MAC Conference Championship Game Preview: Ohio Bobcats vs. Miami Ohio RedHawks – Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024

The Ohio Bobcats (9-3) and Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (8-4) will duel it out for the second time this season, this time in the MAC Conference Championship game on Saturday, December 7 at 12:00 PM ET at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. College football betting odds show the RedHawks favored with a point spread at -2.0 (-110).

Ohio Bobcats Betting Preview

The Bobcats have won five straight since losing to the RedHawks back in October. Their latest win was a 42-21 outing over the Ball State Cardinals. In this matchup, they covered the spread of -17.5 and hit the over on 51.5.

Parker Navarro landed five touchdowns total, with seven of 11 completions totaling 169 yards but did throw it away once with an interception. On the ground, Navarro also led with 11 carries for 110 yards and two of his five total touchdowns.

Against the Cardinals, they were essentially tied on paper in many categories. One key area was total yards, as they put up 475 and allowed the Cardinals to get 375.

The Bobcats have been gaining 28.5 points a game and rank 63rd for their effort. Defensively they rank 17th and allow opponents to average 18.7 points per game. This is a solid spread, but they must lock down on defense.

Miami (Ohio) RedHawks Betting Preview

After a rough start to the season, the RedHawks have won their last seven games. Their most recent win was a 28-12 performance over the Bowling Green Falcons, which secured their spot in the MAC Championship game.

Brett Gabbert completed 18 of his 28 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns. While he did throw two interceptions, Keyon Mozee provided a great ground game to offset these mistakes, as he had 18 carries totaling 108 yards with a touchdown.

They put up more yards than the Falcons, as they accumulated 376 and held them to 261. Other than that, both teams had similar stats on offense. The RedHawks were only up 14-5 after the first half before exploding for 14 points in the fourth quarter.

The RedHawks rank 95th in scoring 24.2 points per game. They rank 12th defensively for allowing their opposition to average 17.3 points a game. This is another tight spread, showing they cannot afford any mistakes.

Odds, Series Trends, and Free Pick

The MAC Conference Championship betting odds has been provided by MyBookie, who currently has the RedHawks as two-point favorites. In addition, market data shows the RedHawks having a 55.2 percent chance of winning.

While the Bobcats have stacked a good record this season, their offense is in question against a team that is better in the air. The Bobcats appear to rely more on the ground game, while the RedHawks can put up a balanced attack to win and cover the spread.

Final Pick: Miami (Ohio) RedHawks -2.0 (-110)