Toledo-Missouri
Sept 7, 2013 at 3:30 PM EST
Line: MIS -17
M/L: MIS -900, TOL +600
O/U: 66
Odds courtesy of 5dimes
Toledo had the unenviable task of opening the season with their only tough opponent of the season: No. 10 Florida. The Gators held the Rockets to just 50 rushing yards, but the team did manage to score a pair of field goals. The final quarter of the game was scoreless.
Toledo went 9-4 last season and lost to Utah State at the Potato Bowl. The program was resurrected from the brink of death three years ago and has gone 26-13 since that point, including 20-4 in the MAC. The team sets its sites on a MAC championship, and still faces a tough task when facing major conference opponents like Missouri. Matt Campbell is the head coach and is in his second season, but the defense is going through a complete overhaul, so the Rockets will have their struggles on that side of the ball this season. The 66 point over/under set by college football oddsmakers indicates their confidence that a lot of scoring will be done on this unit; further indicated by the line being set 17 points in favor of Missouri.
Missouri crushed Murray State 58-14 to open the season and will face another tough season in the SEC. Last year, the team went 5-7. The Tigers have a new offensive coordinator in Josh Henson and a senior QB in James Franklin and the hope is that the two instantly improve the Tigers’ offense. The task will be difficult considering that Missouri lost their leading rusher Kendial Lawrence, who ran for 1,000 yards last year. Marcus Murphy and Henry Josey will have to pitch in to pick up the yardage for this team to have any chance at even replicating last year’s lack of success.
The defense was abysmal last season, too. It allowed 380.7 yards and 28.4 points per game. The secondary is strong, but the team will miss tackle Sheldon Richardson. Also, kicker Andrew Baggett is weak and missed four extra points last season. Punter Christian Brinser departed, too, and he was superb. The teams questionable special teams only further cast doubts on their chances to compete for an SEC title. But this is not an SEC title game, this is Toledo, and expect the Tigers to roll to an easy two-plus TD victory as expected by college football odds.
TOL
Rockets 4-0 ATS in last 4 after accumulating less than 275 total yards in previous game, UNDER 6-0 in last 6 on turf, UNDER 4-0 last 4 vs teams with winning records.
MIZZOU
OVER is 4-0 in Tigers last 4 overall, UNDER 5-1 in last 6 vs teams with losing records, 1-4 ATS in last 5 after accumulating 200+ rushing yards previous game.
