MAC Championship Game
Toledo Rockets (+ 5 1/2) at Marshall Thundering Herd
Michael Scott
Season Record: 28-28
Wow, after an entire season of picking conference games against the spread I wound up at .500. I guess that means it all comes down to this game. I believe in the Rockets, especially their offensive line - the second largest in the country, averaging 320 pounds per player. UT flew below the radar all season and earned their way to this game by beating the best two teams in their division - Northern Illinois on the road, then Bowling Green. Marshall meanwhile had the MAC East title handed to them on a phantom pass interference call against Miami (OH). While Marshall has an edge at quarterback and wide receiver, I think the Rockets are the better team.
Jim Byrne
Marshall, Marshall, Marshall. I just don't see Toledo being able to slip through the radar against the Herd like they have done to the rest of the MAC all season long. Toledo may have knocked off Byron Leftwich and company last year, but that was in Toledo. This time it's in Huntington, W.V., and Coach Bobby Pruett's boys are 43-1 under him at home during his career. Marshall is just too good and with this being one of Leftwich's final collegiate games, I am sure that he is going to want to go out with a bang before being scooped up by the Cincinatti Bengals with the number one overall pick in next year's NFL draft.
Rick Owczarzak
Season Record: 30-26
This one will be close for about 20 minutes. I do not expect the Thundering Herd to be able to stay with the Rockets very long, especially with Marshall's struggling defense. The Thundering Herd have not shown the ability to consistently stop the run or the pass. Toledo redshirt freshman running back Trinity Dawson, who has started the last four games after senior William Bratton suffered a fractured ankle against Miami (OH), has a big day and so does the Toledo defense, taking advantage of a less than 100% Byron Leftwich.
