The lead in the MAC will be on the line when Toledo travels to cross-state rival Ohio for a Friday night mid-major showdown.
Let’s take a look at the NCAAB odds for this matchup!
Toledo Rockets vs. Ohio Bobcats
Friday, January 21, 2022 – 06:00 PM EST at Convocation Center
The Bobcats are the lone remaining unbeaten in the MAC at 5-0, 14-2 overall. Toledo is the only other 14 game-winner in the conference, at 14-4. No other team has more than 11 victories. Ohio’s only losses this season are on the road at SEC powers Kentucky and LSU. The Bobcats are a perfect 9-0 at home.
The Rockets are in second place in the MAC at 6-1. They also have the second-longest winning streak at five in a row. Toledo has four road losses on the year—at Oakland, Michigan State, Richmond and MAC rival, Kent State. They’ve won their last three road games, however, to even their record in opposing arenas at 4-4.
From Way Downtown
The game could come down to who imposes their will on the perimeter. Toledo is the second-best outside shooting team in the MAC, hitting 36.2 percent on its three-point shot attempts, which is No. 58 in the country. Toledo has been hot from three in MAC play, hitting 21 of 47, .447, in the last two games and 39.4 percent from three in conference games.
The Rockets are led by J.T. Shumate. The 6-foot-7 junior hits 52.2 percent of his threes and is second on the team in scoring at 15.4 ppg. He also leads the Rockets in rebounding (6.8 per game) and blocks (1.0) and hits 59.4 percent of his two-point attempts.
Ohio will send out one of the MAC’s top perimeter defenses to try to contain Shumate and the rest of the Toledo shooters. The Bobcats allow foes to hit just 30.8 percent of their shots from outside, which ranks No. 71 in the nation.
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Toledo’s defense on the three-point stripe is even stiffer than Ohio’s. The Rockets allow just 29.9 percent from three, No. 44 in the nation, and they’ll be matched against a Bobcat offense that hits a pedestrian 33.9 percent from three. So the advantage on that end of the floor will clearly be Toledo’s.
In addition to Shumate, Toledo has three other double-figure scorers in sophomore Ryan Rollins (19.3), junior Setric Millner (14.1) and junior RayJ Dennis (11.6). All three also average over 5.5 rebounds per game, as Toledo has balance in scoring and on the boards.
Waiting for Help
Ohio will be looking for its first regular-season win over Toledo since 2016. The Bobcats have lost the last five regular-season matchups, although they’ve beaten the Rockets in the MAC Tournament twice over that span, including last March.
Ohio is off to its best start since 2011-12 and has the fifth-longest win streak in school history. The Bobcats rely on Mark Sears, who was added to the midseason watch lists for national player of the year awards. Sears leads the MAC in scoring and is in the top three in free throw shooting, steals and minutes played. The senior also hits 43.5 percent of his three-point attempts and leads Ohio in assists.
Ohio isn’t a one-man show, however, as two seniors also average double figures—Ben Vander Plas (12.8) and Jason Carter (14.4).
The Pick
Toledo is a deep team with plenty of options, which will make it tougher for Ohio to shut down any specific player on offense. The Bobcats have a disruptive defense that is among the MAC leaders in turnover in addition to on the perimeter, but the Rockets should be able to keep things close on the road.
NCAAB Pick: Toledo +4.5 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
