Free NCAA Football Prediction: Rockets vs. Minutemen Odds
Looking for Toledo Rockets vs. UMass Minutemen free picks? College football betting sees the Rockets taking on the Minutemen on Saturday, October 2, 2021, at Alumni Stadium in Amherst, MA. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all NCAA football season long so stay tuned for more FREE college football game Week 5 predictions like this Toledo UMass free pick.
College Football Handicapping Analysis: Week 5
Toledo Rockets (2-2) vs. Umass Minutemen (0-4)
Date: Saturday, October 2, 2021
Time: 12:00 pm EST
Venue: Alumni Stadium
NCAA Football ATS Spread Odds: Toledo -27 / UMass +27
NCAA Football Moneyline Odds: Rockets -3300 / UMass +1500
NCAA Betting Total Odds: O/U 56
Week 5 college football sees the Rockets and Minutemen meet at Alumni Stadium.
The UMass Minutemen will be hoping to shake off their 15-game losing streak that dates back to 2019 when they host Toledo on Saturday. The Minutemen lost their last 7 games of the 2019 season and were 0 – 4 in a shortened 2020 season before getting off to another 0 – 4 start in 2021.
The line setters don’t exactly like the UMass chances to find that win this weekend as the Rockets are listed as nearly 4 TD favorites on the road. The Rockets hope to build on their conference-opening win against Ball State last weekend and they will return to MAC Play after this affair in Amherst with their homecoming game next weekend.
The Rockets hold a 5 – 1 series edge for these former conferences foes in the MAC. UMass was a MAC competitor from 2012 – 2015 before their move to the Independent Conference 5 seasons ago.
The Rockets are favored by -27 points in this MAC vs. Independent Conference matchup.
Toledo Rockets
The Rockets gave Notre Dame all they could handle in week 2 of the college football season after an FCS win over Norfolk State. However, a 3-point loss to the Irish was followed up with a terrible showing against Colorado State in a 22 – 6 defeat before last weekend’s MAC-opening win over Ball State.
The offensive line still has a lot of adjustments to make as whichever QB takes the field ends up on the ground entirely too often. Carter Bradley and DeQuan Finn are both expected to be on the field again this weekend as they both bring different elements to the table. Finn reeled off a huge 70-yard run last weekend and his legs are certainly an asset to his game. Considering he has 19 pass attempts and 29 rush attempts, all 3 of his scores have come in the ground game. He has yet to throw for a score and who knows if he will have one all season long but, at least, he hasn’t thrown a pick this season yet.
In fact, Finn sits second on the team in rush yards with 213 behind reliable Bryant Koback’s 282 yards from 65 carries. Koback is an all-around back who will be seen running, catching, and he will start playing QB, bring out the Gatorade for the team, and possibly running the scoreboard soon too. Mr. Everything, if you will!
Devon Maddux has the only two TD from the entire wide receiving corps and his 329 yards easily leads the team. Bryce Mitchell has contributed 146 yards with 9 receptions averaging 16.2 yards per grab.
UMass Minutemen
Apparently, the Tyler Lytle project is over and done with as he is simply not even expected to be seen on the field for coach Bell. He played in the Pitt game and hasn’t been seen since, and it is still unclear if it is a discipline issue or an injury concern. There are 5 different versions of what could be the case, so your guess is as good as anyone else’s.
Brady Olson has the reigns as far as we can tell and he simply has no ability to use his legs to move the chains. Olson is a pocket QB who needs to rely on everyone around him and unfortunately, the ‘everyone’ around him… well? Kinda stinks! There is nothing good to take from either of the 4 outings, albeit two close losses against E. Michigan and Boston College. Last weekend’s 53 – 3 smashing at the hands of Coastal Carolina now has UCONN and UMASS both wondering just who is the worst team in FBS.
There are 130 FBS teams and Umass ranks 130 in points allowed (47.8 ppg) and ranks 129 in total yards (538.3) a contest.
Or, we can talk about the offense and that is also downright offensive if you get my drift. UMass ranks 123rd putting up only 16.5 PPG, and sits in the 120th position in total yards putting up just barely over 300 a game.
No matter how you stack it up, the Minutemen are potentially looking at a winless season but wait… UConn is coming to Amherst next weekend, so that might just be the only game no one watches all season long. Imagine, taking the time to sit and watch a UConn vs. UMass game? ON PURPOSE!?! You glutton you, now that makes you either an alumnus or just one helluva a fan, baby!
Ellis Merriweather is the featured back and he has not even found the end zone yet despite 43 carries for 233 total yards.
In fact, Kayron Adams is the only RB who has seen the end zone at all in 2021. UMass has 3 rush TD in total and a WR and TE account for the other pair of rush TDs.
We have already seen 4 QBs with at least one rush attempt, and only 3 running backs have even carried the ball this season for UMass.
It is so strange looking at the offensive team stats for this team. There have been 15 different receivers to catch balls and only one of them is in double-digit receptions. Rico Arnold has 12 grabs for 181 yards but one of those catches was for 56 yards accounting for nearly 1/3 of his total output.
NCAA Football Handicapping Trends
- Over is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 games as a road favorite.
- Over is 4-1 in the Rockets’ last 5 road games.
- Over is 9-3 in the Rockets’ last 12 non-conference games.
- Over is 7-3 in the Rockets’ last 10 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Over is 5-0 in Minutemens’ last 5 vs. MAC.
- Over is 19-7 in Minutemens’ last 26 home games.
Free Week 5 NCAA Football Pick
We have so many trends pointing to this total that makes it even easier to assume we will see points in Amherst. Even though the UMass offense is atrocious, they can still find about 16 points in a 56 – 16 drubbing!
4* Free Week 5 NCAA Betting Pick:
The total is where we turn for this game and the Over is certainly our play.
4* Free Week 5 NCAA Betting Pick: Over 56
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