The Ohio Bobcats (-3.5) aren’t traveling far to face their conference nemesis Miami (OH) RedHawks at Fred C. Yager Stadium. The game is scheduled to kick off at 7:00 p.m. ET and ESPNU will broadcast the action.
Betting Preview: Ohio Bobcats vs. Miami (OH) RedHawks
Miami (OH) enters this MAC game as the underdog and is currently getting 3.5 points. The Bobcats are also receiving -175 moneyline odds while the RedHawks are +155. Vegas has determined the over/under (O/U) to be 63 points, and if one side finds paydirt early, it’ll likely create a nice betting opportunity in-game.
With the spread opening at 3 and the O/U set initially at 62.5, betting odds have shifted a bit.
The Bobcats are 6-3 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 2.0 units this season. The team’s posted an O/U record of 5-3.
The RedHawks are down 2.6 units for moneyline bettors so far. They’re 5-4 ATS and have an O/U record of 6-3.
The Bobcats are 6-3 straight up (SU), including 4-1 SU against MAC opponents. The RedHawks are 3-6 SU overall and 3-2 SU in conference play.
Miami (OH) enters this contest on a zero-game winning streak while Ohio has lost each of its last zero. The Bobcats are trying to maintain momentum after a solid 59-14 victory over Western Michigan last week where the Bobcats completed 13-of-19 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns. Nathan Rourke went 12-for-14 for 149 yards and three touchdowns while Quinton Maxwell completed one-of-five for 15 yards. Rourke (68 rushing yards on nine attempts, two TDs) also led the running attack and was complemented by A.J. Ouellette (71 yards on eight carries, one TD) in the win. Papi White (four receptions, 39 yards, one TD) and Andrew Meyer (four catches, 65 yards) shared the receiving duties.
One week ago, Buffalo knocked off this Miami (OH) team by a score of 51-42. The RedHawks defense allowed the Bulls to pass for 358 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 147 yards and four scores. Anthony Johnson was on a different level for Buffalo, putting up 238 yards and three touchdowns on eight catches. For Miami (OH), Gus Ragland completed 20-of-35 passes for 313 yards and one touchdown. Ragland (53 yards on 16 rush attempts, three TDs) and Alonzo Smith (63 yards on 13 carries, two TDs) handled the ground game in the defeat while Jack Sorenson (seven receptions, 94 yards) and Kenny Young (five catches, 95 yards, one TD) led all Miami (OH) pass-catchers.
Ohio has run the ball on 63.3 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 69.2 percent across possessions in conference play. Miami (OH) has an overall rush percentage of 50.8 percent, and has kept it on the ground 59.9 percent of the time when facing MAC opponents. The Bobcats have produced 236.0 rush yards per game (including 247.0 per game versus Mid-American opponents) and have 27 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The RedHawks are putting up 144.6 rushing yards per game (197.4 in conference) and have 17 total rush TDs.
The Bobcats offense has averaged 227.2 yards in the air overall (214.2 per game versus conference opposition) and has 19 passing TDs so far. The RedHawks have put up 231.3 pass yards per outing (230 against MAC foes) and have 15 total pass scores.
Defensively, Ohio has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 143.6 yards and pass for 276.8 yards per game. The Miami (OH) defense has allowed 215.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 151.1 yards per game on the ground. The RedHawks are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 6.78 to opposing QBs, while the Bobcats have given up a 7.30 ANY/A.
Offensively, Rourke has amassed 1,642 passing yards on the year. The signal-caller has connected on 105-of-166 attempts with 16 scores through the air and only four interceptions. Rourke has a sparkling 9.43 adjusted net yards per pass attempt.
The Bobcats will likely try to control tempo by getting the ball into the hands of their running backs. The tandem of A.J. Ouellette (474 rush yards, six rush TDs, one receiving TD) and Maleek Irons (494 rush yards, four rush TDs, one receiving TD) have really been focal points in the Ohio offensive scheme.
Gus Ragland has completed 150-of-246 passes for 1,753 yards, 11 TDs and three INTs for Miami (OH). His ANY/A stands at 6.93 for the year and 7.55 over his past two games.
The RedHawks should also look to control the clock by turning to their backfield. In addition to Kenny Young (237 receiving yards, three receiving TDs), Jack Sorenson (518 receiving yards and two receiving TDs) and Gus Ragland (142 rush yards, five rush TDs) have gotten a multitude of touches recently.
These two teams met last year with the final result being a 45-28 win for Ohio.
Ohio Bobcats at Miami (OH) RedHawks Betting Pick
SU Winner: Miami (OH), ATS Winner: Miami (OH), O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The Miami (OH) defense has notched 21 sacks on the year while Ohio has 17.
- The Miami (OH) offense has lost five fumbles in 2018 while Ohio has lost nine.
- The Bobcats offense has produced six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the RedHawks have accounted for three such plays.
- The Ohio defense has allowed 10 pass plays of 40+ yards, while Miami (OH) has given up four such plays.
- The Ohio offense has created 18 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Miami (OH) has created 12 such runs.
- The Bobcats defense has allowed 10 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the RedHawks have given up six such runs.
- The Over/Under for Miami (OH)’s last outing was 53. The over cashed in the team’s 51-42 loss to Buffalo.
- Over its last three games, Miami (OH) is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- Over its last three contests, Ohio is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- Ohio has won six of its last seven games SU, with a three-point defeat to Northern Illinois on October 13th representing the only loss over that span.
- The Over/Under for Ohio’s last game going into it was 64.5. The over cashed in the team’s 59-14 win over Western Michigan.
- Ohio, as a team, has rushed for 7.2 yards per attempt across its past three games and 6.8 over its last two.
- Miami (OH) has averaged 4.3 yards per carry over its last three outings and 3.2 over its last two.
