Bahamas Bowl: Toledo vs Middle Tennessee 12/17/21 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Toledo Rockets and Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders clash Friday afternoon in the college football Bahamas Bowl from Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas. Middle Tennessee finished their campaign at 6-6 overall. The Raiders last played in a win over Florida Atlantic. As for the Rockets, they went 7-5 on the year and are coming off a win over Akron. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place. 

Middle Tennessee went just 1-3 over their first four games this year, but then hit a 3-1 run that included wins over Marshall, UConn and Southern Miss. The Raiders finished up 2-2 with victories over FIU and Florida Atlantic in that stretch. 

Back on November 27 versus Florida Atlantic, the Raiders were down 17-10 heading into the fourth quarter but scored 17 unanswered points from there in a 27-17 comeback win. Mike DiLiello threw for 131 yards and a score while also rushing for 43 yards and a TD. 

Over on the Toledo side, their first four games were 2-2 with victories over Norfolk State and Ball State. After a 2-3 run in the middle of the season, the Rockets finished with three straight wins over Bowling Green, Ohio and Akron. 

In the Akron game, Toledo scored in every quarter (with double-digit points in the final three) on the way to a dominant 49-14 victory. DeQuan Finn threw for 257 yards and four scores, while Bryant Koback led the rush on 15 carries for 135 yards and two TDs. 

The Raiders are 4-1 ATS in their last five Friday games and 3-7 ATS in their last 10 non-conference games. Middle Tennessee is 1-5 ATS in their last six bowl games and 1-7 ATS in their last eight in December. 

Meanwhile, the Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last five overall and 4-1 ATS in the last five on turf. Toledo is 1-5 ATS in their last six in December and 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight bowl games. 

PICK: I’m going to try Toledo here. The Rockets have looked great over their last three games, but they haven’t quite faced top-shelf competition in that stretch either. Still, Toledo has hit 34 or more points in five straight games and should have the offense working well here. 

As for Middle Tennessee, they’ve hit 27 or more points in four of their last six outings (all wins) but have been sketchy at times in their last pair. I like this one to be a fairly high-scoring and competitive outing, with Toledo eking out a cover late.