Toledo Offering Interesting Bounce-Back Ability In Camellia Bowl

Toledo’s regular season didn’t exactly have a fairy-tale ending, as the Rockets got throttled by Western Michigan and failed to make the MAC title game. However, they have offered tremendous resiliency in recent history, as they have won their past seven games following a loss. Toledo will look to end the season with a victory taking on Appalachian State in the Camellia Bowl.

Toledo’s passing attack has been near unstoppable this season, as the Logan Woodside-led Rockets rank eighth in the nation in passing yards. Woodside has been ridiculously efficient in his first year starting, as the junior has thrown for 3882 yards with 43 touchdowns and nine interceptions on the season. Though the passing attack’s ability to rack up yards quickly is impressive, senior running back Kareem Hunt is playing his best football of the season entering the Camellia Bowl. Hunt has accounted for 794 offensive yards and four touchdowns in the past four games.

The Rockets have been middling at best in most defensive categories, but do a solid job of playing a bend-don’t-break style that limits opponents’ scoring. John Stepec took a big step forward in his senior year, with the defensive end recording more tackles, tackles for a loss and sacks this season than in the rest of his collegiate career combined.

Appalachian State has booked a trip to the Camellia Bowl thanks to tough D and a great running game. Getting sophomore runner Jalin Moore going will be imperative, as the Mountaineers are 8-0 SU when he rushes for 100-plus yards and just 1-3 when he fails to reach the century mark. Quarterback Taylor Lamb does a good job keeping the ball safe and playing efficiently, but you don’t want to put your hopes on his arm alone.

The Mountaineers rank 11th in the country in total yards allowed while allowing just 17.0 points per game. The ballhawking secondary has been a big reason for Appalachian State’s defensive dominance, as the team has recorded 20 interceptions on the season. The duo of Clifton Duck and Mondo Williams has been phenomenal for the Mountaineers, combining for nine interceptions and 12 passes defended.

Toledo Rockets vs Appalachian State Mountaineers Matchup

Team Betting Records & Power Rankings

This season the Appalachian State Mountaineers are 9-3 overall and 6-6 ATS against the spread, while the Rockets are 9-3 and 7-5 ATS. As for the totals, Appalachian State is 5-7 on the OU, and Toledo is 6-6 Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Appalachian State vs Toledo injuries news.

This game matches up the No. 26 (Appalachian State Mountaineers) and the No. 22 (Toledo Rockets) teams in the league, according to our current NCAA football Power Rankings at Odds Shark.

Statistical Matchup

The game also pits Appalachian State's No. 65-ranked offense, averaging 29.08 PPG, against a Toledo defense that ranks No. 49 this week at 25.25 PPG. The Appalachian State aerial game is averaging 184 yards per game, less than the Toledo Rockets secondary allows through the air, 228.75 YPG per game.

In comparing defenses, the Toledo Rockets own the league's No. 62-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 183.5 yards per game when on the road. Appalachian State, on the other hand, rates No. 28 this week in generating rushing yards at home.

Recent Outings Betting Recap

Kareem Hunt went over the 100-yard mark (200) in his team's latest effort, but Western Michigan still defeated Toledo by a score of 55-35.

New Mexico State was unable to contain Marcus Cox in its last action Saturday and the result was a 37-7 Week 13 loss against the Mountaineers.