Toledo Rockets at Arizona Wildcats

The Arizona Wildcats (1-0 SU & ATS), having just embarrassed their last opponent, will host the Mid-American Conference's Toledo Rockets, who make their season debut in this inter-conference NCAA matchup that is scheduled to start at 10 PM ET at Arizona Stadium (natural turf) in Tucson.

Saturday, September 6

BetUS NCAAF Betting Odds: ARIZONA -23, Total 58.5

Here are some of the NCAAF betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* TOL has played six of its last eight games OVER the total

* TOL has lost ten of its last 11 road games SU

* TOL is 0-5 ATS in its last five road games

* TOL has played five of its last seven road games UNDER the total

* ARIZ has covered its last five games

* ARIZ has won four of its last five games SU

* ARIZ has played five of its last eight games UNDER the total

* ARIZ has won five of its last seven home games SU

* ARIZ has covered four of its last five home games

There is no doubt among football supporters at the University of Arizona that Mike Stoops is hanging on by a very thin thread as he seeks continued employment. Stoops, who had essentially ridden the coattails of his brother Bob (Oklahoma coach) into his position in Tucson, guided the 'Cats to 17 wins in 46 games, and no bowl appearances, coming into the 2008 season. So there is room to make plenty of "statements" this year, especially against outmanned opponents, as Stoops will undoubtedly try to overcompensate for losing to better teams down the road.

He's got the right kind of offensive coordinator to get that job done - Sonny Dykes - who came to Tucson in '07 after being involved with Mike Leach's "Air Raid" offense at Texas Tech. And quarterback Willie Tuitama is hardly without ability, as the 6'3" senior passed for 3683 yards and 28 TD's last year. In the opening game against Idaho,m he was 17 for 21 for 179 yards and three scores, and Nic Grigsby controlled things on the ground with 169 yards as 'Zona tallied 49 points in the first half en route to a 70-0 win that may be just as close as the score indicated, when you consider the 521-112 yardage edge the Wildcats enjoyed.

So, does Toledo have what it takes to exploit Arizona for "what it really is"? These Rockets seem to have plenty of fuel at their own Glass Bowl, which is often one and half times full, like when they rolled up their own 70-point effort against Northern Illinois last year, on the basis of 812 total yards (Yes, you saw that correctly). But they also gave up 37 points or more in every road game last season, failing to cover the last five, and have lost ten of the last 11 away from home.

But we're a little more bullish on returning Toledo quarterback Aaron Opelt (1756 yards, 12 TD's last year) than most people. This team will not be in bad shape at all in the backfield with DaJuane Collins, who ran for 636 on just 99 carries, replacing Jalen Parmele, who moved on to the NFL. Look out for Morgan Williams, who ran for 4865 yards in his last two high school season, then redshirted. And Opelt has talented wideouts to work with in Nick Moore and Stephen Williams.