepts three passes and the Rockets improve to 5-1.
Toledo vs. Bowling Green final score prediction: Toledo 60, Bowling Green 24
