It's a battle of Ohio on Tuesday night MACtion when the Red Hawks take on the Bobcats at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN2 in a rematch of the conference title game last year.
SBR's Rob Paul previews the matchup in his Miami (OH) vs Ohio prediction:
Game prediction: Miami (OH) ML (+145 via bet365)
Over/Under pick: Over 49.5 (-110 via Caesars)
"These are perennially two of the best teams in the MAC, with at least one of them reaching the MAC Championship in each of the last three seasons, and both of them making it last year. And while Ohio blew out Miami (OH) to win its first MAC Championship since 1968 last year, behind the play of Timothy Chalamet's favorite QB, the RedHawks have reloaded this year.
Miami (OH) head coach Chuck Martin used the transfer portal to bolster his offense, bringing in one-time MAC MVP Dequan Finn, who had left Toledo for Baylor before finding his way back into the MAC this season. With Finn at the helm and throwing to the best big-play receiver in the Group of Five (Kam Perry), Miami (OH) ranks in the top 60 in the country in EPA per pass.
Though Miami (OH) has leaned heavily on Finn and Perry, the recent emergence of running back Jordan Brunson should help Martin's team take advantage of a Bobcats defense that sits at No. 117 in EPA per rush. However, Ohio's run game is set up for just as much success.
The reason I'm making the Over in this matchup my best bet rather than Miami (OH)'s moneyline is that Parker Navarro proved to be that dude last year and has continued balling even after head coach Tim Albin left for Charlotte. New Bobcats head coach Brian Smith was the team's offensive coordinator last year, and his offense remains a problem for MAC defenses.
Navarro, running back Sieh Bangura, and wide receiver Chase Hendricks are the best three-headed monster in the MAC, and you best believe they'll make noise against the RedHawks' defense. Miami (OH) ranks just No. 125 in EPA per rush on defense."
Best prop bet: Kam Perry Over 65.5 receiving yards (-114 via FanDuel)
"The best receiver in college football that nobody is talking about is Perry. He's been a breakout star in his second season with Miami (OH) after transferring from Indiana, sitting second in the MAC in receiving yards (612).
Perry's big-play ability is lethal. He's the only player in the country with more than 600 receiving yards on fewer than 25 receptions, and he ranks No. 1 nationally in average yards per reception (27.8) and No. 15 in yards per route run (3.3).
So, he won't need many targets to hit the Over on his receiving yards line against an Ohio team that allows the fourth-most passing yards per game in the conference (230.1)."
SBR's Rob Paul previews the matchup in his Miami (OH) vs Ohio prediction:
Game prediction: Miami (OH) ML (+145 via bet365)
Over/Under pick: Over 49.5 (-110 via Caesars)
"These are perennially two of the best teams in the MAC, with at least one of them reaching the MAC Championship in each of the last three seasons, and both of them making it last year. And while Ohio blew out Miami (OH) to win its first MAC Championship since 1968 last year, behind the play of Timothy Chalamet's favorite QB, the RedHawks have reloaded this year.
Miami (OH) head coach Chuck Martin used the transfer portal to bolster his offense, bringing in one-time MAC MVP Dequan Finn, who had left Toledo for Baylor before finding his way back into the MAC this season. With Finn at the helm and throwing to the best big-play receiver in the Group of Five (Kam Perry), Miami (OH) ranks in the top 60 in the country in EPA per pass.
Though Miami (OH) has leaned heavily on Finn and Perry, the recent emergence of running back Jordan Brunson should help Martin's team take advantage of a Bobcats defense that sits at No. 117 in EPA per rush. However, Ohio's run game is set up for just as much success.
The reason I'm making the Over in this matchup my best bet rather than Miami (OH)'s moneyline is that Parker Navarro proved to be that dude last year and has continued balling even after head coach Tim Albin left for Charlotte. New Bobcats head coach Brian Smith was the team's offensive coordinator last year, and his offense remains a problem for MAC defenses.
Navarro, running back Sieh Bangura, and wide receiver Chase Hendricks are the best three-headed monster in the MAC, and you best believe they'll make noise against the RedHawks' defense. Miami (OH) ranks just No. 125 in EPA per rush on defense."
Best prop bet: Kam Perry Over 65.5 receiving yards (-114 via FanDuel)
"The best receiver in college football that nobody is talking about is Perry. He's been a breakout star in his second season with Miami (OH) after transferring from Indiana, sitting second in the MAC in receiving yards (612).
Perry's big-play ability is lethal. He's the only player in the country with more than 600 receiving yards on fewer than 25 receptions, and he ranks No. 1 nationally in average yards per reception (27.8) and No. 15 in yards per route run (3.3).
So, he won't need many targets to hit the Over on his receiving yards line against an Ohio team that allows the fourth-most passing yards per game in the conference (230.1)."