In a battle of two teams that like running the football, Coach Jason Candle and the Toledo Rockets (-3) are set to welcome their in-conference foe Northern Illinois Huskies at Glass Bowl. The game kicks off at 8:00 p.m. ET and fans can witness the action live on ESPN2.
Betting Preview: Toledo Rockets vs. Northern Illinois Huskies
In this Wednesday Mid-American game, Toledo is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 3 points. The Huskies are also receiving +120 moneyline odds while the Rockets are -140. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 55 points, and if one side can catch a lucky break early, it would likely generate a decent in-game betting scenario.
This game’s opening line was -3. The over/under has not moved after being initially set at 55.
The Huskies are down 3.6 units so far in 2019 and 5-4 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an Over-Under record of 5-4.
The Rockets have gained 3.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 4-5 ATS and also have an O/U record of 5-4.
The Huskies have gone a paltry 3-6 straight up (SU), including 2-3 SU against conference opponents. The Rockets are 6-3 SU overall and 3-2 SU in conference play.
The Huskies lost to Central Michigan 48-10 in a thumping where the passing game wasn’t where it needed to be as Ross Bowers completed 18 passes for 221 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. As a team, the Huskies rushed for just 22 yards in the loss.
Toledo enters this one having just earned a 35-33 win over Kent State. The Rockets defensive unit allowed the Golden Flashes to rush for 171 yards on 44 attempts, along with one rushing TD. Xavier Williams had a good outing in the defeat, recording 63 rushing yards on 11 attempts for Kent State. For Toledo, Eli Peters completed 15-of-25 passes for 194 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Shakif Seymour (175 yards on 28 rush attempts, two TDs) and Bryant Koback (67 yards on 13 carries, two TDs) spearheaded the running game as Desmond Phillips (four receptions, 55 yards, one TD) and Devin Maddox (three catches, 42 yards) led the receiving corps in the win.
Northern Illinois has run the ball on 51 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Toledo has an overall rush percentage of 63.7 percent. The Huskies have produced 118.4 rush yards/game (including 145.4 per game against Mid-American opponents) and have 11 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Rockets are putting up 249.9 rush yards per game (240 in conference) and have 22 total rushing TDs.
The Huskies offense has averaged 245.2 yards in the air overall (223.4 per game versus conference opposition) and has 10 passing TDs so far. The Rockets have put up 199.3 pass yards per contest (193 in the MAC) and have 12 total pass scores.
Defensively, Northern Illinois appears to have the upper hand in both facets. The team has allowed 174.6 rush yards and 198.1 pass yards per game. The Toledo defense has given up 271.1 yards per game to opposing passers and 196.6 yards per game on the ground. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Huskies have given up an ANY/A of 7.21 to opposing QBs, while the Rockets are yielding an ANY/A of 7.2.
Peters has managed to complete 17-of-32 passes for 227 yards, one TD and two INTs. Peters’ adjusted net yards per pass attempt sits at 4.26 for the season and 7.73 across his past two games. In the other huddle, Bowers is up to 1,947 passing yards this year, and has connected on 151-of-261 attempts with six passing touchdowns and eight interceptions. Bowers has a 5.70 ANY/A for the year, although that number sits at 3.17 over the past two games.
These two schools met last year with the final result being a 38-15 win for Northern Illinois.
Northern Illinois Huskies at Toledo Rockets Betting Prediction
SU Winner: Toledo, ATS Winner: Toledo, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- The Toledo defensive unit has sacked opposing quarterbacks 15 times this year. Northern Illinois has registered 10 sacks.
- The Toledo offense has lost 10 fumbles this season while the Northern Illinois offense has lost five.
- Both passing attacks have produced seven pass plays of 40 yards or more. The Huskies have have made 14 pass plays of 30+ yards while the Rockets have created 12 such plays.
- The Northern Illinois defense has allowed six pass plays of 40+ yards, while Toledo has given up nine such plays.
- The Northern Illinois offense has created nine rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Toledo has created 21 such runs.
- The Huskies defense has allowed 14 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Rockets have given up 20 such runs.
- The O/U for Toledo’s last match going into it was 64. The over cashed in that 35-33 win over Kent State.
- Over its last three games, Toledo is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- Over its last three matchups, Northern Illinois is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- The O/U for Northern Illinois’ previous game was 49. The over cashed in the team’s 48-10 loss to Central Michigan.
- Northern Illinois has produced 3.2 yards per carry across its last three games and 3.4 over its last two.
- Toledo has averaged 5.4 yards per carry over its last three outings and 6.0 over its past two.
