subject: 2010 College Football Predictions: Toledo [print this page] Live odds are available all season long at Locksmith Sports Picks. Our top handicappers provide expert college football picks to help you build a bankroll and beat the books!
Much of the off-season had to be spent figuring out a way to slow down opposing offenses. The defense was erratic in 2009, allowing 37.7 points/game and 407 yards of total offense/game. Six starters return on this side of the ball and there seems to be enough talent to turn the corner this year. The defensive line might be the weak link, however, as they lack depth and are undersized. Beckman added two junior college transfers to the group that could pay immediate dividends. Toledo lost their best linebacker in Barry Church. He had been a fixture in the middle of the defense for the past four seasons and earned all-conference honors each year. Archie Donald returns and led the team in tackles with 116. Without the services of Church, Donald will be asked to step up his game even more and be the leader of the 2010 defense. The secondary brings back three starters including two sophomores that saw significant action as freshmen. FS Jermaine Robinson made 58 stops last year, but could be more of a ball hawk as he did not intercept one pass from his safety position. Daxton Swanson broke up a team high seven passes in 09' and is one of the top young corners in the MAC. Replacing K Alex Steigerwald will be a priority on special teams as he hit 12-16 field goal attempts and missed just one extra point.
Toledo will get three cracks at tacking down a BCS power conference team in their non-conference schedule. Arizona makes the trip east in the opener to clash with the Rockets, while road games at Purdue and Boise State will test this team. MAC play opens earlier than most conferences and Toledo will have two conference games under their belt before the end of September. Key West division games at Northern Illinois and at Western Michigan could decide how the season plays out. I predict a 6-6 finish for the Rockets.
