EMU vs. Miami (Ohio) Pick
Will Miami (Ohio) be able to keep its bowl hopes alive tonight when it plays host to Eastern Michigan at 7PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Miami is the slight favorite at home, as the RedHawks are getting odds of -3.5 points against Eastern Michigan. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 49.5 points. Miami has won nine straight meetings with EMU and Miami has also covered the spread in the last two encounters. The public is currently putting 54 percent on Miami (Ohio) at home tonight. This contest is set to take place at Yager Stadium in Oxford, Ohio and the contest will air live on the CBS Sports Network.
Miami is coming off a 24-14 win over Akron last week to improve to 4-6 on the season and 3-3 in the MAC. Miami is just 2-8 against the spread this season. The RedHawks are allowing 25.5 points and 356.6 yards per game while the offense is putting up 24.1 points and 393.8 yards per contest. Gus Ragland has missed three games this year, but has thrown for 1,633 yards and 15 touchdowns with just six interceptions. His top target is James Gardner, who has caught 44 passes for 886 yards and 10 touchdowns. Kenny Young is the leading rusher with 696 yards and four touchdowns.
Eastern Michigan is coming off a 42-30 loss at Central Michigan last Wednesday to fall to 3-7 on the season and 1-5 in the MAC. The Eagles are 7-3 against the spread this season and 5-1 ATS on the road. EMU has relied on its defense, which is allowing just 22.5 points and 350.6 yards per game. Their pass defense is keeping teams to just 177 yards per game through the air. Offensively, Eastern is putting up just 25.2 points and 379.9 yards per game. Brogan Roback has thrown for 2,546 yards and 16 touchdowns this year, but also has 13 interceptions. Sergio Bailey II has caught 47 passes for 772 yards and six touchdowns while Ian Eriksen has run for 589 yards and five touchdowns.
Bet on Eastern Michigan vs. Miami (Ohio)
Miami hasn’t been great against the spread this year and has struggled in games it should win, but the team was without Ragland for nearly a third of the year. Ragland has led this team to three of its four wins and the RedHawks have generally looked better with him playing. It has helped open up the run game as well, which could pay off against Eastern tonight. The Eagles have been good at the betting window, but it hasn’t led to wins. With the spread so small, I like Miami to find a way to cover.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: MIAMI (OHIO) -3.5