We flip the calendar from October to November on Tuesday, and that means we’re in the stretch run toward the holidays, we’re rounding the corner of the college football regular season, and, in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), we get the now traditional Tuesday and Wednesday slate of games.
Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the MAC’s Week 10 slate, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
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MAC best bets for Week 10
– All games listed are ET unless noted
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 7:52 a.m. ET.
Ball State at Kent State OVER 61.5 (-112) – Tuesday, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
The Cardinals invade Dix Stadium for this Tuesday night affair, looking to bounce back after a disappointing 20-16 loss in Muncie against Eastern Michigan.
The Golden Flashes are looking to build on the momentum of a Wagon Wheel rivalry game win over Akron 33-27 last week, while trying to keep alive their flickering bowl hopes.
These teams haven’t met since Nov. 23, 2019, a 41-38 win by the Golden Flashes in Kent. Ball State has won 2 of the last 3 meetings, and it leads the all-time series 21-8.
Both teams have struggled on defense, as Ball State yields 28.1 PPG and has been gouged for 185.4 rushing yards per game, while Kent State has coughed up 32.1 PPG and has been pounded for 454.8 total yards per game. We should see quite a mid-week shootout in Northeast Ohio.
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Buffalo at Ohio (+125) – Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
The Bulls head to Peden Stadium in Athens with an unblemished record and 1st place in the standings of the East Division at 4-0. The Bobcats can take over the top spot by virtue of the head-to-head tiebreaker with a win. This will be a fun one in Southeast Ohio.
Buffalo edged Toledo last time out 34-27, winning and covering for the 5th consecutive outing. The Bulls have improved greatly after an 0-3 start, including a stunning setback against FCS Holy Cross back in mid-September.
Ohio has been doing a little winning and covering of its own lately, though, picking up 3 straight wins, and 4 consecutive covers. That includes a solid 24-17 win as a 3-point underdog against Northern Illinois last time out.
Buffalo won last season’s meeting 27-26, but Ohio grabbed the cover. The Bobcats have won 5 straight home meetings against the Bulls dating back to 2008, and on Tuesday it will keep the win streak alive in this high-stakes game in the East Division.
Central Michigan at Northern Illinois -3.5 (-120) – Wednesday, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
Central Michigan was dumped 34-18 by Bowling Green at Kelly/Shorts Stadium last time out, and the Chippewas have dropped 4 of the last 5 games overall, while failing to cover in each of the previous 4 outings.
Northern Illinois showed some fight at Ohio last Saturday, falling 24-17 in Athens. After a slow start to the season, the NIU defense has shown some improvement and allowed just 34 total points in the last 2 games
Neither of these teams are very good, and the loser of this game will no longer have the chance to win out and become bowl eligible.
The edge here goes to NIU, since it is at home, and the Huskies can run the ball with authority, while also stop the run when on defense. The Chips are decent against the rush, so the Huskies won’t be able to run away with the game. But NIU is playing a little more consistently lately, and it will grab a late score and cover to keep its fleeting bowl hopes alive.
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Western Michigan at Bowling Green -3.5 (-105) – Wednesday, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
The Falcons are flying high with back-to-back wins over Miami-Ohio and Central Michigan, and Bowling Green is very much still in contention for the East Division title.
The Broncos stopped a 2-game slide with a 16-10 win at Miami-Ohio, keeping its flickering bowl hopes alive. It enters this game just 2-4 SU/ATS in the last 6 games.
Western Michigan’s offense has been terrible, averaging just 305.5 yards per game to rank 119th out of 131 FBS teams.
Bowling Green also struggles on offense, but scored 34 in its win at Central Michigan last time out, its high in any conference game this season. BGSU has also covered in consecutive games after opening 1-4-1 ATS in the 1st 6 outings.
This is a lot of points to lay for the Falcons, especially since they haven’t topped the Broncos at Doyt Perry Stadium since 2004. But this is a new day and age of Falcons football, and they get it done in front of the home faithful to keep their division and bowl hopes alive.
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