Toledo has yet to have a losing season during head coach Jason Candle’s eight-year tenure.
With his consistent success, there should be plenty of faith the Rockets won’t take a step back from last season despite losing the top two offensive players in the league in Dequan Finn and Penny Boone to the transfer portal. Finn was last year’s MAC Player of the Year.
College football betting odds reflect that, as the Rockets are +300 to win the conference, trailing only Miami (Ohio) at +225. Toledo’s win total is at 8.5, tied for the highest in the league.
How Many Games Will Toledo Win In 2024?
The Rockets’ non-conference slate could be worse. They open the season hosting Duquesne out of the Northeast Conference and future conference foe UMass in Week 2. Both should be wins.
From there, Toledo will visit Mississippi State and then Western Kentucky. Mississippi State’s outlook ahead of the season isn’t too great, and the Rockets could very well pick up a Power 4 win here. This victory could come in handy later in the year if they are in consideration to make the College Football Playoff. Visiting WKU will be a tough test, but I don’t see the Rockets losing here either. I think it’s probable they enter Week 6 and league play at 4-0.
Then comes what looks like Toledo’s toughest game of the season by hosting Miami. I was going to chalk this up as a loss with the Rockets coming off a tough pair of road contests, but they will have a bye week ahead of this game. It’s probably the best situated bye week they could have hoped for.
If Toledo wins this game, then I think they will drop one of the following contests on the road at Buffalo or Northern Illinois. If they lose, then I think they will rally and win those next two games. No matter what happens in this three-game stretch, I think one of them will result in Toledo’s first loss of the season.
Following those games, I don’t imagine Toledo will have issues with Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, or Central Michigan. Although, the game against CMU is on a Tuesday night and weird things can happen during MACtion. The Rockets then close out at home against Ohio and on the road at Akron.
Of course, the Ohio game won’t be easy, but I like Toledo at home here and believe the Rockets will defeat Akron to close out the season.
How Many Games Will Toledo Lose In 2024?
I don’t think the Rockets will lose more than three games in 2024. They might even secure double-digit wins.
As of right now, I don’t know who can knock off Toledo besides Miami. Bowling Green and Northern Illinois have a good chance, but the Rockets have a very favorable schedule, especially with weak non-conference games.
Toledo Football Bet Prediction
I predict Toledo to go over 8.5 wins, even with what will be a new-look offense.
Candle has proven he’ll have his team prepared and competitive. The Rockets will remain among the top of the food chain in the MAC as they seek their 13th MAC title.
