MAC Football Predictions: Bowling Green Falcons vs Toledo Rockets

Bowling Green Falcons at Toledo Rockets
Wednesday, 11/17/10, 8:00 PM EDT, TV: ESPN2
Opening Point Spread: Toledo -10.5
Current Betting Line: Toledo -10.5
Opening Total: 55.5
Current Total: 54
Current Moneyline: Toledo -400 / Bowling Green +330

Bowling Green’s bowl game is tonight against the Toledo Rockets with a 2-8 overall record and 1-5 mark in Mid-American Conference play. “To me, it isn’t motivation to ruin it for someone else,” said head coach Dave Clawson. “We’re focused on our program. We try to always have the focus of our program year-round.” The two schools are fewer than 30 miles apart along Interstate 75 in Northwest Ohio and will meet for the 74th time in the series. The Falcons are in the second year of Clawson’s reign on the sidelines, going 9-14 overall and 7-7 in conference play during that time. Bowling Green is a perfect 4-0 ATS as an underdog of 10.5 to 21 points this season and 16-5 ATS in their last 21 chances in this situation. The college football lines page has them in that range currently.

The Falcons have had all kinds of trouble on defense by allowing 32.9 points and 420.5 yards per game, ranking 11th and 10th in the conference. Bowling Green has been able to force turnovers, ranking first in the MAC with 28 takeaways, including 12 interceptions. The team will need all things to break its way in hopes of winning its fourth consecutive game in this series. “As a Bowling Green Falcon, we are used to winning,” said junior safety Jovan Leacock. “We don’t accept losing at all, but what can you do? You have to look forward to next week and plan as hard as possible for next week.”

Toledo can only hope to bounce back from a 65-30 loss at the hands of the Northern Illinois Huskies in its last game, as the team brings a 6-4 record and 5-1 mark in conference play into Wednesday’s rivalry game. “To give up 65 points in a game like this, there’s no way you can be successful,” said head coach Tim Beckman. “I don’t think we played very good at all on defense. We just didn’t make the plays and make tackles.” It remains to be seen which direction this team will take in the final two weeks due to its chance of reaching the MAC championship game being seemingly out of reach. Toledo is 2-2 ATS as a favorite of 10.5 to 21 points the last three years and 11-11 ATS versus conference opponents over that span.

The Rockets will not be playing the Falcons in the regular-season finale for the first time since 1999. For the second straight season, Toledo will face its arch-rival without its starting quarterback. Senior Aaron Opelt missed last year’s game due to injury, being replaced by Austin Dantin, who completed 23-of-38 passes for 326 yards in a 38-24 defeat. This squad also has the ability of forcing turnovers, ranking third in the nation in interceptions (16), while being tied for ninth in the country in turnover margin (+1.0).