The Ohio Bobcats will look to stay in the thick of the Mid-American Conference title race as they host the Eastern Michigan Eagles tonight.
Both teams are bringing legitimate defenses to this battle, and that’s why I like the Under in my Eastern Michigan vs. Ohio predictions.
Keep reading below to see my full analysis of this matchup in my free college football picks for Wednesday, November 13.
Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from Peden Stadium in Athens, with the game airing on ESPN2.
Eastern Michigan vs Ohio prediction and best bet
My best bet
Under 49.5 (-110 at BetMGM)
Picks made at time of writing may not reflect live odds.
My analysis
Ohio is once again putting together a solid season and has established itself as one of the top programs in the MAC. While the Bobcats have shown that they can score points at times, going for 41+ points in each of their last two wins, it’s been the Ohio defense that has dominated the mid-major competition it has faced in league play.
If we remove games against the Syracuse Orange and Kentucky Wildcats, the Bobcats look downright dominant on the defensive side of the ball. Against all other opponents, Ohio is giving up just 15.3 ppg, and no team has hit it for more than 20 points when it has played at home. The Bobcats are allowing just 5.0 yards per play and have been about equally effective against the rush and the pass, ranking in the Top 50 nationally in every notable defensive yardage category.
That should play well against an Eastern Michigan offense that has struggled to move the ball against reasonable opposition. The Eagles have strung together some decent performances against weaker defensive units, but only put up nine points against the Washington Huskies. Even against some of their lesser opposition, the Eagles have been less than impressive: Even the FCS Saint Francis Red Flash only gave up 36 points to this squad, for instance.
Eastern Michigan has struggled to move the ball, averaging just 5.0 yards per play and lacking a clear strength to turn to in big moments. Somehow, this Eagles team is 5-4 despite also lacking talent on defense.
In particular, Eastern Michigan has been one of the worst teams in the country against the passing game, allowing opposing quarterbacks to put up a 156.6 QB rating. Against many teams, this would have me concerned that the Eagles were about to give up a boatload of points.
But not against Ohio, which is neither particularly efficient in the passing game or all that interested in trying to throw the ball to begin with. The Bobcats throw the ball just 24.9 times per game, averaging only 177.1 yards per game through the air.
Instead, Ohio will find its success on the ground, while Eastern Michigan struggles to move the ball at all. That will lead to a slow-paced, gritty contest that favors the Under. With a reasonable total to work with, I’m happy to watch these teams take the air out of the ball and finish below the number.
Eastern Michigan vs Ohio same-game parlay (SGP)
Under 50.5
Ohio -10.5
Anthony Tyus anytime TD
I’m expecting Ohio to shut down the Eastern Michigan offense on Wednesday, and that’s what I’m targeting in my same-game parlay. That means combining the Under with a bet on the Bobcats to cover the spread. Ohio has consistently been the better team and has won its last two conference matchups by over 30 points. The Bobcats should dominate again this week.
Ohio’s defense shouldn’t have much trouble shutting down the Eagles’ passing game, and that’s where the last leg of my SGP comes in. Eastern Michigan quarterback Cole Snyder has only 11 touchdowns in nine games, and most of those have come against weaker competition over the past three weeks. The Ohio defense is allowing just 6.7 yards per passing attempt and should prevent Snyder from hitting his total of 1.5 passing touchdowns.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Eastern Michigan vs Ohio odds
Eastern Michigan vs Ohio live odds
Eastern Michigan vs Ohio opening odds
- Eastern Michigan vs. Ohio spread: Ohio -9.5
- Eastern Michigan vs. Ohio moneyline: Eastern Michigan +300, Ohio -380
- Eastern Michigan vs. Ohio Over/Under: 49.5
Odds courtesy of BetMGM
Eastern Michigan vs Ohio spread and Over/Under analysis
- Eastern Michigan is 7-2 against the spread this year. Ohio has a 5-4 ATS mark on the season.
- The Bobcats are 6-1 ATS in their last seven matchups against the Eagles.
- The Over holds a 5-4 edge when each of these teams has played this season.
- Eastern Michigan is playing to an average total of 55.5 ppg, while Ohio is averaging a total of 47.5 ppg.
Eastern Michigan vs Ohio betting trend to know
The Under is 2-0-1 in the last three meetings between Eastern Michigan and Ohio. Find more college football betting trends for Eastern Michigan vs Ohio.
Eastern Michigan vs Ohio game info
| Location: | Peden Stadium, Athens, OH |
| Date: | Wednesday, 11-13-2024 |
| Kickoff: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN2 |
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