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The Ohio Bobcats (9-3, 7-1 MAC) and Miami RedHawks (8-4, 7-1) meet Saturday in the MAC Championship Game. Kickoff from Ford Field in Detroit is scheduled for noon ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college football odds around the Ohio vs. Miami odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
Ohio is making its sixth appearance in the conference title game, while Miami will play in its seventh.
Ohio has always been the bridesmaid, but never the bride, losing all 5 of its appearances — the first in 2006, the last in 2022. While the Bobcats suffered a 31-10 setback to Central Michigan in ’06, they haven’t lost by more than 10 points in any of their title game trips.
Miami is 4-2 in MAC Championship Games, including last season’s 23-14 upset of Toledo as a 6.5-point underdog with the Under (43.5) cashing. The RedHawks are on a 3-0 straight-up and against the spread (ATS) run in the title game at Ford Field.
The Bobcats steam in with 5 consecutive wins and covers, with the Under going 3-1 in the past 4 outings. Ohio’s offense has amassed 35 or more points in 4 of those 5 games, while the defense has limited the opposition to 10 or fewer points in 3 of the past 4, including an impressive 24-7 win at Toledo as 1-point underdogs Nov. 20.
The RedHawks took the regular-season meeting as 3.5-point favorites vs. the Bobcats 30-20 at Yager Stadium in Oxford Oct. 19 as the Over (43.5) cashed. That was 1 of 7 straight wins for Miami since Oct. 12, while going 5-2 ATS during the span. The Under is 2-1-1 in the RedHawks’ past 4 contests.
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Ohio vs. Miami (Ohio) odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college football odds. Lines last updated at 5:55 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Ohio +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Miami -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Ohio +2.5 (-110) | Miami -2.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 44.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Ohio vs. Miami (Ohio) picks and predictions
Prediction
Miami 23, Ohio 19
Moneyline
If you’re expecting a close game, and you probably should, MIAMI (-135) isn’t a terrible play if you don’t want to mess around laying the points.
Ohio (+110) has been generally competitive in all 5 of its MAC title game appearances. As mentioned, while the Bobcats have lost all 5 of those games, they kept it within 10 points in the past 4 showings, including one-score games twice.
Miami just knows how to get the job done in Detroit, even winning the last 3 MAC Championship Game there as underdogs. It will be interesting to see how the RedHawks respond as favorites in this one.
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Against the spread
PLAY MIAMI -2.5 (-110) unless you’re absolutely sold that Ohio will win outright or the RedHawks will win but not by 3 or more points.
Miami has proven itself in this building, while Ohio is 0-for-5 in the MAC Championship Game. There is something to be said for that.
Over/Under
UNDER 44.5 (-115) is worth a look, but go with a half-unit bet at most.
First off, the Under has cashed in each of the past 2 MAC Championship Games. As mentioned Miami topped 23-14 last year. In 2002, Ohio lost to Toledo 17-7.
The defenses for both of these teams are nasty. Miami has allowed 12 or fewer points in 3 straight outings, and 4 of the past 5 games.
Ohio has a top-notch offense, but the defense has allowed 16 or fewer points in 4 of the previous 5 outings. We should see defense win the day Saturday afternoon.
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