2* - Toledo (+14)
I?m sorry but I just can?t see giving Toledo 14 points in this game. Gradkowski is a tough player and will probably start since he made the trip with the team. If he plays, Toledo has an outside shot at actually winning this game; he doesn?t, we will see redshirt freshman Clint Cochran who has played in every game this year. Cochran has completed 14 of 16 pass attempts for 92 yards and the Rockets? running game is ranked #20 in the nation with two solid running backs in Richard Davis and Trinity Dawson both of whom have already rushed for over 200 yards this year. On top of that, Scooter McDougle may return from his injury to also see time at tailback tonight.
Fresno has not shown much yet in the two games they have played by winning big over Weber State and then losing to Oregon. The Duck?s QB Kellen Clemens threw for 332 yards and four touchdowns in the second game to lead Oregon in a 37-34 victory. Those sound like Gradkowski numbers to me. Fresno?s quarterback, Paul Pinegar has indeed thrown for over 600 yards this year but 418 of those yards were against Oregon in the losing effort. Against Weber State, Pinegar could only put up 189 yards through the air. The Bulldogs don?t have much of a running game either with only 271 yards rushing this year.
Granted, this is a step up in competition for Toledo but I think Fresno is getting too much hype and that these teams are more evenly matched that the line would indicate. I sure hope Gradkowski can hang in there and if he can, the Rockets should cover easily. I hit this one as soon at the line moved to 14 and I see it as already going the other way.
I?m sorry but I just can?t see giving Toledo 14 points in this game. Gradkowski is a tough player and will probably start since he made the trip with the team. If he plays, Toledo has an outside shot at actually winning this game; he doesn?t, we will see redshirt freshman Clint Cochran who has played in every game this year. Cochran has completed 14 of 16 pass attempts for 92 yards and the Rockets? running game is ranked #20 in the nation with two solid running backs in Richard Davis and Trinity Dawson both of whom have already rushed for over 200 yards this year. On top of that, Scooter McDougle may return from his injury to also see time at tailback tonight.
Fresno has not shown much yet in the two games they have played by winning big over Weber State and then losing to Oregon. The Duck?s QB Kellen Clemens threw for 332 yards and four touchdowns in the second game to lead Oregon in a 37-34 victory. Those sound like Gradkowski numbers to me. Fresno?s quarterback, Paul Pinegar has indeed thrown for over 600 yards this year but 418 of those yards were against Oregon in the losing effort. Against Weber State, Pinegar could only put up 189 yards through the air. The Bulldogs don?t have much of a running game either with only 271 yards rushing this year.
Granted, this is a step up in competition for Toledo but I think Fresno is getting too much hype and that these teams are more evenly matched that the line would indicate. I sure hope Gradkowski can hang in there and if he can, the Rockets should cover easily. I hit this one as soon at the line moved to 14 and I see it as already going the other way.
