Toledo Rockets vs. Air Force Falcons Line: California vs. Texas Line
Carrie Stroup here with your Toledo Rockets vs. Air Force Falcons line and your California vs. Texas line. Bet these two games here at Sportsbook.com and receive up to $250 FREE CASH.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Toledo -3.5 & 70
Opening Line & Total: Rockets -3 & 70.5
Air Force goes for its third straight bowl win facing Toledo in Wednesday afternoon’s Military Bowl in Washington, DC.
The Falcons have won four of five, while Toledo is 7-1 since October. But Rockets QB Austin Dantin (15 TD, 3 INT) could be limited because of a concussion that has kept him out of the past two games. Air Force has the nation’s No. 2 rushing attack (320 YPG) and has forced 17 turnovers in its past six games. But the Rockets have zero giveaways in five of their past six contests. This game will be close with two great offenses, but the Falcons have played much better away from home (4-1 ATS, 36.2 PPG) than they have in home games this year (1-6 ATS, 33.1 PPG).
Toledo lost on last-second field goal in last year’s Little Caesars Bowl, 34-32 to Florida International. Rockets QB Terrance Owens had a rough game, completing 15-of-27 passes for 132 yards, 1 TD and 3 INT. However, Owens, who has split time with Dantin this year, is playing his best football lately. He has completed 80% of his passes for 287 YPG, 9 TD and 1 INT in the past three games. It certainly helps to have star WR Eric Page, who ranks third in the nation in receptions (9.3 per game). Page has 10+ catches in six games this year and has put up silly stats in his past four games: 46 receptions, 458 yards, 6 TD. The Rockets rank eighth in the nation in both scoring (42.3 PPG) and total offense (493 total YPG), but it’s not just the passing game that has given Toledo these high rankings.
The ground game has racked up 221 YPG (14th in FBS) in the spread offense implemented by new head coach Matt Campbell. Tim Beckman took the head coaching job at Illinois after the regular season finale, and the 32-year-old Campbell was promoted from his offensive coordinator position. He’ll be calling RB Adonis Thomas’ number often, as Thomas has rushed for 107 YPG (17th in FBS) with 12 total touchdowns in his eight games this year. Thomas has been bothered by a thumb injury, but he will start on Wednesday afternoon. He expects to have a big day against an Air Force team with the nation’s eighth-worst rushing defense (228 YPG). The Falcons have an excellent pass defense though, ranking sixth in the nation with allowing just 163 passing YPG.
Air Force also knows how to put up points with 34.4 PPG (21st in nation), and Toledo has surrendered 30.9 PPG (89th in nation), which includes allowing 63 points in back-to-back home games to start November. The Falcons’ triple-option offense is led by QB Tim Jefferson, who has thrown for 1,478 yards and 12 TD, while running for 492 yards with 10 scores. He hasn’t tossed an interception in five games, and is coming off a great passing performance at Colorado State (9-of-12, 221 yards, 3 TD). Asher Clark has been the top ground gainer in this potent rushing attack with 1,096 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Clark has 280 yards on just 28 carries over the past two games. But it won’t be easy chewing up yards on a Toledo team allowing just 123 rushing YPG this year (26th in nation).
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (7-5) vs. TEXAS LONGHORNS (7-5)
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Texas -3.5 & 48
Opening Line & Total: Longhorns -3 & 48
California looks to keep its momentum going against a Texas team struggling to score points when the schools meet in the Holiday Bowl Wednesday night in San Diego.
The Bears are 3-1 SU (4-0 ATS) in their past four games, led by junior RB Isi Sofele, who has 569 rushing yards (142 YPG) and 3 TD in this four-game span. He’ll look to exploit a Longhorns defense that allowed 191 rushing yards to Baylor in their last game. Texas has scored a mere 17.3 PPG in losing three of its past four contests (SU and ATS) with big question marks in both facets of the offense. The Horns QB duo of David Ash and Case McCoy have combined to throw 10 TD and 12 INT this year, and the team’s top two running backs are both less than 100 percent because of injuries.
Cal is 5-2 in bowls under Jeff Tedford, including a 45-10 crushing of UT rival Texas A&M in the 2006 Holiday Bowl. Although the offense revolves around Sofele, the Bears will need to throw the football to be successful. Despite getting chewed up by Baylor’s ground game, Texas has been one of the better rushing defenses in the nation, allowing just 104 YPG (11th in FBS) on 3.3 YPC. Cal does have the ability to throw, as QB Zach Maynard has had only two bad games all season. He tossed seven of his 11 picks this season in losses to UCLA and USC. Since that bad Bruins defeat, Maynard has completed 62-of-91 passes (68%) for 763 yards (8.38 YPA), 5 TD and 1 INT. Sophomore WR Keenan Allen is 13th in the nation with 105 receiving YPG, and his 7.4 catches per contest ranks second in the Pac-12 (tied for 12th in FBS). Texas has a pretty strong secondary, but the Horns have allowed 544 passing yards in the past two games.
Texas is 8-4 in bowl games under Mack Brown, but the school has concerns on the health of RBs Malcolm Brown (knee) and Joe Bergeron (hamstring) who both missed the regular-season finale at Baylor. Both are listed as probable, but Cal has a pretty good run defense (130 YPG, 36th in FBS) allowing 115 rushing YPG in the past four contests. McCoy and Ash have split time this year, and both expect to play on Wednesday night. McCoy threw for 356 yards and 3 TD against Baylor, but he also turned the ball over five times (4 INT, 1 fumble). Ash hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass since Oct. 8, going 60-of-111 (54%) for 606 yards (5.46 YPA), 0 TD and 6 INT in these seven games. Both quarterbacks need to be wary of a Cal defense ranked fifth in the nation in Tackles For Loss (7.7 per game) and 17th in sacks (2.7 per game).
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
