Western Michigan is hosting Ohio on Tuesday night of Week 12. The game will take place at 8:00 p.m. ET in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
The Broncos are 1.5-point home favorites in this game on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at 47.5 points. This is a preview, prediction and pick for this MAC conference matchup.
Ohio at Western Michigan prediction, preview
Ohio Preview
No MAC program has been more consistent than Ohio over the course of this century. Since Frank Solich took over the program in 2005, it has made a bowl game in 15 of 21 seasons. It has also been the best-performing MAC team in bowl games, having won six straight in bowl season. Even after Solich retired, Tim Albin stepped in and won a conference title last season. Albin left to take the Charlotte job after winning a conference title, and now Brian Smith is having an excellent first season as head coach. Ohio is tied atop the MAC, despite this being considered a “rebuilding” year. Parker Navarro is one of the top quarterbacks in the conference, and the team has been solid at almost every level. This team has already reached bowl eligibility and has a great shot to get back to the MAC title game. However, it has to face two of the three teams that it is tied atop the conference with in the final three games of the season, including this week’s big game against Western Michigan.
Western Michigan Preview
Western Michigan is tied atop the MAC with Ohio, Buffalo and Miami (OH) heading into this week. Dual-threat quarterback Broc Lowry has put the team on his back, leading the Broncos in both passing and rushing. However, this team is very much built on its defense. The Broncos rank second in the MAC in both total defense and scoring defense. They are built to get into lower-scoring dogfights and then find a way to win. If the Broncos can get this win, they are in a great position to make the MAC title game, as they have two favorable matchups to end the season. Western Michigan is also coming off a bye, so it had 10 days to prepare for this game. With the season on the line and extended rest, this should be Western Michigan’s best effort.
Ohio at Western Michigan pick, best bet
My best bet for this game is Western Michigan on the moneyline. This Western Michigan defense is a great unit. It ranks 15th in the nation in defensive EPA/play and 34th in defensive success rate. The Broncos should be able to slow down Parker Navarro and frustrate the Ohio offense. The Ohio defense is great against the pass, ranking 28th nationally in defensive EPA/pass. However, this Western Michigan offense wants to run the ball as often as possible. That is bad news for Ohio, as it ranks 109th in defensive EPA/rush. The Broncos should be able to run the ball efficiently and dominate the time of possession. As the home team with a rest advantage and the tougher defense, it’s hard to go against the Broncos.
