MAC Championship Pick
The 2016 MAC Championship kicks off this Friday. Will Western Michigan and Ohio be able to put up a high total?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Western Michigan is the clear favorite in this game, as the Broncos are getting odds of -19 points against the Bobcats. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 58.5 points. Western Michigan has won and covered in three straight over Ohio and the two have hit the over in four straight meetings. These two meet up this Friday at 7PM ET from Ford Field in Detroit, MI.
Western Michigan has it all on the table as the Broncos seek their first MAC Championship since 1988. WMU is now 12-0 on the season and 7-5 with the over coming into Friday’s title game. The Broncos have hit the over in four of their last five games. They are a very talented offense, averaging 44.8 points and 503.6 yards per game. Zach Terrell has thrown for 3,086 yards and 30 touchdowns this season with just one interception. He also has run for 222 yards and six scores. Corey Davis is his leading target with 83 catches for 1,283 yards and 17 touchdowns. Jarvion Franklin has run for 1,266 yards and 12 touchdowns while Jamauri Bogan has 787 yards and eight touchdowns. Defensively, Western Michigan is pretty solid as well, allowing just 19.2 points and 361.5 yards per game. They are really tough against the pass, allowing only 200.8 yards per game.
Ohio comes into this game a little under the radar. The Bobcats won the MAC East with an 8-4 overall record and 6-2 MAC record. Ohio is 10-1-1 with the under this season. The Bobcats have pushed or hit the under in every MAC game this season. Ohio is led by its defense, which is allowing just 21.7 points and 359.8 yards per game. They are very tough against the run, allowing only 105.1 yards per game. The offense is averaging 26.8 points and 404.4 yards per game, led by its rushing attack. The Bobcats average 186.3 yards per game. Dorian Brown is the leading rusher with 794 yards and four touchdowns. Freshman Quinton Maxwell has taken over QB duties late in the season. He has thrown for 1,252 yards and eight touchdowns with four interceptions.
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Western Michigan is playing on a level beyond the MAC. The Broncos are making a push for a spot in the Cotton Bowl and a win could give them that opportunity. Coach PJ Fleck is also looking to improve his stock for a step up in the coaching world. Western should be able to handle this Ohio offense. The Broncos have a good defense that gets overshadowed by its offense. On offense, WMU will put up some good numbers, but Ohio will find a way to get some stops as well. The total seems a little too high for me because of the Bobcats. They hit the under frequently and aren’t accustomed to 60-point games.
MAC CHAMPIONSHIP PICK: WESTERN MICHIGAN/OHIO UNDER 58.5