by Chuck Sommers
Sunday, Nov 06, 2022
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Yager Stadium, Oxford, OH
Where to watch: ESPN2
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
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Season record
Ohio: 6-3 (4-1 MAC)
Miami-Ohio: 4-5 (2-3 MAC)
We're coming down to the wire in what should be an exciting final month of the college football season. The conference championship chases are on, bowl games are to be decided, and who gets into the College Football Playoff is anybody's guess to this point. If you're still trying to figure out who's the best to play at this point of the year, look no further than our champion handicappers leading the way in the college football world. Our own Kyle Hunter is 23-8-0 over the last month, while Brian Bitler is 21-13-0 in the run. Kyle's reeled in a net profit of over $14,000. Now you feel like you should be getting on the action, huh? Make sure you go check out bigal.com to see all of the work our champion handicappers are trying to do to get money in YOUR pocket with our selections. Make sure to hit up our Best Bets page for more!
Ohio - Miami-Ohio preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Ohio: won 45-24 vs. Buffalo; won four straight
Miami-Ohio: won 27-9 at Akron
The Ohio Bobcats have risen from the dead. After a 2-3 start, the Bobcats have won four straight and have clinched bowl eligibility after beating the Buffalo Bulls last week. Standing in their way for better positioning, are the Miami-Ohio Redhawks who are still clinging to hope for bowl eligibility at 4-5.
The Ohio Bobcats have risen from the dead. After a 2-3 start, the Bobcats have won four straight and have clinched bowl eligibility after beating the Buffalo Bulls last week. Standing in their way for better positioning, are the Miami-Ohio Redhawks who are still clinging to hope for bowl eligibility at 4-5.
The Bobcats are coming off a 45-24 win over Buffalo that have put Ohio in the driver’s seat in the East Division. Even though Buffalo currently holds the three-way tide with Ohio and Bowling Green, at least part of that pecking order came crashing down.
As it tends to be with Ohio, quarterback Kurtis Rourke was dominant in a must-win situation, throwing for 317 yards and five touchdowns when Ohio jumped out to a 24-3 lead. Buffalo cut it to 7 at one point, but the Bobcats ended things with two touchdowns in a span of 1:06. Sam Wiglusz caught two of those touchdown passes, ending a day of 6 receptions for 131 yards.
When you look at what Ohio has done in the last four weeks, it’s been a combination of putting up a large number of points while playing some solid defense. Considering Ohio has given up 33.2 points per game on defense, the Bobcats have given up 14, 17 and 24 points in the last three weeks. That’s a sign of a team that’s gotten better over the course of the season and you have to like that for a team that still has a chance to win the conference title game.
The Redhawks needed a win last week and absolutely got that with a 27-9 win over the one-win Akron Zips last week to end a two-game losing streak. Miami lost by 4 to Bowling Green and 6 to Western Michigan in games that would’ve turned the tide. But the Redhawks got the benefit of playing that lowly opponent they needed for this one.
Brett Gabbert threw for 184 yards and a touchdown, while Keyon Mozee ran for 52 yards and a touchdown on just 13 carries. Mac Hippenhammer caught four passes for 84 yards to lead the receivers. Clearly, this passing attack needs to get it together if it wants to make a run for a bowl game. But this is certainly going to be the biggest test they’ve had to this point. One way they can make a statement is winning this game.
Prediction
Unfortunately for MU, there’s just too much firepower on Ohio to get out of this one. I can’t imagine the Redhawks suddenly finding the offensive weaponry to make something out of nothing. Rourke has been on a tear and it’s hard to see who will actually stop him. I don’t think Miami’s defense can do it. Ohio by 14
Betting trends
Ohio is 11-5 ATS the last three years against conference games.
Ohio is 6-1 ATS the last three years off a win against a conference opponent.
Ohio is 5-1 ATS off a home win the last three years.
Miami-Ohio is 8-8 ATS against conference opponents the last three years.
Miami-Ohio is 21-8 ATS off a double-digit win on the road since 1992.
Statistical leaders
Ohio:
Passing: Kurtis Rourke -- 2,725 yards, 21 TD, 4 INT
Rushing: Seth Bangura -- 495 yards, 7 TD
Receiving: Sam Wiglusz -- 710 yards, 9 TD
Miami-Ohio:
Passing: Aveon Smith -- 735 yards, 7 TD, 4 INT
Rushing: Keyon Mozee -- 428 yards, 2 TD
Receiving: Mac Hippenhammer -- 444 yards, 4 TD
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
