In a battle of two schools that prefer to run the football, Head Coach Chuck Martin and the Miami (Oh) RedHawks are getting 3.5 points as they prepare to welcome the Ohio Bobcats to Fred C. Yager Stadium. ESPNU has the TV rights and the game is scheduled to kick off at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Ohio Bobcats vs. Miami (OH) RedHawks Betting Preview
Miami (OH) is a live dog and is currently getting 3.5 points in this MAC game. The Bobcats are also receiving -175 moneyline odds while the RedHawks are +155. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 63 points. If the favorites start trailing early, it will likely produce a solid in-game betting opportunity.
Odds have shifted slightly from where they initially opened. The opening line was 3 while the game’s total was set originally at 62.5.
The Bobcats have recorded 2.0 units so far and are 6-3 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U mark of 5-3. The RedHawks have lost 2.6 units this season. The team is 5-4 ATS and six of its games have gone over the total.
The Bobcats are 6-3 straight up (SU), including 4-1 SU against conference opponents. The RedHawks are 3-6 SU overall and 3-2 SU in conference play.
These two squads met last year with the final outcome being a 45-28 win for Ohio.
Miami (OH) enters this matchup on a zero-game winning streak while Ohio has lost each of its last zero. The Bobcats are looking to maintain momentum following a solid 59-14 victory over Western Michigan last week. The passing attack was on point as the Bobcats completed 13-of-19 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns. Nathan Rourke went 12-for-14 for 149 yards and three touchdowns while Quinton Maxwell completed one-of-five for 15 yards. Rourke (68 rushing yards on nine attempts, two TDs) also led the running attack and was complemented by A.J. Ouellette (71 yards on eight carries, one TD). Papi White (four receptions, 39 yards, one TD) and Andrew Meyer (four catches, 65 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Miami (OH) just lost a 51-42 game to Buffalo. Gus Ragland completed 20-of-35 passes for 313 yards and one touchdown. Ragland (53 rushing yards on 16 attempts, three TDs) and Alonzo Smith (63 yards on 13 carries, two TDs) mounted the running game while Jack Sorenson (seven receptions, 94 yards) and Kenny Young (five catches, 95 yards, one TD) led the Miami (OH) pass-catchers in the loss.
Ohio has run the ball on 63.3 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 69.2 percent across possessions in conference play. Miami (OH) has an overall run percentage of 50.8 percent, and has rushed the ball 59.9 percent of the time when playing MAC opponents. The Bobcats have produced 236 rush yards/game (including 247 per game against Mid-American opponents) and have 27 touchdowns on the ground this year. The RedHawks are putting up 145 rushing yards per game (197 in conference) and have 17 total rush TDs.
The Bobcats offense has averaged 227 yards in the air overall (214 per game against conference opposition) and has 19 passing TDs so far. The RedHawks have put up 231 pass yards per outing (229.8 against MAC foes) and have 15 total pass scores.
Ohio has allowed opponents to run for an average of 144 yards and pass for 277 yards per game. The Miami (OH) D has allowed 215.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 151.1 yards per game to opposing runners. The RedHawks are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 6.78 to opposing QBs, while the Bobcats have given up a 7.30 ANY/A.
Offensively, Rourke is up to 1,642 passing yards this year, and has completed 63 percent of his 166 attempts with 16 passing scores and only four interceptions. Rourke’s got a sparkling 9.43 adjusted net yards per pass attempt.
We’re looking for Bobcats to control tempo by getting the ball into the hands of their running backs. The tagteam of A.J. Ouellette (474 rush yards, six rush TDs, one receiving TD) and Maleek Irons (494 rush yards, four rush TDs, one receiving TD) have been focal points in the Ohio offensive scheme.
Gus Ragland has managed to complete 150-of-246 passes for 1,753 yards, 11 TDs and three INTs for Miami (OH). His ANY/A sits at 6.93 for the season and 7.55 across his past two games.
The RedHawks also like to leverage their backfield. In addition to Kenny Young (237 receiving yards, three receiving TDs), Jack Sorenson (518 receiving yards and two receiving TDs) and Gus Ragland (142 rush yards, five rush TDs) have seen quite a few looks lately.
Betting Prediction: Ohio Bobcats at Miami (OH) RedHawks
SU Winner – Ohio, ATS Winner – Ohio, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Trends
The Miami (OH) D has sacked opposing QBs 21 times this year. Ohio has registered 17 sacks.
Miami (OH) has lost five fumbles in 2018 while the Ohio offense has lost nine.
The Bobcats offense has tallied six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the RedHawks have accounted for three such plays.
The Ohio defense has allowed 10 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Miami (OH) has given up four such plays.
The Ohio offense has created 18 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Miami (OH) has created 12 such runs.
The Bobcats defense has allowed 10 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the RedHawks have given up six such runs.
The Over/Under for Miami (OH)’s last game was set at 53. The over cashed in the 51-42 defeat to Buffalo.
In its last three contests, Miami (OH) is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
In its last three matches, Ohio is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Ohio has won six of its last seven games SU, with a three-point loss to Northern Illinois on October 13th accounting for the only defeat over that span.
The Over/Under for Ohio’s last game going into it was 64.5. The over cashed in the team’s 59-14 victory over Western Michigan.
Ohio has averaged 7.2 yards per carry over its last three games and 6.8 over its last two.
Miami (OH) has averaged 4.3 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.2 over its past two.
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