Running back Terry Swanson of Toledo dives for the end zone earlier this season vs. Iowa State. (Getty)
The Basics
Who:
Toledo (8-4) vs. Arkansas State (7-5), GoDaddy Bowl
When:
Sunday, 9 p.m. Eastern
Where:
Ladd-Peebles Stadium – Mobile, Alabama
TV Info:
Channel: ESPN
Announcers: Allen Bestwick (play-by-play), Ray Bentley (analysis), Quint Kessenich (sidelines)
Line:
Toledo (-4). Line provided by bovada.lv
All-Time Series:
Toledo leads 2-0
Last Year’s GoDaddy Bowl:
Arkansas State 23, Ball State 20
Toledo Highlights
Arkansas State Highlights
Heavy’s Pick
The GoDaddy Bowl is the final college football appetizer until the National Championship main course on Jan. 12. And Toledo-Arkansas State should be a tasty one as each score nearly 35 points per game (both rank in the top 30 nationally) and neither has shown much interest in playing defense (both rank in the lower half of the FBS in scoring D).
Both teams mostly get it done with potent rushing attacks. The Red Wolves are led by running back Michael Gordon (1,064 yards and 13 touchdowns) and dual-threat QB Fredi Knighten (2,874 passing, 775 rushing, 30 total TDs). Toledo actually brings a top 20 rush defense into the game. Should be interesting, but more often than not this bowl season, offenses have been dominating defenses.
The Rockets run for nearly 250 yards per game behind Kareem Hunt, who has rolled up 1,360 yards and 11 TDs on a mind-boggling 7.9 yards per carry, which is 2nd-best in the FBS. ASU allows 192 rush ypg (91st nationally), so the Wolves could be are in trouble there.
They better make sure the scoreboard at Ladd-Peebles Stadium gets a pregame inspection because it’s going to be busy. While both teams are going to run successfully plenty, the edge goes to Arkansas State, which should be able to be more effective through the air vs. Toledo’s swiss cheese pass defense. Knighten and the Wolves win their 3rd-straight GoDaddy Bowl.