Toledo (4-5) at Central Michigan (7-2)
DATE & TIME: Wednesday, November 11th, 8:00 p.m. (et)
FACTS & STATS: Site: Kelly/Shorts Stadium (30,255) -- Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Toledo 2-2, CMU 3-0. Away Record: Toledo 2-2, CMU 4-2. Neutral Record: Toledo 0-1, CMU 0-0. Conference Record: Toledo 2-3, CMU 5-0. Series Record: Series tied, 17-17-3.
GAME NOTES: The Central Michigan Chippewas will try to remain perfect in Mid- American Conference action when they host the Toledo Rockets this Wednesday evening at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The Rockets head into this matchup off a bye week, which was surely needed for Toledo, which has lost two straight games, and three of its last four matchups. The last time the Rockets were on the field the team suffered a 31-24 setback to Miami-Ohio, falling to 2-3 in conference action. It was also a road setback, which left Toledo with a 2-2 mark as the visitor.
As for the Chippewas, they were also idle this past weekend after suffering a 31-10 setback to Boston College. The loss snapped Central Michigan's seven- game winning streak, but despite the non-conference loss, the Chippewas come into this game with a flawless 5-0 ledger in MAC action.
The series between Toledo and Central Michigan is currently knotted at 17-17-3 as the Chippewas have won the last four meetings, including a thrilling 24-23 victory over the Rockets this past season.
The Rockets possess a very dangerous offensive attack, which is balanced with a solid ground game and a lethal aerial assault. The team is churning out a respectable 144.2 ypg on the ground, but it is the team's passing game that has done the trick all year long. Aaron Opelt, who has missed some time with an injury, comes into this contest with 1,863 yards and 15 touchdowns against six interceptions. Eric Page and Stephen Williams are two strong options at the disposal of Opelt, as Page is leading the team with 65 catches for 909 yards and seven scores, while Williams comes into this matchup with 60 receptions, 884 yards and five touchdowns. Doing the majority of the work on the ground has been DuJuane Collins, who is pacing the team with 733 yards and eight scores. In the recent setback to Miami-Ohio, Opelt was back on the field for the Rockets, but threw for just 79 yards and one touchdown before exiting the contest. Austin Dantin and Alex Pettee both saw time under center, but neither caused any considerable damage against the RedHawks. Collins rushed for 82 yards and one touchdown in the loss, but it was Adomis Thomas who led the way for Toledo, rushing for 107 yards on 13 totes.
What has crippled Toledo's season thus far has been the play of the defense, which is being demolished for 424.9 total ypg, and that has led to an equally poor 37.4 ppg. Toledo has surrendered 23 rushing touchdowns on the season and another 20 scores through the air, but the main problem has come against the run, as the team is allowing 177.8 ypg on the ground. A lack of big plays has also been a problem for the Rockets, as the team heads into this matchup with just 16 takeaways and 17 sacks. In the loss to the RedHawks, the Rockets were torched through the air, as Miami-Ohio finished with 344 passing yards. Archie Donald led the way for the defense with 10 tackles, while Barry Church added eight stops, one sack and forced one fumble. Donald and Church are currently number one and two in tackles on the team and come into this game with 96 and 82 stops, respectively.
The Chippewas have plenty of talented players, but none are more important to the success of Central Michigan than Dan LeFevour. The quarterback has completed an impressive 68.5 percent of his throws this season and that has gone for 1,848 yards and 16 touchdowns. LeFevour has plenty of options to throw to, but the best target has to be Antonio Brown, who is leading the team with 56 receptions, 605 yards and seven touchdowns. What is special about both these players is that they also lead the rushing attack for CMU. LeFevour is currently pacing the squad with 548 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, while Brown has contributed 285 rushing yards. The top tailback on the team has been Carl Volny, but he comes into this game with only 264 yards. Unfortunately the last time the Chippewas were on the field the team only accumulated 311 total yards. The ground game was held to just 93 yards on 3.0 yards per attempt. LeFevour was limited to just 26 yards on the ground and only threw for 152 yards on 20-of-34 efficiency. LeFevour also tossed an interception and was sacked once.
On top of the success of the offense the defense has also performed at a high level for CMU, holding the opposition to just 339.6 total ypg, and that has led to just 16.9 ppg. The team has done an excellent job against the run, holding opponents to just 117.8 ypg on just 3.5 yards per attempt. Surprisingly the defense has only forced eight turnovers on the season (four interceptions and four fumbles), but has enjoyed mild success pressuring the quarterback and comes into this matchup with 17 sacks. The Chippewas had one of their worst outings of the season against Boston College, as the defense allowed 412 total yards. Even more shocking was the play against the run, as CMU was pounded for 150 yards and two touchdowns on 4.5 yards per attempt. Nick Bellore, who is leading the team with 88 tackles, racked up nine stops in the loss to BC.
Do not expect a similar performance by Central Michigan. The Chippewas might have trouble outside of the MAC, but against conference teams they are clearly the cream of the crop.
