Two schools that like to run the football, Coach Sean Lewis and the Kent State Golden Flashes (+8) are set to pay a visit to their conference counterpart Toledo Rockets (-8) at Glass Bowl. The game is scheduled to get underway at 7:00 p.m. ET and CBS Sports Network has the TV rights.
Betting Preview: Toledo Rockets vs. Kent State Golden Flashes
In this early-week Mid-American game, Toledo has been tabbed as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 8 points. The Golden Flashes are also receiving +250 moneyline odds while the Rockets are -330. It appears that there might be some good live betting scenarios for this game.
The Golden Flashes have gained 0.6 units this season and are 4-4 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a decent under bet and have posted an Over-Under record of 3-5.
The Rockets are up 2.2 units this year. The team is 4-4 ATS and has an even O/U record of 4-4.
The Golden Flashes are only 3-5 straight up (SU), including 2-2 SU against MAC opponents. The Rockets are 5-3 SU overall and 2-2 SU in conference play.
The Golden Flashes will look to get back in stride after a 23-16 defeat to Miami (OH) on October 26Their defense allowed the RedHawks to eat up the clock by rushing for 289 yards on 42 attempts, along with one rushing TD. Tyre Shelton posted a good day for the RedHawks in that one with 148 rushing yards on 14 attempts. On the offensive side, Dustin Crum completed only 23-of-44 passes for 209 yards and one interception. Will Matthews (52 yards on 15 rush attempts) and the signal-caller Crum (64 yards on 13 carries) led the ground attack in the loss. Kavious Price (seven receptions, 44 yards) and Isaiah McKoy (five catches, 79 yards) shared the receiving duties.
Toledo just got a 37-34 win over Eastern Michigan a couple of weeks ago. The defensive unit let the Eagles rush for 168 yards on 35 attempts, including three rush TDs. Shaq Vann was a bright spot in the loss for Eastern Michigan, recording 110 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 20 attempts. For Toledo, Eli Peters completed nine-of-18 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Bryant Koback (259 rushing yards on 32 attempts, two TDs) and Shakif Seymour (94 yards on 21 carries, one TD) spearheaded the ground game in the win while Desmond Phillips (two receptions, 12 yards) and Danzel McKinley-Lewis (two catches, 85 yards) led the pass-catching attack.
Kent State’s run the ball on 56.9 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Toledo has an overall rush percentage of 63.1 percent. The Golden Flashes have rushed for 170.8 yards per game (including 237.3 per game against Mid-American opponents) and have seven touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Rockets are totaling 245 rushing yards per game (227.8 in conference) and have 18 total rush TDs.
The Golden Flashes offense has logged 195 yards/game through the air overall (248.8 per game versus conference opposition) and has 14 passing TDs so far. The Rockets have recorded 200 pass yards per outing (192 against MAC competition) and have 11 total pass scores.
Kent State should hold the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team’s allowed opponents to run for an average of 250.6 yards and throw for 216.9 yards per game. The Toledo defense has allowed 272.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 199.8 yards per game to opposing runners. The Rockets are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.66 to opponents, while the Golden Flashes have given up a 7.68 ANY/A.
Offensively, Crum has put up 1,083 passing yards on the year, and has connected on 67 percent of his 159 attempts with six passing scores and only one interception. He has a 5.80 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 5.68 over the last two games.
Look for a balanced approach offensively from Kent State in this one. Dustin Crum (278 rushing yards, one rush TD, 0 receiving yards on the year), Will Matthews (178 rush yards, one rush TD) and Isaiah McKoy (460 receiving yards, four TDs) have each played key roles recently.
Eli Peters has completed 11-of-25 passes for 171 yards, two TDs and one INT for Toledo. His ANY/A stands at 6.19 for the season and 9.89 over his past two games.
We expect the Rockets to control tempo by feeding the running backs early and often. Backfield mates Bryant Koback (947 rush yards, eight rush TDs, two receiving TDs), Shakif Seymour (383 rush yards, two rush TDs, one receiving TD), and Ronnie Jones (46 rush yards) have brought significant production to the Toledo offense.
These two schools faced off last year with the final outcome being a 56-34 victory for Toledo.
Kent State Golden Flashes at Toledo Rockets Free NCAA Betting Tip
SU Winner: Toledo, ATS Winner: Toledo
Team Betting Trends
- The Over/Under for Kent State’s previous game going into it was 54. The under cashed in the team’s 23-16 defeat to Miami (OH).
- Kent State, as a team, has averaged 4.5 yards per rush attempt over its last three outings and 4.3 over its last two.
- Toledo has averaged 4.7 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 5.3 over its past two.
- The Toledo offense has lost nine fumbles this season while Kent State has let seven get away.
- Over its last three games, Kent State is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Kent State has lost four of its last five games SU, with a 23-point victory over Akron on October 12th representing the only win over that span.
- The Over/Under for Toledo’s last match was set at 52.5. The over cashed in the 37-34 victory over Eastern Michigan.
- In its last three matches, Toledo is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Golden Flashes offense has recorded five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Rockets have put up seven such plays.
- Both teams have allowed seven pass plays of 40+ yards. The Kent State defense has given up 15 pass plays of 30+ yards while Toledo has given up 12 such plays.
- The Kent State offense has created 13 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Toledo has created 19 such runs.
- The Golden Flashes defense has allowed 13 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Rockets have given up 19 such runs.
- The Kent State defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 18 times this year. Toledo has registered 13 sacks.
