CSU Rams vs. Toledo football: 4 things to know, key matchups and predictions

Colorado State (0-2) astatine Toledo (1-1); 2 p.m. Saturday, astatine Glass Bowl Stadium (Ohio)

TV/Radio: ESPNU/1430 AM, 98.1 FM

Line: Toledo -14,

Weather: 13% accidental of thunderstorms, 79 degrees

What to know

Rebound Rams. CSU limps into its archetypal roadworthy crippled aft opening the play with an FCS nonaccomplishment (South Dakota State) and falling to lowly Vanderbilt. The Rams person arguably the nation’s champion choky extremity successful Trey McBride and a large punter successful Ryan Stonehouse. That doesn’t marque up for glaring issues facing astir each different presumption group. If CSU bombs successful Toledo, don’t expect fans to capable up Canvas Stadium the remainder of this season. The Rams are hopeless for a win.

Near upset. It doesn’t get immoderate easier this week for CSU. Toledo enters this matchup aft taking No. 8 Notre Dame to the ligament successful South Bend. Notre Dame escaped with a 32-29 win, but the Rockets (1-1) showcased wherefore they were picked to decorativeness 2nd successful the MAC preseason poll. Head manager Jason Candle built Toledo into a accordant victor with dynamic offenses. In 2019, the Rockets defeated CSU successful a 41-35 thriller. Toledo racked up 547 full yards.

Two QB system. CSU’s top situation defensively is preparing for 2 Toledo quarterbacks. The Rockets person utilized sophomore Carter Bradley and redshirt freshman Dequan Finn to large success. Bradley is the much accepted pouch QB with 404 yards passing. Finn is simply a dual-threat with 2 rushing touchdowns. Both are expected to play. CSU’s defence has appeared mislaid astatine times against much accepted offenses. Now, the Rams indispensable regroup against a much challenging opponent.

CSU shorthanded. The Rams volition beryllium without 2 antiaircraft standouts — information Logan Stewart and linebacker Tavian Brown — successful the archetypal fractional against Toledo arsenic the effect of targeting idiosyncratic foul ejections successful the Vanderbilt loss. The Coloradoan besides reported that receiver Dante Wright and information Tywan Francis did not signifier Tuesday oregon Wednesday this week portion nursing undisclosed injuries. Francis is CSU’s starring tackler (20) and Wright is the team’s apical downfield passing threat. Do the Rams person capable extent to compete?

Key Matchups

CSU QB Todd Centeio vs. Toledo defense. The Rockets recovered a fumble and returned an interception for a touchdown successful their near-upset implicit Notre Dame. Meanwhile, Centeio fumbled a handoff speech successful the opener and threw a prime against Vanderbilt. His decision-making indispensable amended oregon Toledo’s opportunistic defence volition instrumentality afloat advantage.

CSU beforehand 7 vs. Toledo offense. The Rams yet got immoderate unit connected the backmost a week agone with a brace of sacks. CSU needs that walk unreserved to go a spot oregon hazard opponents exploiting its secondary. Scott Patchan has the accidental to amended his NFL draught banal connected Saturday.

Predictions

Kyle Fredrickson, sports reporter: Toledo 42, CSU 17

Trey McBride volition beryllium the champion subordinate connected the field. It won’t substance successful a lopsided CSU defeat.

Sean Keeler, sports columnist: Toledo 31, CSU 23

Don’t beryllium shocked if the Rams commencement accelerated again. For astir 3 possessions per game, CSU tin shot with anybody. Then the game-day adjustments start, and it’s Goodnight, Irene.

Matt Schubert, lawman sports editor: Toledo 34, CSU 20

The Rockets gave Notre Dame everything they could grip past week successful South Bend. Could a letdown beryllium coming? Against anyone else, maybe. Not these Rams.