Miami (Ohio) vs. Ohio Pick
Is Ohio set to cover a nearly double-digit spread at home when the Bobcats host Miami (Ohio) tonight at 8PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Ohio is the favorite in tonight’s game, as the Bobcats are getting odds of -9.5 points against Miami. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 54 points. Ohio has won four straight meetings with Miami (Ohio) and the Bobcats are 2-0-1 against the spread in the last three meetings. The public is currently putting 84 percent of the wagers on Ohio at home. Tonight’s game takes place from Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio and will air live on ESPN2.
Ohio is coming off a 48-3 win over Kent State at home just over a week ago. The Bobcats are 6-2 on the season and 3-1 in the MAC. Ohio is 6-2 against the spread as well this season, going 3-1 ATS at home. The Bobcats are putting up 40.8 points per game on offense so far, while also posting 422.1 yards per game. Their run game has been a strong point, as A.J. Ouellette has 747 yards and six touchdowns while quarterback Nathan Rourke has 499 rushing yards with 13 touchdowns and 1,210 passing yards with 10 more scores. The team also has Dorian Brown, who has 443 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, Ohio is holding opponents to 25.4 points and 365.1 yards per game this year.
Miami (Ohio) is coming off a 24-14 win over Buffalo just over a week ago to improve to 3-5 on the season and 2-2 in the MAC. The Red Hawks are just 2-6 against the spread this year with a 1-3 mark ATS on the road. Miami’s defense is allowing just 24.5 points and 356.3 yards per game. Their pass defense is allowing just 191 yards per contest. On offense, Miami is only putting up 23.6 points and 383.8 yards per game. Quarterback Gust Ragland has thrown for 1,398 yards and 12 touchdowns, but missed last game with a leg injury. He is questionable to play tonight. Billy Bahl will go if Ragland can’t. Bahl has 470 yards on a 50 percent completion rate. Receiver James Gardner has 681 receiving yards and six touchdowns while Kenny Young has 566 yards rushing with four touchdowns.
Ohio has been great at home and Miami bad on the road, but each has one game where the opposite was true. Still, I would go with the trends tonight. The Bobcats are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games on fieldturf and 15-6 ATS in their last 21 games following a win. Both teams have had an extended break leading into this game, so I expect that to favor Ohio, who has better coaching and more talent.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: OHIO -9.5