Vegas Betting Odds: Toledo vs. BYU Game Line & Free Pick

It’s a non-conference clash on the last day of September between two teams going in different directions. The Toledo Rockets (3-0) travel to face the BYU Cougars (1-3) Friday night in a week 5 contest. The game kicks off at 10:15 pm ET from LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. The contest is televised nationally on ESPN2. According to the current odds, BYU is favored by 3.5 points with the over/under set at 52 points.

Toledo vs. BYU Vegas Game Preview

Toledo had a bye last week. In their last contest, they knocked off Fresno State 52-17 at home to remain unbeaten. BYU was on the road last week, losing 35-32 to West Virginia at FedEx Field. This is the first meeting between the schools on the gridiron.

Free Vegas Spread Pick & Prediction: Toledo +3.5


Toledo had two weeks to prepare for this contest after absolutely thrashing Fresno State at the Glass Bowl. The Rockets rolled up a 619-254 advantage in total yards in the game. Toledo led 24-0 at the half and extended their edge to 38-0 before Fresno State got on the board. The Rockets had 27 first downs while allowing only seven in the game. Toledo controlled the ball for 36:16 to Fresno State’s 23:44 in the game. The Rockets scored quickly when they had the ball: none of their scoring drives took longer than 3:27.

The Rockets are 15th in the FBS in passing offense (333.7 yards) and 28th in rushing with 230 yards per game. Toledo puts up 42.7 points a game, which is tied for 19th in the country. The Rockets are third in scoring defense as they allow 10 points a game. Logan Woodside is 51 of 82 passing for 939 yards with 11 touchdowns and an interception. Kareem Hunt is the top ground gainer with 267 yards and two scores on 51 carries. Damion Jones-Moore adds 128 yards on 20 carries. Corey Jones leads the team with 13 catches for 184 yards and a score. Cody Thompson (11 grabs, team high 361 yards, two TD) and Michael Roberts (10 catches, 123 yards, team high 5 TD) are good options as well. Jameson Vest is 17 of 17 on extra points but just 3 of 6 on field goals.

BYU continues to play close games that they come up on the short end of. The Cougars also continue to turn the ball over with regularity. This team isn’t good enough to hand over the ball on short fields and win. BYU had a 521-481 edge in total yards in the game so moving the chains wasn’t the problem. Turnovers, again, were the problem: BYU committed four of them in the loss. One of the turnovers was a pick six that proved to be the difference in the game. Without it, BYU conceivably wins 32-28 as that seven points aren’t on the board.

The Cougars have to jump start an offense that averages 384.3 yards of offense and 20.8 points a game so far. Taysom Hill is 91 of 151 passing for 378 yards with just one touchdown against three interceptions. He has added 218 rushing yards and two scores. Jamaal Williams, who missed all of last season with personal issues, leads the team with 79 carries for 417 yards and three scores. Nick Kurtz leads the Cougars with 18 receptions for 205 yards and a score. Moroni Lalau-Pututau (15 grabs, 152 yards, TD), Mitchell Juergens (14 catches, 112 yards, TD) and Colby Pearson (13 receptions, 129 yards, TD) are good options as well. Rhett Almond hit four of five extra points and all three field goal attempts. Jake Oldroyd hit his lone extra point and 3 of 4 field goals with a long of 43 yards.

The biggest issue here is the fact that BYU turns the ball over far too often. There have been rumblings that perhaps Hill needs to sit down in favor of Tanner Mangum. BYU can’t afford any more losses if they want any kind of decent bowl bid. It’s strange talking about that with the calendar still reading September but the fact remains the same. Toledo has an explosive offense and they don’t make a lot of mistakes. BYU is at home but favoring them is a stretch. Take the points and Toledo in this contest. Check us out here for all of our week 5 picks!

Toledo is 6-0 ATS vs. a team with a losing record and 7-0-1 ATS in their last 8 non-conference games.

 

 

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