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The Ohio Bobcats (1-1) meet the Florida Atlantic Owls (1-0) Saturday at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Ohio vs. Florida Atlantic odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Bobcats bounced back from a 20-13 setback at San Diego State in Week 0 to post a 27-10 win over Long Island U of the FCS in Athens last weekend. The Bobcats didn’t come close to covering the 34-point number against the Sharks, and Ohio is now 0-2 against the spread (ATS) while posting the Under in each outing.
The Owls also opened with an FCS opponent, running past Monmouth 42-20. Former Texas and Nebraska QB Casey Thompson threw for 5 TDs in the rout, helping head coach Tom Herman to his 1st win in Boca. The Owls just missed covering the 25.5-point spread as the Over (55.5) hit.
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Ohio at Florida Atlantic odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 7:55 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Ohio +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Florida Atlantic -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Ohio +3.5 (-110) | Florida Atlantic -3.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 61.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Ohio at Florida Atlantic picks and predictions
Prediction
Florida Atlantic 31, Ohio 24
Moneyline
FLORIDA ATLANTIC (-175) is a little on the expensive side, but not priced out of line if you do not want to fiddle around with the points. FAU will have revenge on its mind after blowing last season’s game in Athens against Ohio by a 41-38 count.
And not that you want to benefit from an injury, but FAU might catch a break with QB Kurtis Rourke (knee/leg) being a huge question mark. The defending MAC Player of the Year played against San Diego State, just months after suffering an ACL, but he left the game early and didn’t play against LIU. He is a huge question mark. If he cannot play, QB Jalen Mayden would run things again.
Even with Rourke, it would be an uphill climb for Ohio, but if the lesser experienced Mayden is in there, FAU should be in good shape.
Against the spread
FAU -3.5 (-110) is a good play laying the 3 and a hook. It’s not my personal favorite for a bet, as I much prefer 2.5 or a flat 3 in a close game, but it will suffice.
Ohio +3.5 (-110) hasn’t covered in its 2 games to date, and it lost by 7 in the road opener in San Diego. I expect a similar fate on Saturday night in Boca, as the Owls exact a little revenge.
Over/Under
UNDER 61.5 (-110) might be the best play on the board in this game.
Yes, FAU hung 42 points last week, but that was against a defensively-challenged Monmouth team. Ohio has locked it down on defense so far, allowing a total of just 30 points in 2 games. And the Bobcats have struggled to move the football consistently with Mayden playing a majority of the snaps. Will this be a defensive slog? No. But will be see 79 combined points like last season? Not even close.
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