Sport: College FootballPick Selection: Toledo vs. Ball State: Toledo
I'm taking the points with TOLEDO. Both teams have equal 5-5 records. Combine that with the fact that these MAC West rival will face each other on National TV and that makes this a very big game for both schools. For a few year's there was talk of the "Muncie Jinx" around the Toledo campus as the Rockets have lost some big games here. The Rockets traveled to Muncie in 1997 with an 8-0 record and #18 ranking, only to come up short. In 2001 Toledo was 5-0, before giving up a kick return for a touchdown late in the game and losing at Ball State 24-20. In 2003 Toledo was 5-2 and 3-0 in the MAC before losing here at Muncie. However, the last time the teams met here (in 2005) the Rockets overcame the "Jinx" by recording a solid 34-14 win. A win tonight will ensure the Rockets don't finish with a losing record. It should also pretty much wipe out any more talk of the "Muncie Jinx." The Rockets come in on a roll and I expect them to have success tonight. Aaron Opelt was named the starting quarterback for Toledo coming into the season, but struggled early before missing a couple of games with a leg injury. However, since coming back (vs. Ohio) he has been an entirely different quarterback. In fact, Opelt has led the Rockets to three consecutive victories while passing for 867 yards with 7 touchdowns and zero interceptions. Opelt even added a couple of rushing touchdowns. As a unit, the Rockets' offense is averaging 55 points over the last three games. The passing game has led to a more effective running game too. Jalen Parmele and DaJuane Collins are combining for 249.3 yards rushing per game over that span, adding 11 rushing touchdowns. This all equates to the MAC's #1 offense in three categories; total offense, scoring offense, and rushing offense. In fact, Toledo is ranked in the top 25 in the country at each of those three statistical categories. I expect that them to have success vs. a Ball State squad which comes off three straight tough road games and which ranks just 10th in the MAC in scoring defense and 11th in rushing defense. While the Rockets' defense has also struggled much of the year, the unit has improved significantly the last two games. The Rockets are 6-3 the last nine series meetings and two of those losses came by four points or less. The Rockets are also 15-4 SU and 14-4-1 ATS their last 19 games played in the month of November. Look for those numbers to improve this evening. *MAC GOW
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