.jpg "Wednesday-Night-CFB-(ESPN2)")
The Ohio Bobcats and the Toledo Rockets have been the teams to beat in their respective divisions all year. Ohio is the only team in the relatively weak MAC East that is bowl eligible, while Toledo is the only MAC team that is undefeated in conference play. This very well could be a preview of the MAC Championship Game in Detroit next month.
This matchup in Week 11 of the regular season will take place on Wednesday, November 8, 2017, at 7 p.m. ET at Peden Stadium in Oxford, Ohio. This game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
College Football Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
Toledo -6
Ohio +6
Odds Analysis
Oddsmakers must have done a good job with the line because there has been no movement since it opened.
Toledo’s resume looks fantastic at this point. The Rockets are 8-1 with the one loss coming on the road to the Miami Hurricanes, a team that is currently undefeated. They have won five straight games since then and have covered each of their last four despite being at least a touchdown favorite in each.
All of a sudden, Ohio is an offensive juggernaut. The Bobcats have scored at least 45 points in each of their last three games and have topped 42 points six times in nine outings this season. That’s an unexpected development as Frank Solich’s team has typically been reliant on its defense to win games. That has led to a lot of overs cashing in Ohio games and the over is 7-2 in Bobcats games this season.
Player to Watch
Ohio has one of the best running games in the country. The Bobcats are averaging 5.5 yards per carry and Nathan Rourke has given this offense the dual-threat quarterback it lacked since being unleashed against UMass. Rourke has run for 479 yards and 12 touchdowns in Ohio’s last five games and opposing defenses have not figured out how to stop him.
Rourke had his best performance through the air of his young career last week against Miami. He had been efficient, but not impressive, as a passing threat for most of the season but really struggled in the two weeks prior to the game against Miami of Ohio. Bowling Green and Kent State held him to less than a 50 percent completion percentage.
Last week, he nearly topped the 300-yard mark through the air and completed 63.6 percent of his passes. It was a crucial performance as the Redhawks hung tough with the Bobcats for most of this one. Toledo has one of the better defenses in the MAC and he will need to play well here.
Key Stats
Toledo’s offense is firing on all cylinders at the moment. Logan Woodside has been phenomenal this year. The Rockets quarterback is a virtual lock to throw for more than 3,000 yards this season and has thrown 19 touchdowns compared to just two interceptions.
The running game has helped soften up defenses for Woodside. Toledo’s top three running backs are each averaging at least 5.3 yards per carry and that has made this offense one of the most complete units in the country.
Free ATS Pick
These teams met last year in Toledo and Ohio pulled off the surprising upset. Ohio was able to run the ball all game long on Toledo’s defense and while Woodside torched the Bobcats through the air it wasn’t enough to keep pace with the Bobcats.
The same thing might happen this year. Ohio’s defense is good against the run, but Purdue and UMass proved that you can throw on this secondary. Meanwhile, Tulsa shredded Toledo’s run defense when these teams met earlier this season.
With this in mind, over might be a great play depending on the number. When it comes to a side though, I like Ohio to pull off the upset as a home underdog.
College Football Odds: Ohio 38, Toledo 34
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
