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After two games on the road, the Toledo Rockets are heading back home. Toledo and the Akron Zips will face off in a Mid-American battle at noon ET on Saturday at Glass Bowl. The Rockets will be strutting in after a victory while Akron will be stumbling in from a defeat.
Toledo picked up a 35-23 win over the Ohio Bobcats last week. RB Bryant Koback was a one-man wrecking crew for Toledo, rushing for four TDs and 203 yards on 21 carries. Koback put himself on the highlight reel with a 55-yard TD scramble in the third quarter. Not surprisingly, Koback's sharp performance set his single-game rushing touchdown high for the season.
Toledo's defense was a presence as well, as it got past Ohio's offensive line to sack the quarterback five times for a total loss of 28 yards. It was a group effort with five guys contributing.
Meanwhile, the Zips took a serious blow against the Kent State Golden Flashes last week, falling 38 to nothing. Akron was in a tough position by the half, with the score already sitting at 29 to nothing. QB Zach Gibson had a pretty forgettable game, passing for only 111 yards on 21 attempts.
Toledo is the favorite in this one, with an expected 28.5-point margin of victory. Their home turf has been no bettor's paradise, though, as they've failed to beat the spread in four of their five home games.
Toledo's victory brought them up to 6-5 while Akron's loss pulled them down to 2-9. A couple defensive numbers to keep in mind before kickoff: The Rockets are 142nd worst in the nation in passing touchdowns allowed, with 13 on the season. The Zips have experienced some struggles of their own as they are stumbling into the contest with the 243rd most touchdowns allowed in the nation, having given up 51 on the season. It's possible one of these Achilles' heels will wind up tripping the losing team up.
