Toledo vs. Kent State Prediction
Two in-state foes meet up in MAC play on Thursday evening when Kent State hosts Toledo at 6PM ET. Can the Rockets cover a double-digit spread as a road favorite?
Game Snapshot & Odds
309 Toledo at 310 Kent State
Thursday, November 15, 2018
6PM ET – Dix Stadium
TV: CBS Sports Network
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, Toledo is favored on the road, as the Rockets are getting odds of -13 points against Kent State. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 59 points. The public betting currently has 88 percent going on Toledo on the road.
Toledo falls at NIU
Toledo was on a two-game win streak, but the Rockets were soundly beaten last week at Northern Illinois, falling 38-15. Toledo is 5-5 overall this year and 3-3 in the MAC. The Rockets are 4-6 against the spread and 6-4 with the over. They have covered in two of their last three.
The Rockets haven’t been great on defense this year, allowing 31.5 points and 448.3 yards per game. Offensively, Toledo is posting 38.6 points and 439.2 yards per game. The team lost quarterback Mitchell Guadagni to a season-ending injury a while back, but Eli Peters has filled in pretty well. He has thrown for 1,262 yards and 12 touchdowns. Toledo has a ground attack that is putting up 200 yards per game. Four different players have rushed for 390 yards or more this year. Bryant Koback is leading the way with 559 yards and nine touchdowns. Diontae Johnson is the leading receiver with 40 catches for 635 yards and seven touchdowns.
Flashes struggling
Kent State is coming off a 48-14 loss at Buffalo last week for its seventh loss in eight games. The Golden Flashes are now 2-8 overall and 1-5 in the MAC. Kent State is 6-4 against the spread and 6-4 with the under. Kent has also covered in two of its last three games.
The Golden Flashes have been really struggling on defense all year, allowing 35.6 points and 471.4 yards per game. When it comes to offense, Kent State is averaging 23.3 points and 371.8 yards per game. Woody Barrett has thrown for 1,932 yards and 10 touchdowns, but also has eight interceptions. Barrett has rushed for 442 yards and six touchdowns while Justin Rankin leads the way with 565 yards and four scores on the ground. Mike Carrigan is the leading receiver with 35 catches for 430 yards and four touchdowns.
College Football Betting Trends
Toledo
The Rockets are 12-4 against the spread in their last 16 games against a losing team and 18-7 ATS in their last 25 road games.
Kent State
Kent State has covered the spread in four straight games following a failed cover, but just 1-5 against the spread in their last six games in November.
Prediction:
When Toledo wins, it wins big. The Rockets have had all five of their wins this year come by at least 16 points. It’s hard to see Kent State being able to match offense with the Rockets in this one. Kent State hasn’t been able to keep games terribly close and I would expect Toledo to start fast and overwhelm the Flashes early. The spread isn’t big enough for me to be concerned.
College Football Prediction: Toledo -13