Max: Alright let's get right into it. Usually seeing the Massachusetts Minutemen on your schedule has been like having an extra bye week for teams in the past. BUT THIS YEAR! Riding a TWO game winning streak the Minutemen are hotter than Kate Upton. You have to be nervous about this game and the shame you will feel if you allow UMass to extend the winning streak to three.
Ian: Whoa, whoa, lets not get caught up in this UMass magic... Kate Upton is a lot hotter than some silly old two-win football team, especially if it is the Minutemen! And do wins over Kent State and Eastern even count? Am I worried about a team who has the leading passer in the MAC (Blake Frohnapfel) Vs. the Toledo secondary, you could say it is in the back of my mind. The Rockets need their two top pass rushers Trent Voss and Orion Jones to have a field day on UMass' o-line if they want to slow down Frohnapfel and his weapons.
But am I worried about UMass coming into the Glass Bowl to upset the Rockets DURING HOMECOMING WEEK, no not at all. If the defensive struggles against the Minutemen, Logan Woodside and the powerful Rockets attack will out score UMass.
Max: Can you out score UMass though? Tajae Sharpe and Blake Frohnapfel are both fifth in the nation in receiving and passing yards respectively. Also Jean Sifrin is a red-zone dream for any QB at 6-7. With Lorenzo Woodley finally getting the running game going this is one of the most dynamic offenses in the MAC. Can the Toledo defense hold UMass to under 30 points?
Ian: Can the Toledo defense hold UMass under 30 points is probably the best question I have been asked this whole week. Right now the Rockets are allowing close to 33 points a game, UMass normally scores close to 30 points a game. But with the bye week being last week I do believe defensive coordinator Jon Heacock will have something in store for Frohnapfel and company, my best guess on what that is will be blitzing on all most every play.
Can we out score UMass? Psh, is the sky still blue? Toledo is leading the MAC in scoring offense with 34 points a game.Looking at UMass' on defense who have been letting offenses run wild on them allowing 450 yards a game 188 being on the ground. With the Rockets stable in the backfield including Kareem Hunt, (who is most likely playing this Saturday), Terry Swanson, and Damion Jones-Moore expect the Rockets to run,run, and run some more.
Max: I'll give you that UMass' defense has a worse chance of stopping Toledo's running game than Rick of the Walking Dead does of avoiding one episode without one of his group members being devoured. The run defense had been scary bad with even Kent State looking like the Norte Dame teams of the 30's and 40's. But while defense may win championships, offense wins games and that's what really matters. Mark Whipple is an offensive mastermind, just ask former MACtion stud Big Ben. I have no doubt Whipple has a game plan of his own up his sleeve and he will unleash the Frohn at the Glass Bowl.
Ian: Lets get things straight Bob from the Walking Dead last week only got his leg chopped off. Poor guy I was starting to like him. There have not been a death on the Walking Dead in a long time, but during the last episode they had a sit down dinner and normally that follows with a death of a member of the group.
Whipple may have a game plan to unleash Frohn but a quarterback who has a completion percentage of 54.9 doesn't scary me one bit. Frohn may scary other teams because he is leading the MAC averaging 310.4 passing yards a game but not me. If you look closer at the junior quarterback numbers they aren't that great. Frohn is seventh in the MAC in passer efficiency, he also has the second most interceptions in the MAC with six.
If I was a UMass fan I would be more worried about how they can stop the Alonzo Russell and Corey Jones. Both receivers have been averaging over 70 yards per game, and both are averaging over 11 yards per catch. Again, after a bye week look for the offense to be in more rhythm than ever.
Max: Anyone who has 2483 passing yard and 18 TDs is worth the six INTs.
I would say let the best team win but we are all aware by now that term refers to the glorious maroon and white. I'm looking forward to loading the musket on Saturday and watching the win streak extend to three.
Ian: The best team will be the Toledo Rockets, be sure to have your earplugs ready for the Sigma Alpha Epsilon cannon and be on the look out for the Victory Bell ringing right next to the student section because the Rockets will be souring into the end zone this Saturday. Rockets will by double digits, goodbye UMass Magic.