One of the most important games on Saturday’s college football schedule will see the Miami (OH) RedHawks and Ohio Bobcats face off in a pivotal MACtion matchup at Pedas ben Stadium in Athens, Ohio (3:30 pm ET, CBS Sports Network).
First place in the MAC East will be on the line in tomorrow afternoon’s contest, as both teams enter the game 3-1 in conference play and 6-2 overall.
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After winning six straight games, including their first three conference contests, following a season-opening loss to Miami (FL), the RedHawks suffered their first conference loss last week, falling 21-17 to Toledo at home.
The Bobcats, meanwhile, bounced back from a loss at Northern Illinois two weeks ago with a hard-earned 20-17 win over visiting Western Michigan.
Ohio has dominated this rivalry as of late, and they are favored to continue their run of success against Miami. But will the Redhawks be up to the task this time around?
Miami (OH) vs Ohio Odds
Courtesy of Bovada.
Spread
- Miami (OH) +7.5 (-115)
- Ohio -7.5 (-105)
Over/Under
- Over 39 (-110)
- Under 39 (-110)
Moneyline
- Miami (OH) +240
- Ohio -290
Will Miami Meet More Misery in Athens?
Tomorrow’s meeting will be the 99th between the RedHawks and Bobcats, who first met on the football field in 1908.
All time, Miami holds a 54-42-2 edge over Ohio. But the gap has closed significantly in recent years.
From 1990 to 2005, the RedHawks won 14 of 16 against the Bobcats, including five in a row from 1994 to 1998 and six straight from 2000 to 2005.
Ohio’s win to break the latter streak ushered in a shift in the rivalry. The Bobcats won six in a row from 2006 to 2011, and they have won 13 of the last 16 meetings, including each of the past two.
Miami’s 24-21 win in 2019 is their only win in their last eight visits to Athens, and they are unlikely to come out on the right side in this year’s matchup.
Earlier this week, it was announced that Miami starting quarterback Brett Gabbert would miss the rest of this season after suffering a right leg injury in the third quarter of last Saturday’s loss to Toledo.
Fortunately, there is an experienced replacement in Aveon Smith, who played in ten games last season and threw for 1.299 yards and 11 touchdowns (with five interceptions) and ran for 553 yards (at 4.5 yards per attempt) and six touchdowns.
But Peden Stadium has been quite the tough place to play over the last couple of years as Ohio head coach Tim Albin has returned the program to the upper echelon of the MAC.
Since a 35-23 loss to Toledo in their home finale two years ago, the Bobcats have won ten straight games at home, including a 10-7 win over Iowa State last month.
Miami (OH) vs Ohio Prediction and Picks
Prediction: Ohio to win
Pick: Ohio -7.5 (-105 at Bovada) & 1st quarter under 7.5 points (-145 at Bovada)
The MAC has often been known for potent offenses, but Ohio sports one of the very best defenses in college football.
National Defensive Rankings for the Ohio Bobcats
- Total Defense (Yards Allowed Per Game): 4th (259.5)
- Interceptions: T-8th (10)
- Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game: 8th (80.2)
- Passing Yards Allowed Per Attempt: 14th (5.88)
- Passing Yards Allowed Per Game: 15th (179.2)
- Fewest First Downs Allowed: 16th (115)
- Third-Down Conversion Defense: 16th (30.3%)
- Rushing Yards Allowed Per Attempt: 18th (3.13)
- Tackles for Loss Per Game: T-19th (7.1)
- Team Passing Efficiency Defense: 19th
- Red Zone Defense: T-21st
That defense will guide them to yet another win over Miami and sole possession of first in the MAC East.
The latter pick isn’t really where I’d normally go in terms of odds for such a play, but there have been only six total points–yes, six total points combined–in the first quarter in Ohio’s four home games thus far this season.
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