Toledo is coming

[UofToledoFans]

Back to back seasons we have a game with meaning before anyone is out of MAC contention. BG has owned Toledo at the glass bowl recently and Toledo has gotten the job done down at the Doyt. What gives in week 7?

The all time series has Toledo with a 1 game nod and both teams come into the game with a road conference loss. BG has played a more difficult schedule to date while both teams have defeated the preseason CUSA title contenders on their own turf.

Without a spread released the general consensus is that this game is played to single digits either way.

On the Toledo side, defense leads the way averaging 5.2 points given up in the first 3 quarters per game. Toledo has given up some 4th qtr points in garbage time and in close contests vs. UK and WMU. Offensively Toledo is sporadic at best usually scoring in bunches at a time. 3 Times Toledo has had 28+ point quarters this season. UT has also been good in the turnover margin sitting at +3.

BG has turned teams over with regularity but has relinquished plenty themselves. The defense is stellar but Louisville, Cincinnati, and Ohio wore down the D line of BG by games end. Can Pyne make better decisions vs. Toledo or will BG rely on a running game to attack the leagues best rushing D?

A full stadium should give BG an edge but youre still looking at 3 to 5k Toledo fans with the intention to rush the field if given the opportunity. The loser of this game will decrease their title hopes to a near flatline so we are happy to have this thing back on the weekend where both fanbases will be engaged 110%.

[mbenecke]

BG has dominated the rivalry for like 11 of the past 12 quarters since 2022 at the Glass Bowl. Loeffler was absolutely locked in on this game, and we loved that.

Personally, no idea how we will look in this one with the coaching change. I’m hoping Coach George understands how important this one is or we very well could go back to how things were in the 2010s where BG doesn’t compete in this game.

Kind of an interesting wrinkle that both teams will be coming in off a bye. I guess we’ll see what happens.

[UofToledoFans]

Toledo won the 2nd and 4th qtr in 2022. Toledo won the 3rd and 4th qtr in 2023. Toledo won the 3rd qtr in 2024.

Dominant quarters the past 3 seasons are 10-0 4th qtr in 2024 by BG. 14-3 2nd quarter in 2023 by BG. 15-3 4th qtr by Toledo in 2023. 14-0 1st qtr in 2022.

Lets not be hyperbolic. If a BG fan can claim clinching changed the 2015 outcome Toledo fans can also claim the broken hand Gleason game 6-0 in the league and clinched in 2022 was a bit worthless of an outcome. Toledo lost to WMU the following week as well before winning the conference.

[jpfalcon09]

Given the state of the two programs this should be a game Toledo wins as much as it pains me to say. We'll see how the bye week affects BG and their ability to move the ball on offense, but Toledo having the same extra week to prepare makes me nervous that they'll be able to shut down the Falcons run game and force Pyne into 3rd and long situations.

About 3,000 or so tickets left, we'll see if it actually sells out. Buckeyes face Illinois at noon on Saturday so I expect that keeps some casuals home. Weather is looking good at least.

[mbenecke]

Falcons are pulling out the LT logo helmets for this one.

The last time we wore them against Toledo was 2019, also known as The Grant Loy Game, which still makes Candle wet the bet in fear.

[mbenecke]

Also: It's been 692 days since Toledo beat Bowling Green in football. Feels even longer.

[BillyLP]

My pessimistic view going into this week is that I think Toledo is going to win this pretty handily. I still think BG can get to a bowl this season because the back half of the schedule is as doable as it has ever been, but Toledo losing to WMU so early I think has refocused them a bit (see: Akron game) and BG just does not have good quarterback or WR play this year, especially against a higher talent level, which I believe UT has this year.

I'll be in Montreal on Saturday so strong chance I won't catch this game, as I'm not sure ESPNU has made it's way north of the border. If I can find a bar with it, you can bet I'll be watching with a big order of poutine and a mug of whatever people in Montreal drink.

[mbenecke]

I’m getting my trash talk in now because I’m in the same boat, I think it’s a bad matchup for us. But if they can’t beat Eddie’s worst team he’ll have here…

Regardless, we should have a chance to win every game down the stretch, and I’m still expecting us to finish in the top half of the league and get to a bowl. Fortunately, the MAC is quite bad - already the only league with zero shot to get the at-large CFP bid because everyone has already lost multiple games.

[Flipper]

Their QB Gleason is a bit erratic...Jason Candle is erratic. We have home field advantage and we have Pudge. We got this...

[mbenecke]

You’re welcome for respecting tradition by allowing your band to play. Not every school is that classy anymore.

[Beaker]

No so fast.........I heard we were pre-empting the Rockette band to have a sponsor recognition ceremony for Qdoba and AA Green Realty. Only so much time available at the intermission and you gotta prioritize, you know.

[Beaker]

Their QB Gleason is a bit erratic...Jason Candle is erratic. We have home field advantage and we have Pudge. We got this...

It seems like Gleason has been there as long as Candle.

[mbenecke]

Their QB Gleason is a bit erratic...Jason Candle is erratic. We have home field advantage and we have Pudge. We got this...

It seems like Gleason has been there as long as Candle.

He's been there since 2021. He has the distinct honor being sub .500 against BG, as we beat him in 2022 (filling in for Finn) and in 2024. Would love to hand him a 3rd L on his way out the door.

[UofToledoFans]

You’re welcome for respecting tradition by allowing your band to play. Not every school is that classy anymore.

It's crazy our band traveled to Kentucky and wasn't allowed to play pre game or at half time on the field. Its almost like the home team calls the shots? Weird.

[BillyLP]

You’re welcome for respecting tradition by allowing your band to play. Not every school is that classy anymore.

It's crazy our band traveled to Kentucky and wasn't allowed to play pre game or at half time on the field. Its almost like the home team calls the shots? Weird.

I'm not sure this is making the point you're intending it to make.