Ohio is hosting Miami (OH) on Tuesday night of Week 11. The game will take place at 7:00 p.m. ET in Athens, Ohio.
The Bobcats are 2.5-point home favorites in this game on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at 49.5 points. This is a preview, prediction and pick for this MAC conference matchup.
Miami (OH) at Ohio prediction, preview
Miami (OH) Preview
The Redhawks are the final undefeated team in the MAC. They have won their first four conference games and are now in a great position to get to the conference title game. However, Ohio is one of three one-loss teams in the mix, so this is a big game for Miami. A big reason for Miami’s success is quarterback Dequan Finn. Finn is one of the oldest players in college football, with this being his seventh year in college. Finn spent the first five years of his career at Toledo, where he won the 2023 MAC Championship. He then tried to take a step up in quality last season by transferring to Baylor, but was unable to hold the starting job over Sawyer Robertson. That saw Finn head back for one more ride in the MAC, this time with Miami. Finn is a dangerous dual-threat to contain and Miami has a fantastic receiver in Kam Perry. The Redhawks also boast one of the best special teams units in the country, something that always gives them an extra edge.
Ohio Preview
Ohio is having another great season in the MAC. The Bobcats are the defending conference champions. However, there was expected to be a drop-off this season after head coach Tim Albin left to take the Charlotte job. Ohio lost a handful of key players, along with its coach, but kept several key figures. Last season’s offensive coordinator, Brian Smith, was internally promoted to be the new head coach. That was likely the reason that quarterback Parker Navarro decided to stay. Navarro was second-team all-conference last season and has led Ohio to a 3-1 start in conference play this season. Not only have the Bobcats played well in conference, but they also upset West Virginia earlier this season and went down to the wire against Rutgers. This is a tough team to beat with a great, experienced quarterback.
Miami (OH) at Ohio pick, best bet
These are two of the best programs in the MAC. This game is a rematch of last year’s MAC title game, which was won by Ohio. However, Miami won the MAC Championship Game the year prior. So, these are the past two conference champions, and both have a great chance to get back to the title game again this season. My best bet for the game is for Miami to cover the short spread. Both teams have experienced quarterbacks, arguably the two best in the conference. Both teams should also be able to move the ball on the ground. This game is likely to come down to the finest of margins, which could be the special teams. Ohio ranks 135th in S&P+ special teams rankings, the second-worst unit in the country. Meanwhile, Miami ranks fourth in the country in S&P+ special teams rankings. In a game where everything else is comparable, that big of a special teams edge could get Miami the win.
