College Football Predictions – Toledo Rockets 2020 College Football Preview
July 2020
October 2020 update – Schedule has changed. See below.
2019 Recap
Record – 6-6
ATS – 4-8
The Rockets started the year on SUPAH HOT FIRE and won four of their first five games. That opening including wins over Colorado St and BYU (!). It all went down the PROVERBIAL CRAPPER when they lost back-to-back games to Bowling Green (!) and Ball St by a combined score of 72-21. They finished the season losing their last three games and missed out on a bowl game for the first time since 2013.
Toledo is used to being on or near the top of the MAC West Mountain. Are they capable for contending for top spot in 2020?
2020 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
West Division – TBD
MAC – TBD
Toledo Rockets 2020 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Rockets dealt with an injury FIASCO at QB (again) last year and the hope is that senior Eli Peters can stay healthy and lead the charge (56%, 24-10 TD-INT career). Carter Bradley will almost certainly get some work and will be a fine option according to our DEEP MAC INSIDERS. Peters (and surely, others) will have the luxury of last year’s top two WRs coming back in Bryce Mitchell and Danzel McKinley-Lewis. The Rockets are thrilled to see the return of star RB Bryant Koback who rushed for almost 1,200 yards (6.1) whilst bagging 12 TDs. Back-up RB Shakif Seymour also returns to the mix and note that he rushed for over 700 yards (5 TD) LY. The offensive line is a premier MACTION group and returns three starters, and that doesn’t include their excellent center Bryce Harris who missed LY due to injury.
We forecast a significant increase in production and view this offense as one of the best in the MAC.
DEFENSE
The defense was a HOT MESS last year and they posted some really HEINOUS results. The Rockets ended up #10 in the MAC in rushing defense (#121 FBS) and DEAD LAST in passing defense whilst allowing 32 PPG (#10). That marked the second consecutive season of horrid performance on this side of the ball and things have to get better if they plan on competing in the ROUGH and TOUGH MAC West. Seven new returning starters and a change at DC should do the trick for some improvement. The DL has some potential with the return of several players with starting experience but their DEs need to find a way to get to the QB. Nobody on the team had more than 3.5 sacks LY and Toledo bagged just 15 (!) as a team (#9 MAC, #T119 FBS). Maybe the addition of Craig Kuligowski to the coaching staff can figure things out? There’s only one starter back at LB but Saeed Holt was first on the team in sacks and #3 in tackles a season ago. The secondary is bound to improve with the return of CB Samuel Womack who had 2 INTs and an impossible 15 PBU LY, and that was just one off the FBS leader. CB Chris McDonald is back as is #2 tackler Tycen Anderson at safety.
We’ll project slight improvement on this side of the ball with decent upside if they can cobble together a decent pass rush.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Both PKs return for battle and they combined to hit 11/16 FGs in 2019 and Bailey Flint is a good punter. Devin Maddox is back to return punts but they’ll need to find a new primary KR with the departure of Ronnie Jones.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – The scamdemic schedule has them drawing Bowling Green from the East which is nice. It’s highly likely that their final game on December 12th (home vs Chips) will decide the division champ.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Northern Illinois (Dec 5th)
This is a lookahead spot with the aforementioned Chippewas on deck. NIU has beaten Toledo eight of the last ten times and Toledo will be laying road chalk.
Season Win Total
TBD
MEGALOCKS says:
TBD
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Following World War II, University Stadium was renovated with many glass elements. That fact, along with the city’s concentration in the glass industry, led to the stadium’s renaming as the GLASS BOWL in 1946. Trivia nugget, yo.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
Toledo has struggled by their standards in each of the past two seasons. This feels like a team very capable of making noise in the competitive MAC West. The offense will be able to SCORE THE FOOTBALL and the defense should be improved. If they can bag a split in early October in games with the Bobcats and Broncos we expect them to be in the thick of things until the final week.
#LiftOff !
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WEBSITE
https://utrockets.com/sports/football
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NEWS
https://www.hustlebelt.com/toledo-rockets
https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/2649/toledo-rockets
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