The (9-3) Ohio Bobcats will meet the (7-5) Toledo Rockets at Ford Field this Saturday for the MAC Championship game. Ohio defeated Bowling Green 38-14 in its last game, while Toledo was upset 20-14 by Western Michigan. The Rockets are 1.5-point spread favorites, and the game total is 55 points.
Despite consecutive losses, Toledo is headed to the MAC title game as the West division champions. The Rockets were upset by Bowling Green and Western Michigan, derailing their momentum, but all is not lost. Toledo's offense needs to move the ball consistently to keep itself in contention for a better bowl game.
The Rockets punted ten times in the loss to WMU, driving past the Broncos' 40-yard line just once. They held Western to just 188 total yards and eight first downs but gave up two explosive touchdowns that were the difference in the game's outcome. Toledo's offense outgained the Broncos through the air and on the ground, but it stalled out when it mattered.
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&mdas h; Toledo Football (@ToledoFB) November 30, 2022
This season, the Rockets are averaging 33.3 points and 407.3 total yards of offense, including 172.9 rush yards and 234.3 pass yards. When they do make it into the red zone, they are efficient, converting 89.4% of their trips into points, the 25th-highest percentage nationally. Their third-down offense is ranked 63rd in the nation (38.8%). The Rockets are banged-up at QB, as Dequan Finn (1,973 passing yards, 21 TDs, and 12 INTs) injured his ankle vs. Bowling Green and looked immobile against the Broncos. Backup Tucker Gleason (834 passing yards, 8 TDs, and 3 INTs) broke his hand against BGSU, but both are expected to be available vs. Ohio. Jacquez Stuart (566 rushing yards and 3 TDs) leads the ground game, and Jerjuan Newton (711 receiving yards and 9 TDs) is Toledo's top pass-catcher. Tight end Jamal Turner has also hauled in eight receiving touchdowns.
The Toledo defense is surrendering 337.8 total yards per contest (29th nationally) an d 27.1 points per game. Its pass defense has locked down its opponents, allowing just 187.3 passing yards per game (19th-best). The Rockets have 31 sacks and 11 interceptions. Second-team All-American Quinyon Mitchell leads the secondary with five INTs, and linebacker Jamal Hines has wrapped up the quarterback 6.5 times.