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Temple Owls at Toledo Rockets 7:00 PM ET
Toledo Rockets –7.5 –103 (2 Units)
Toledo is finally in the win column after getting their doors blown in at Minnesota and Kansas. The defense is still a concern but coming back home for their season opener should give them a jolt right out of the gate. The schedule is ridiculously easy until November, so the Rockets have to use every game possible to improve everything about its defense.
Temple looks to be heading in the same direction as last year when the team won just one game on the season. They got their first win against 1-AA Florida A&M last Saturday which snapped a nine-game losing streak dating to October 11th of last year. This win might be good for confidence but it was not a win against a solid program. Florida A&M has dealt with adversity the last several weeks. Practices have been canceled because of hurricanes, and several players have been suspended for violating NCAA academic-eligibility rules. Against more quality competition, the Owls weren't able to get anything going against Virginia and Maryland when the game was still in question. QB Walter Washington is a great athlete but he has no other weapons around him so Toledo can focus on the running game and hawking him the whole game. Their defense is a 4-4 alignment so they set up well against the spread offense that Temple runs. They also get the extra guy in the box to watch Washington.
Last week against Eastern Michigan, Bruce Gradkowski finally looked like the quarterback that all of the hype has been about as he hit his first 14 passes in the game and finished 22-of-27 for 338 yards and three touchdowns. Even with the team struggling during the first tow games, he has played pretty consistent. He has completed 56-of-85 passes for 755 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions through three games. Toledo’s 542 yards of offense vs. the Eagles was its most since the Rockets had 685 yards vs. Buffalo on Nov. 1 of last year. Toledo head coach Tom Amstutz said that in Saturday night’s game, he will need to see Gradkowski and the rest of his offense continue to perform at the level they achieved in that third quarter against Eastern Michigan. “The change with the offense up there started with the offensive line,” Amstutz said. “They blocked better, they were tougher, and they took control of the game. I also thought we ran the ball better, and all of those things really help the quarterback perform at the right level.” Even if they do get a comfortable lead, don’t expect the Rockets to let up as they will be looking for consistency the whole game. The Owl pass defense is lousy and won't be able to handle all the great Rocket receivers. The Rockets are 11th in the country in pass efficiency offense while the Owls are 77th against the pass. Another 500 plus day for Toledo is certainly not out of the question. The Glass Bowl is a difficult place for anyone to come in, as the Rockets are 25-1 in their last 26 contests there. Add to that with this being a night game, it will be a tough place for the visitors to get any rhythm going.
Toledo Rockets –7.5 –103 (2 Units)
Toledo is finally in the win column after getting their doors blown in at Minnesota and Kansas. The defense is still a concern but coming back home for their season opener should give them a jolt right out of the gate. The schedule is ridiculously easy until November, so the Rockets have to use every game possible to improve everything about its defense.
Temple looks to be heading in the same direction as last year when the team won just one game on the season. They got their first win against 1-AA Florida A&M last Saturday which snapped a nine-game losing streak dating to October 11th of last year. This win might be good for confidence but it was not a win against a solid program. Florida A&M has dealt with adversity the last several weeks. Practices have been canceled because of hurricanes, and several players have been suspended for violating NCAA academic-eligibility rules. Against more quality competition, the Owls weren't able to get anything going against Virginia and Maryland when the game was still in question. QB Walter Washington is a great athlete but he has no other weapons around him so Toledo can focus on the running game and hawking him the whole game. Their defense is a 4-4 alignment so they set up well against the spread offense that Temple runs. They also get the extra guy in the box to watch Washington.
Last week against Eastern Michigan, Bruce Gradkowski finally looked like the quarterback that all of the hype has been about as he hit his first 14 passes in the game and finished 22-of-27 for 338 yards and three touchdowns. Even with the team struggling during the first tow games, he has played pretty consistent. He has completed 56-of-85 passes for 755 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions through three games. Toledo’s 542 yards of offense vs. the Eagles was its most since the Rockets had 685 yards vs. Buffalo on Nov. 1 of last year. Toledo head coach Tom Amstutz said that in Saturday night’s game, he will need to see Gradkowski and the rest of his offense continue to perform at the level they achieved in that third quarter against Eastern Michigan. “The change with the offense up there started with the offensive line,” Amstutz said. “They blocked better, they were tougher, and they took control of the game. I also thought we ran the ball better, and all of those things really help the quarterback perform at the right level.” Even if they do get a comfortable lead, don’t expect the Rockets to let up as they will be looking for consistency the whole game. The Owl pass defense is lousy and won't be able to handle all the great Rocket receivers. The Rockets are 11th in the country in pass efficiency offense while the Owls are 77th against the pass. Another 500 plus day for Toledo is certainly not out of the question. The Glass Bowl is a difficult place for anyone to come in, as the Rockets are 25-1 in their last 26 contests there. Add to that with this being a night game, it will be a tough place for the visitors to get any rhythm going.