Ohio Bobcats at Western Michigan Broncos – NCAA Football Betting Preview

Two schools that prefer to keep the ball on the ground, Coach Tim Lester and the Western Michigan Broncos (-2) are preparing to face their MAC nemesis Ohio Bobcats at Waldo Stadium. The game will start at 7:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action live on ESPNU.

Betting Preview: Ohio Bobcats vs. Western Michigan Broncos

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In this Thursday Mid-American game, Western Michigan has been projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 2 points. The Bobcats are also receiving +110 moneyline odds while the Broncos are -130. There should be some good in-game betting possibilities while this matchup is underway, and Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 67 points.

Odds have moved from where they were originally placed, as the line opened at 0. The game’s over/under has yet to move after it was initially placed at 67.

The Bobcats have gained 1.0 unit so far and are 5-3 against the spread (ATS). The team has recorded an O/U mark of 4-3.

The Broncos have gained 2.0 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 3-6 ATS and have an even O/U record of 4-4.

The Bobcats have gone 5-3 straight up (SU), including 3-1 SU against MAC opponents. The Broncos are 6-3 SU overall and 4-1 SU in conference play.

The Bobcats are coming off a resounding 52-14 victory over Ball State last week. Nathan Rourke completed 11 passes for only 127 yards, along with one 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 running attack while Andrew Meyer (four receptions, 50 yards, one TD) and Papi White (three catches, 35 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.

A week ago, Toledo knocked off this Western Michigan crew by a score of 51-24. Kaleb Eleby completed 23-of-28 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns. Jamauri Bogan (66 rushing yards on 10 attempts, one TD) mounted the running game while Jayden Reed (six receptions, 103 yards, two TDs) and Bellamy (five catches, 29 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.

Ohio’s 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 a rush percentage of 57.5 percent, and has carried the ball 59.8 percent of the time against MAC opponents. The Bobcats have produced 233.5 rush yards per game (including 244.8 per game against Mid-American opponents) and have 23 scores on the ground this year. The Broncos are putting up 209.1 rushing yards per game (196.4 in conference) and have 22 total rush TDs.

It seems like the Bobcats may own the advantage in all aspects of the ground game, since their backfield has generated 5.5 yards per carry while the defense is allowing 4.5 yards per rush attempt to opponents. The Broncos have tallied 5.0 yards per carry and allowed a YPC of 4.8 to opponents.

The Bobcats offensive scheme has logged 235.1 yards per contest in the air overall (226.8 per game versus conference opposition) and has 16 passing TDs so far. The Broncos have recorded 254.1 pass yards per game (261 against MAC competition) and have 18 total pass scores.

Ohio has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 145.1 yards and pass for 292.4 yards per game. The Western Michigan defense has allowed 214.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 179.8 yards per game on the ground. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, 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 is up to 1,427 passing yards this year, and has completed 60 percent of his 159 attempts with 10 passing scores and five interceptions. Rourke’s got a 7.68 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 11.53 over the past two games.

In the home locker room, Kaleb Eleby has completed 23-of-28 passes for 293 yards, two TDs and zero INTs. Eleby’s ANY/A stands at 9.15 for the season.

These two conference foes did not get a chance to play each other in 2017.

Ohio Bobcats vs. Western Michigan Broncos Betting Pick

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SU Winner: Ohio, ATS Winner: Ohio, O/U: Under

Team Betting Notes

The Bobcats offense has created six pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Broncos have put up nine such plays.

The Ohio defense has allowed nine pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Western Michigan has given up five such plays.

The Ohio offense has created 17 rushing plays of 20+ 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 Western Michigan defense has created 18 sacks on the year while Ohio has 15.

Ohio has averaged 6.1 yards per carry across its last 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.

Over its last three games, Western Michigan is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.

The Over/Under for Ohio’s last game was 65.5. The over cashed in the team’s 52-14 victory over Ball State.

In its last three matchups, Ohio is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.

The Over/Under for Western Michigan’s last game was 68. The over cashed in the team’s 51-24 loss to Toledo.

Ohio has won five of its last six games SU, with an October 13th defeat to Northern Illinois representing the only loss over that span.