[5:00 PM] Toledo @ #21 Western Michigan

Who will WIN the championship?

Toledo Rockets (9-2)

@ #21 Western Michigan Broncos (11-0)

 

• The Broncos – one of two undefeated teams in the nation (No. 1 Alabama) – need to defeat the Rockets and win the MAC championship at Ford Field in Detroit on Dec. 2 to all but assure themselves a trip to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Jan. 2. Western Michigan’s magical run continued with a 38-0 victory over Buffalo on Saturday, extending a school-record 13-game winning streak that began with a 35-30 victory over Toledo to end the 2015 regular season.

• The Rockets reached nine victories for the third straight season with a 37-19 win over Ball State on Nov. 16 and counter with quarterback Logan Woodside, who leads the country with 40 touchdown strikes while completing 70.1 percent of his passes for 3,653 (fourth nationally).

• Woodside’s top targets include wide receivers Cody Thompson (20.1 yards per team-best 56 catches, 10 touchdowns) and Jon’Vea Johnson (19.8, 38, 10), while tight end Michael Roberts has a team-best 12 TDs. The Rockets are far from one-dimensional as running back Kareem Hunt’s 1,155 yards and seven scores attest. Woodside must be on the lookout for Western Michigan defensive end Keion Adams (5.5 sacks, nine quarterback hurries).

• Broncos wide receiver Corey Davis needs 19 yards to break the FBS record of 5,005 receiving yards set by Nevada’s Trevor Insley in 1999 after recording 173 on 13 catches with two touchdowns against Buffalo. Western Michigan also features running back Jarvion Franklin, who boasts a MAC-best 1,228 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Terrell, who passed for a career-high 445 yards and four touchdowns Saturday, needs to avoid defensive tackle Treyvon Hester (five sacks, seven hurries) and defensive end John Stepec (4.5, 13).

• The Broncos boast the MAC’s top scoring offense (43.8 points per game) and defense (17.7) with the Rockets second in both categories at 39.2 and 22.5.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: #21 Western Michigan Broncos

Confidence: 6/10

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