A couple of teams that prefer to keep it on the ground, Head Coach Tim Lester and the Western Michigan Broncos (-2) are set to welcome the Ohio Bobcats at Waldo Stadium. ESPNU is scheduled to have the TV rights and this pivotal MAC game kicks off at 7:00 p.m. ET. These two conference foes did not get a chance to play each other last season.
Ohio Bobcats at Western Michigan Broncos Betting Preview
Ohio is projected to play the role of underdog and is currently getting 2 points in this MAC matchup. The Bobcats are also receiving +110 moneyline odds while the Broncos are -130. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 67 points. Should the favorites start trailing early, it will likely create a worthwhile betting opportunity in-game.
Odds have moved from where they were originally placed, as the opening line was 0. The game’s O/U has not moved after being set initially at 67.
The Bobcats have gained 1.0 unit so far and are 5-3 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an Over-Under record of 4-3. The Broncos are up 2.0 units this season. The team is 3-6 ATS and has an even O/U record of 4-4.
The Bobcats are 5-3 straight up (SU), including 3-1 SU against conference opponents. The Broncos are 6-3 SU overall and 4-1 SU in conference play.
The Bobcats are coming off a resounding 52-14 win over Ball State last week. Nathan Rourke completed 11-of-19 passes for only 127 yards, along with a TD and an interception. Maleek Irons (102 rushing yards on 16 attempts, two TDs) and A.J. Ouellette (135 yards on 13 carries, two TDs) led the ground attack while Andrew Meyer (four receptions, 50 yards, one TD) and Papi White (three catches, 35 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Western Michigan just fell convincingly 51-24 to Toledo. The defense allowed the Rockets to kill the clock by rushing for 268 yards on 35 attempts, along with one rushing TD. Bryant Koback had a solid outing in the win, recording 99 rushing yards and a score on 10 attempts for Toledo. For Western Michigan, Kaleb Eleby completed 23-of-28 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns. Jamauri Bogan (66 rushing yards on 10 attempts, one TD) handled the running game as Jayden Reed (six receptions, 103 yards, two TDs) and Bellamy (five catches, 29 yards) led the receiving attack in the loss.
Ohio has run the ball on 62.8 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 69.4 percent across possessions in conference play. Western Michigan has an overall run percentage of 57.5 percent, and has rushed the ball 59.8 percent of the time against MAC opponents. The Bobcats have rushed for 234 yards/game (including 245 per game against Mid-American opponents) and have 23 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Broncos are totaling 209 rushing yards per game (196 in conference) and have 22 total rush TDs.
If the results so far this season can translate to this game, then it’s looking like the Bobcats could hold an advantage in all aspects of the ground game. Their running backs has logged 5.5 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 4.5 to opponents. The Broncos have registered 5.0 yards per carry and given up a YPC of 4.8 to opponents.
The Bobcats offense has averaged 235 yards in the air overall (227 per game against conference opposition) and has 16 passing scores so far. The Broncos have recorded 254 pass yards per game (260.6 against MAC foes) and have 18 total pass TDs.
Ohio has allowed opponents to run for an average of 145 yards and pass for 292 yards per game. The Western Michigan D has allowed 214.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 179.8 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to the opposition, as the Bobcats have given up an ANY/A of 7.57 to opposing QBs, while the Broncos are yielding an ANY/A of 7.64.
Offensively, Rourke has put up 1,427 passing yards this season, and has connected on 60 percent of his 159 attempts with 10 passing scores and five interceptions. He has a 7.68 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 11.53 over the past two games.
Kaleb Eleby has connected on 23-of-28 passes for 293 yards, two TDs and zero INTs for Western Michigan. His ANY/A sits at 9.15 for the season.
RELATED: Week 10 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
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Notes
Betting Trends
The Western Michigan defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 18 times this season. Ohio has produced 15 sacks.
The Western Michigan offense has lost four fumbles in 2018 while the Ohio offense has lost nine.
The Bobcats offense has tallied six pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Broncos have accounted for nine such plays.
The Ohio defense has allowed nine pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Western Michigan has given up five such plays.
The Ohio offense has created 17 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Western Michigan has created 15 such runs.
The Bobcats defense has allowed 10 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Broncos have given up 16 such runs.
The Over/Under for Western Michigan’s last outing was set at 68. The over cashed in that 51-24 defeat to Toledo.
Over its last three games, Western Michigan is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Over its last three matchups, Ohio is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Ohio has won five of its last six games SU, with a three-point defeat to Northern Illinois on October 13th representing the only loss over that stretch.
The O/U for Ohio’s last game was set at 65.5. The over cashed in the team’s 52-14 victory over Ball State.
As a team, Ohio has produced 6.1 yards per carry over its past three contests and 7.5 over its last two.
Western Michigan has averaged 5.0 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 4.8 over its last two.
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