Game Day Notes -- Toledo @ Kansas

This Time It's Personal

Series: KU leads 2-1
Line: KU (-25)

The Rundown
There were a lot of painful losses in 2006, but the Toledo game was the one that kept on giving -- national TV embarrassment, one game shy of getting into a bowl, another road loss, 4-0 start wiped away, etc. You can't re-write history, but the KU football team will attempt to erase the memory tonight. It'll be interesting to see if the Memorial Stadium crowd displays the same passion.

The Key
You could probably start with not turning the ball over five times. It would be good to avoid the pick 6/14-point swing scenario as well. Maybe skip the fourth down end-of-half TD pass giveaway as well. Our defense has improved, so we should be able to stifle the Rockets, but don't underestimate this squad. QB Aaron Opelt did throw for 350 yards last week against CMU with WR Stephens Williams collecting 157 of those yards. Toledo has an experienced secondary with three All-Mac candidates that theoretically would challenge Air Reesing and the massive fleet of Jayhawk wide outs. However, CB Nigel Morris and free safety Tyrrell Herbert have been injured and the Rockets gave up 244 passing yards to CMU and another 244 to Purdue. Toledo also gave up 200+ rushing yards to both teams, so the KU backs should plan on a big day.

Prediction

• KU fans are already spoiled and anything less than 50 points will probably have people asking questions -- the price of success
• Marcus Henry -- 200 yards
• 46K for attendance based on two factors -- revenge for the fans and a lot of local press for the Jayhawks after two blowouts
• Somewhere today, I'll run into a tailgate or party where KU fans will abuse or destroy some sort of Rocket type object
• Aqib Talib gets his first pick of the year
• KU's first TD of the game -- Brandon McAnderson (add your guess to the comments, winner is awarded status as a legend)