KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Blink once and you'll miss out on the regular season.
It feels like Toledo was just opening the season, and now the Rockets are ready for the final game of the regular season.
A Black Friday trip to Kalamazoo isn't how most people want to spend their holiday, but UT is happy to go anywhere to remove the stench from last week's loss to Bowling Green.
In one week, the Rockets will be preparing for the Mid-American Conference championship game, and Friday is the last chance to build some confidence for the biggest Saturday of the season.
Here’s what to know about the matchup.
BASICS
■ Who: Toledo (7-4, 5-2) at Western Michigan (4-7, 3-4)
■ When: Noon Friday
■ Where: Waldo Stadium, Kalamazoo, Mich.
■ Spread: Toledo by 7.5
■ TV: ESPNU
■ Radio: 1370 AM; 1230 AM
■ Follow: Kyle Rowland
PLAYERS TO WATCH
■ Toledo: Devin Maddox. The junior is UT's second-leading wide receiver with 32 receptions for 441 yards and three touchdowns. He has 229 yards and a touchdown in his past three games. Maddox has two touchdown catches in three career games against Western Michigan.
■ Western Michigan: Corvin Moment. The linebacker has 6.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss, ranking in the top 50 nationally in both categories. In a win over Miami (Ohio), he had 3.5 sacks.
STATS TO KNOW
■ 73.1 percent: ESPN's matchup predictor gives the Rockets a nearly three-fourths chance of beating Western Michigan.
■ 4-0: Toledo is unbeaten against MAC West foes this season.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Treyson Bourguet vs. Toledo defense: Quarterback is the most important position on the field, and while Western's true freshman signal-caller has displayed potential, he's also inaccurate, completing less than half of his passes. If the Rockets can pressure him into bad decisions, it will significantly limit Western's scoring opportunities.
PREDICTION
The Rockets have issues at quarterback, with injuries to starter Dequan Finn and backup Tucker Gleason, but I suspect at least one of them will be ready to go and a team that's angry after losing to Bowling Green will play with a chip on its shoulder. Friday will be an opportunity for UT's defense to let out some frustration. Toledo 27, Western Michigan 13.
First Published November 25, 2022, 12:12 p.m.
