MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE Toledo has a bowl bid riding on game tonight

The Rockets play host to rival Bowling Green.
TOLEDO (AP) -- Two games into the season, Toledo linebacker David Thomas wasn't thinking about a bowl game or Mid-American Conference title.
He just wanted a victory after giving up 63 points in two straight games against Minnesota and Kansas.
The turnaround began with a win over Eastern Michigan, and now the Rockets (7-3, 6-1 MAC) can secure a spot in the conference title game and make a case for securing a bowl bid with a win over rival Bowling Green tonight.
"A lot of people would've have given up, but we stuck with it," Thomas said. "We knew the potential we had."
What's at stake
A Toledo loss, though, will send Northern Illinois to the title game against Miami (Ohio).
Like the Rockets, Bowling Green (8-2, 6-1) stumbled early, losing to Northern Illinois in the conference opener. That loss cost them a shot at a MAC title, but they'll stay in line for a bowl if they beat Toledo.
The MAC has secured spots in three postseason games for the first time in its history, which means both teams have a lot to play for.
The Falcons have won seven straight -- their only loss coming at No. 2 Oklahoma. They jumped into the Top 25 for the first time a week ago, then dropped out after not playing.
The schools, bitter rivals separated by just 20 miles, met a year ago with a MAC West title on the line. The Falcons won 31-23.
"It's a great rivalry because no one team dominates the series," said Falcons coach Gregg Brandon. "And there is a lot at stake in the game."
Coach's admiration
He credited Toledo coach Tom Amstutz for improving the Rockets' defense after their early trouble.
"They were giving up a lot of points early and they had some injuries," Brandon said. "He has done a good job of keeping that defense together and you can see them getting better week-to-week."
Amstutz said it has been one of his most enjoyable seasons as coach because his team never quit.
"Even though things weren't working out perfectly, they still worked hard and they still believed in the program," he said.
Toledo wide receiver Lance Moore said the team may have been over-confident before the season started.
"We got a reality check," he said. "But we knew we were a lot better than the way we played."
High scoring
Both teams expect to put up plenty of points. Bowling Green is scoring 44 points per game this season while Toledo is averaging 34.
"We always go into a game thinking were going to score a lot of points," Moore said. "It will be high-scoring game."
Amstutz said Bowling Green quarterback Omar Jacobs -- with 32 touchdown passes and just three interceptions -- is throwing the ball with great maturity for a sophomore.
"No one has been able to stop them," Amstutz said. "The key to stopping them would be to get Oklahoma's defense to come play for us. They're the hottest offense in our conference."