http://www.toledoblade.com/DavidBriggs/2...picks.html

I am cautiously optimistic because for the first time in recent memory the team actually seems to be improving as the season wears on rather that regressing as has been the case in recent years----improvement is particularly noteworthy regarding the defense and the offensive line---throw in the special teams as well and all this despite multiple injuries. Of course it will be a November game and that has been a bad month for the Rockets over the past decade...and Northern appears to have a good team this year, especially on defense. Still this may be the year---just beat NIU and WMU at home and either BG or Ohio on the road (just one, not both) and it is on to Ford Field.

Since Toledo's D looks better than usual I think NIU will struggle to put up more than 24-28 points. I think our defense will do enough to keep Toledo from running away with it, but unless we get a couple turnovers I would imagine Toledo scoring around 31-38 points. Might be Toledo's year. If we get a lot of pressure on Woodside that would change a lot though. If he gets time to throw it might be like our second quarter against Buffalo's Drew Anderson when he started marching them down the field passing even though they couldn't run the ball.