Predicted Outcome: Central Michigan 48, Toledo 24
DATE & TIME: Wednesday, November 11th, 8:00 p.m. (et)
FACTS & STATS: Site: Kelly/Shorts Stadium (30,255) -- Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Toledo 2-2, CMU 3-0. Away Record: Toledo 2-2, CMU 4-2. Neutral Record: Toledo 0-1, CMU 0-0. Conference Record: Toledo 2-3, CMU 5-0. Series Record: Series tied, 17-17-3.
GAME NOTES: The Central Michigan Chippewas will try to remain perfect in Mid- American Conference action when they host the Toledo Rockets this Wednesday evening at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The Rockets head into this matchup off a bye week, which was surely needed for Toledo, which has lost two straight games, and three of its last four matchups. The last time the Rockets were on the field the team suffered a 31-24 setback to Miami-Ohio, falling to 2-3 in conference action. It was also a road setback, which left Toledo with a 2-2 mark as the visitor.
As for the Chippewas, they were also idle this past weekend after suffering a 31-10 setback to Boston College. The loss snapped Central Michigan's seven- game winning streak, but despite the non-conference loss, the Chippewas come into this game with a flawless 5-0 ledger in MAC action.
The series between Toledo and Central Michigan is currently knotted at 17-17-3 as the Chippewas have won the last four meetings, including a thrilling 24-23 victory over the Rockets this past season.
The Rockets possess a very dangerous offensive attack, which is balanced with a solid ground game and a lethal aerial assault. The team is churning out a respectable 144.2 ypg on the ground, but it is the team's passing game that has done the trick all year long. Aaron Opelt, who has missed some time with an injury, comes into this contest with 1,863 yards and 15 touchdowns against six interceptions. Eric Page and Stephen Williams are two strong options at the disposal of Opelt, as Page is leading the team with 65 catches for 909 yards and seven scores, while Williams comes into this matchup with 60 receptions, 884 yards and five touchdowns. Doing the majority of the work on the ground has been DuJuane Collins, who is pacing the team with 733 yards and eight scores. In the recent setback to Miami-Ohio, Opelt was back on the field for the Rockets, but threw for just 79 yards and one touchdown before exiting the contest. Austin Dantin and Alex Pettee both saw time under center, but neither caused any considerable damage against the RedHawks. Collins rushed for 82 yards and one touchdown in the loss, but it was Adomis Thomas who led the way for Toledo, rushing for 107 yards on 13 totes.
What has crippled Toledo's season thus far has been the play of the defense, which is being demolished for 424.9 total ypg, and that has led to an equally poor 37.4 ppg. Toledo has surrendered 23 rushing touchdowns on the season and another 20 scores through the air, but the main problem has come against the run, as the team is allowing 177.8 ypg on the ground. A lack of big plays has also been a problem for the Rockets, as the team heads into this matchup with just 16 takeaways and 17 sacks. In the loss to the RedHawks, the Rockets were torched through the air, as Miami-Ohio finished with 344 passing yards. Archie Donald led the way for the defense with 10 tackles, while Barry Church added eight stops, one sack and forced one fumble. Donald and Church are currently number one and two in tackles on the team and come into this game with 96 and 82 stops, respectively.
The Chippewas have plenty of talented players, but none are more important to the success of Central Michigan than Dan LeFevour. The quarterback has completed an impressive 68.5 percent of his throws this season and that has gone for 1,848 yards and 16 touchdowns. LeFevour has plenty of options to throw to, but the best target has to be Antonio Brown, who is leading the team with 56 receptions, 605 yards and seven touchdowns. What is special about both these players is that they also lead the rushing attack for CMU. LeFevour is currently pacing the squad with 548 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, while Brown has contributed 285 rushing yards. The top tailback on the team has been Carl Volny, but he comes into this game with only 264 yards. Unfortunately the last time the Chippewas were on the field the team only accumulated 311 total yards. The ground game was held to just 93 yards on 3.0 yards per attempt. LeFevour was limited to just 26 yards on the ground and only threw for 152 yards on 20-of-34 efficiency. LeFevour also tossed an interception and was sacked once.
On top of the success of the offense the defense has also performed at a high level for CMU, holding the opposition to just 339.6 total ypg, and that has led to just 16.9 ppg. The team has done an excellent job against the run, holding opponents to just 117.8 ypg on just 3.5 yards per attempt. Surprisingly the defense has only forced eight turnovers on the season (four interceptions and four fumbles), but has enjoyed mild success pressuring the quarterback and comes into this matchup with 17 sacks. The Chippewas had one of their worst outings of the season against Boston College, as the defense allowed 412 total yards. Even more shocking was the play against the run, as CMU was pounded for 150 yards and two touchdowns on 4.5 yards per attempt. Nick Bellore, who is leading the team with 88 tackles, racked up nine stops in the loss to BC.
Do not expect a similar performance by Central Michigan. The Chippewas might have trouble outside of the MAC, but against conference teams they are clearly the cream of the crop.
Predicted Outcome: Central Michigan 48, Toledo 24
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