“MACtion” is back! Midweek college football returns as the Mid-American Conference ramps up into early December.
Many shrewd handicappers look forward to these matchups as they know that there are as many formful teams and trends in the MAC as anywhere else. Rivalries, too, with the “I-75 Trophy” on the line on Wednesday night as nearby Bowling Green and Toledo (less than 25 miles apart) do battle in their 2020 kickoff at the Glass Bowl. The host Rockets rated as a hefty 21.5-point favorite at BetMGM.
While the price looks a bit prohibitive on the surface, consider the significant revenge angle that ought to fuel Toledo after it lost outright in shocking fashion as 26.5-point chalk at Doyt Perry Stadium last October. That 20-7 stunner was one of the biggest upset results of 2019 in all of college football. It also marked the Falcons’ first series win since 2009 and one of the few bright spots in an otherwise desultory 3-9 straight-up and spread campaign, dropping BGSU to a poor 14-34 vs. the line since Dino Babers left for Syracuse following the 2015 season.
Regional sources, however, are not expecting much progress in this truncated campaign for the Falcons and second-year coach Scot Loeffler, at least until the defense makes some headway after allowing a whopping 38 ppg … across the past four seasons combined!
The fundamental matchup of concern is the BGSU rush defense, allowing more than 5.8 yards per carry across the past three seasons, dealing with an experienced Toledo offensive line with four returning starters in front of punishing junior RB Bryant Koback (1,187 rush yards and 6.1 yards per carry in 2019). If Toledo can jump in front, which it didn’t a year ago, its battle-tested forward wall and Koback are likely to wear down another undermanned Falcon stop unit that is also without four of its top six tacklers from last year.
Until further notice, Bowling Green appears one of the MAC’s go-against teams, and the rivalry/revenge angle should ensure a focused and angry effort from the host Rockets.
The Play: Toledo -21.5.
