Wednesday night ushers in the return of the MAC with a slate of football games that will include the Bowling Green Falcons against the Toledo Rockets. The matchup is the nightcap to six conference contests as the conference begins a six-game season.
Kickoff is at 8 pm RT at the Glass Bowl in Toledo, OH. Toledo is a 23.5-point favorite in the opener, according to oddsmakers.
What to Know – Bowling Green Falcons
The shortened 2020 campaign will be head coach Scot Loeffler’s second season in Bowling Green after a 3-9 record last year. One of the Falcons three victories last season was against the Rockets in a 20-7 win.
Boston College transfer Matt McDonald is expected to take over the reins as the starting quarterback for the Falcons. McDonald saw action in two contests in 2018 at Boston College, completing 7-of-8 passes for 118 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Andrew Clair played in just four games in 2019 due to injuries after rushing for 702 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman. Clair will be running behind an offensive line that is set to return two starters from last season’s team.
Bowling Green welcomes back their leading receiver from last year in tight end Quintin Morris. Morris hauled in 55 receptions last season for 649 yards and four touchdowns.
The Falcons had nine freshmen and seven redshirt freshmen scattered on their two-deep roster last season, so Bowling Green won’t lack game experience heading into the season.
What to Know – Toledo Rockets
The Rockets slipped up in 2019 after finishing with a winning record for nine consecutive seasons, including five bowl appearances. Jason Candle is in his 5th season as head coach of the Rockets, where he has accumulated a 34-19 record.
Eli Peters is the favorite to take over the starting role at quarterback, but the Rockets haven’t ruled out Carter Bradley or Dequan Finn under center. Peters (17 appearances) and Bradley (10 appearances) have seen collegiate action while Finn is a redshirt freshman.
Bryant Koback (195 carries, 1,187 yards, 12 touchdowns) and Shakif Seymour (154 carries, 741 yards, five touchdowns) return after excellent 2019 seasons rushing the ball. Expect the duo to be one of the best rushing tandems in the conference in 2020.
In addition to the returning rushers, the Rockets also welcome back the 2019 leading wide receiver Bryce Mitchell. Mitchell caught 35 passes for 679 yards and four touchdowns last season.
Toledo returns a solid core from last season’s team and should once again be a conference contender in 2020.
The Pick is In
With no spring practice and extended time off from play, it is always difficult to project how a team will open the season. Toledo returns a bulk of their starters (13 total) from last season, but Bowling Green welcomes back a slew of players as well.
Toledo should role in this one, but Bowling Green will cover the spread.
The Pick: Bowling Green +23.5
