After a long two nights off college football returns to the center stage in the week 10 Miami Ohio at Ohio matchup. Things haven’t gone great for the host Bobcats as they are just 1-7 on the season, the worst overall record in the conference.
Miami of Ohio is 4-4 on the year, but their 3-1 conference record has them neck and neck with Kent State in the MAC East. The RedHawks have won three of their last four, and come into Tuesday night’s contest as -7.5 road favorites.
Miami Defense Set to Shine?
Miami has looked good the last two games, especially their last time out in a 24-17 win at Ball State as +3.5 underdogs. The RedHawks stomped on 34-21 the game before that and are just a 13-12 loss at Eastern Michigan away from having a four game win streak coming into the week 10 Miami Ohio at Ohio matchup.
The old saying is that when you have two QBs you really have none, but the RedHawks have done a nice job of getting production from two signal callers this season. Brett Gabbert missed the Akron game but AJ Mayer came in to go 19/27 for 229 yards and 3 TDs. Gabbert returned last time out vs. Ball State to go 20/24 for 207 yards and 2 TD.
Miami-Ohio looks pretty good at the QB position coming into this matchup, but they’re far from one dimensional. The RedHawks ran for 245 yards against Akron and followed that up with 130 on the ground against a Ball State defense that is top 5 in the MAC vs. the rush. Ohio is last in the conference in rush defense giving up 224.5 ypg on the ground.
Ohio Faces a Test
The Bobcats are better than their 1-7 record would indicate, as they’re just not getting the breaks this season. Ohio has lost three straight, but each by a TD or less. This has allowed Ohio to cover the number in three of their last four overall after an 0-4 ATS start to the season.
The Ohio run defense has given up 200+ yards on the ground in two of their last three, and Miami’s top four runners are all averaging over 4.3 ypc on the season. The Bobcats do have the #4 pass defense in the MAC (202.5 ypg), but is that just because teams run with so much ease against Ohio they don’t feel the need to pass?
Miami-Ohio has the #3 total defense in the MAC so the Ohio offense has their work cut out for them on Tuesday night (O/U 54) as well. QB Kurtis Rourke completed 81% of his passes last time out with 308 yards, but Ohio also uses former UNLV QB Armani Rogers who doesn’t have a TD pass, but has compiled 436 yards and 6 TD rushing. RB De’Montre Tuggle also has a 200+ yard rushing game this season vs. Akron.
Week 10 Miami Ohio at Ohio Pick
Toledo is just 1-7 on the season but they’re a bounce here or there from being 4-4 or better. Miami Ohio has a very versatile offense and the Bobcats defense has struggled this season.
That being said, Ohio has just found a way to keep things tight lately. The hook looms large in this 7.5 spread in a rivalry meeting that is two years in the making after last season’s game was cancelled due to COVID protocols.
Ohio 27 – Miami 24
Pick: Ohio +7.5
