Sport: College FootballPick Selection: Miami Ohio RedHawks -8.5 -110
Akron Zips at Miami Ohio RedHawks 7:30 PM ET
Miami Ohio RedHawks -8.5 -110
While a win here will not give the MAC East to Miami, a loss could end any chance of getting it. A showdown with Ohio next week will become that much more important and the RedHawks would need some help along the way. At least a victory here means that Miami controls its own destiny. The RedHawks are coming off a huge win against Buffalo to put them in this spot and the final home games of the season, where they have won three straight, will make Wednesday a special atmosphere.
Akron is coming off another nationally televised game last week in which it won at home over Ohio. That was a big game for the Zips as it snapped a three-game losing streak but now it heads out on the road and sees Miami in the same spot it was in last week ? at home on ESPN. Akron is 1-5 on the road this season, the lone win coming at Western Michigan, a game it never should have won in the first place. The Zips are now 2-9 ATS in their last 11 road games.
In Miami's five wins, the team's rushing yardage (1,043) and its passing yardage (1,074) is virtually the same. In the RedHawks' five losses, the team's passing yardage (1,306) far exceeds its total rushing yardage (341). That is very important in this matchup as Akron cannot stop the run as it is allowing 183.2 ypg on 4.4 ypc including 216.3 ypg on 4.9 ypc on the road. Miami has outrushed its last three home opponents by 570 yards, 190 ypg, and it obviously was the difference in winning.
Miami quarterback Mike Kokal is likely out for this one but it should matter none. The other RedHawks quarterback Daniel Raudabaugh has completed an impressive 64.7 percent of his passes in five MAC games, averaging 249 ypg. Defense will also play a role in this one. Miami tops the MAC in scoring defense, allowing 26.0 ppg through 10 contests. Through five conference games, the RedHawks have yielded a league-leading average of just 16.4 ppg. Akron is allowing 35.5 ppg on the road.
With Akron?s wins last week over Ohio as a home underdog, it sets the RedHawks up in a great situation. Play on home favorites off a win against a conference rival going up against an opponent off an upset win as an underdog. This situation is 92-46 ATS (66.7 percent) over the last 10 seasons with the average point differential being +19.3 ppg. Miami gets the job done with ease tonight and heads into next week with a chance to win the MAC East division. Play Miami RedHawks 3 Units
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