Two schools that prefer to run the football, Head Coach Jason Candle and the Toledo Rockets (-13) are set to face off against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Dix Stadium. This conference game will commence at 6:00 p.m. ET and CBS Sports Network will televise the action.
Toledo Rockets vs. Kent State Golden Flashes Betting Preview
In this Thursday Mid-American game, Toledo is projected as the big favorite and is currently giving up 13 points. The Rockets are also receiving -550 moneyline odds while the Golden Flashes are +375. If one team catches a lucky break early it would result in a nice betting opportunity in-game. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 58.5 points.
The line originally opened at 14 and the game’s total was initially pegged at 60, so early action has moved toward both the Golden Flashes and the under.
The Rockets are 4-6 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 3.3 units so far in 2018. The team has recorded an O/U mark of 5-4. The Golden Flashes have lost 4.0 units this season. The team is 6-4 ATS and has an O/U record of 4-6.
The Rockets have gone 5-5 straight up (SU), including 3-3 SU against conference opponents. The Golden Flashes are 2-8 SU overall and 1-5 SU in conference play.
These two MAC adversaries did not get a chance to face one another in 2017.
The Rockets look to get back on track after a 38-15 loss to Northern Illinois last week. Eli Peters completed only 26 passes on 47 attempts for 264 yards and one touchdown. Art Thompkins (62 yards on 12 rushes) and Bryant Koback (47 yards on 11 carries) propelled the ground attack while Cody Thompson (eight receptions, 110 yards) and Diontae Johnson (seven catches, 52 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
A week ago, Buffalo got the victory against this Kent State crew by a score of 48-14. As a group, the team collectively completed 14-of-28 passes for 83 yards and one touchdown. Dustin Crum went eight-for-15 for 56 yards and one touchdown while Woody Barrett was six-of-13 for 27 yards. Jo-el Shaw (50 yards on 20 rush attempts) and the signal-caller Crum (66 yards on 10 carries, one TD) mounted the running attack while Antwan Dixon (four receptions, 14 yards) and Kavious Price (three catches, 25 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Toledo has run the ball on 56.9 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Kent State has an overall rush percentage of 54.6 percent. The Rockets have rushed for 201 yards/game (including 219 per game against Mid-American opponents) and have 20 scores on the ground this year. The Golden Flashes are putting up 170 rushing yards per game (162 in conference) and have 17 total rush TDs.
The Rockets offense has tallied 239 yards per game through the air overall (218 per game versus conference opposition) and has 26 passing TDs so far. The Golden Flashes have produced 202 pass yards per game (195.3 against MAC competition) and have 12 total pass scores.
Toledo has let opponents rush for an average of 189 yards and pass for 268 yards per game. The Kent State D has allowed 269.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 202.2 yards per game to opposing runners. The Rockets are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.36 to opposing QBs, while the Golden Flashes have given up a 7.75 ANY/A.
Offensively, Peters is up to 935 passing yards this year. The signal-caller has connected on 74-of-149 attempts with 10 scores through the air and only two interceptions. Peters has a 6.20 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 5.14 over the last two outings.
On the other sideline, Woody Barrett has completed 179-of-299 passes for 1,775 yards, eight TDs and eight INTs. Barrett’s ANY/A stands at a less-than-stellar 4.21 for the season and 4.37 over his past two games.
RELATED: Week 12 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Tip: Toledo Rockets at Kent State Golden Flashes
SU Winner – Toledo, ATS Winner – Toledo, O/U – Over
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Trends
The Rockets have made 18 pass plays of 30+ yards while the Golden Flashes have produced eight such plays.
The Toledo defense has allowed 10 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Kent State has given up 12 such plays.
The Toledo offense has created 17 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Kent State has created 18 such runs.
The Rockets defense has allowed 20 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Golden Flashes have given up 23 such runs.
The Toledo defense has 23 sacks on the year while Kent State has 21.
As a team, Toledo has averaged 5.6 yards per rush attempt over its last three games and 4.6 over its last two.
Kent State has averaged 3.7 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.6 over its last two.
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