Toledo-Kent State Betting Preview: Rockets Have Shredded Bad Teams

Toledo-Kent State Betting Preview: Rockets Have Shredded Bad Teams article feature image
Credit:

Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports. Pictured: Art Thompkins

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Toledo at Kent State Betting Odds

  • Odds: Toledo -13
  • Over/Under: 59.5
  • Time: 6 p.m. ET
  • TV: CBS Sports Network

>> All odds as of Wednesday evening. Download The Action Network App to get real-time odds and track your bets.


Toledo is fighting for bowl eligibility when it travels to Kent State on Thursday night as a nearly two-touchdown favorite.

Will the extra motivation help fuel the Rockets to a win and cover? According to our data at BetLabs, teams needing one win to get bowl eligible with one or two games left in the season cover just 51% of the time.

This Thursday's MACtion matchup will pit Toledo's offense, which has shredded bad teams, against a Kent State team that has two wins but is 6-4 against the spread. The Golden Flashes rank 107th in the country in yards per play allowed (6.22).

Market Watch for Kent State-Toledo

By Steve Petrella

Are you a brave soul thinking about backing Kent State in this game? You won't have much company.

Nearly 90% of bets and 98% of the dollars wagered have been placed on Toledo. Still, the line has dropped from -14 to -13 (check updated odds here).

Toledo Cleaning Up vs. Bad Teams

By Steve Petrella

Toledo is 4-6 ATS this season, but 3-1 ATS against teams outside the top 90 of The Action Network's power ratings.

The Rockets are averaging 7.1 yards per play and 53.5 points per game in four games against non-top 90 teams, and 5.4 and 28.6 against those inside the top 90.

On defense, they're allowing 5.4 against less competition compared to 6.4 against better teams.

Fortunately for Toledo, Kent State is 120th in our power ratings.

Bet to Watch

By Collin Wilson

Check the weather on this game, as 75% precipitation is expected as the temperature drops close to freezing. The Action Network totals projections has this number at 50.5, giving value on the under. Kent State’s passing downs run rate ranks 16th in the country and will contribute heavily to time burning off the clock. Toledo is also in the top 50 in standard and passing downs run rate.

The line is spot on, with The Action Network's power ratings projecting this game at Toledo -12.5, while S&P+ comes in at Toledo -14.5.

Take the under. Mother nature should help with conditions suitable for plenty of running and not too many points.

 Trends to Know

By Evan Abrams

Dri Archer isn’t walking through that door anytime soon. Since making the second bowl game in school history in 2012, Kent State is 16-53 straight up and hasn't won more than four games in any season.

In 2018, Kent State has 2-8 record, but is 3-0 ATS at home, covering the spread by 15 points per game. Since 2005, teams that are undefeated ATS at home in November or later have distinct splits for good and bad teams:

  • Over .500: 72-67-4 ATS (51.8%, +2 units)
  • Under .500: 16-22-2 ATS (42.1%, -7 units)


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