For the second straight week, fans are delighted with midweek MACtion returning to the great state of Ohio. On Tuesday night, our Ohio vs. Miami (OH) prediction headlines a three-game MAC slate with all three games residing in the Buckeye State. Who has the edge between Ohio and Miami?
Ohio vs. Miami (OH) Betting Preview
- Spread
Ohio (-1.5) - Moneyline
Ohio (-125); Miami (OH) (+105) - Over/Under
50.5 points - Game time
7:30 p.m. ET - Location
Yager Stadium, Oxford, OH - Predicted weather at kickoff
46 degrees, clear, 5-7 mph winds - How to watch
fuboTV, ESPN 2
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
- QB Kurtis Rourke, Ohio ($10,600)
- QB Aveon Smith, Miami ($8,400)
- QB Brett Gabbert, Miami ($8,400)
- RB Sieh Bangura, Ohio ($8,800)
- RB Jake Neatherton, Ohio ($6,500)
- RB Keyon Mozee, Miami (6,000)
- RB Tyre Shelton, Miami ($5,900)
- RB Nolan McCormick, Ohio ($5,300)
- RB Kevin Davis, Miami ($4,700)
- WR Sam Wiglusz, Ohio ($9,700)
- WR Mac Hippenhammer, Miami ($6,700)
- WR Miles Cross, Ohio ($6,600)
- WR Jacoby Jones, Ohio ($6,000)
- WR James Bostic, Ohio ($5,800)
- WR Miles Marshall, Miami ($5,600)
- TE Will Kacmarek, Ohio ($5,300)
- TE Jack Coldiron, Miami ($5,200)
- TE Tyler Foster, Miami ($5,100)
- TE Nate Muersch, Miami ($5,00)
Miami QB Brett Gabbert has returned and the Miami offense has started to look a little bit more like themselves with him at the helm. However, how much credit goes towards the poor defenses played before we crown the RedHawks back?
Until then, Ohio’s defense offers up plenty of opportunities through the air for Gabbert to get back into the swing of things. Ohio’s defense allows the most passing yards per game in the country.
Despite their lack of success at stopping offensive attacks through the air, the Bobcats’ defense has tightened up as of late and has shown the ability to limit what their MAC opponents do well on offense.
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Gabbert’s spot is in play here but Kurtis Rourke’s dual-threat ability makes him your Superflex position with ease on Tuesday night.
Gabbert’s top targets are also in play as Miami WR Mac Hippenhammer clearly benefits from Gabbert in the lineup, seeing a massive uptick in targets with Gabbert at the helm. Elsewhere, Ohio WR Sam Wiglusz is averaging over 13 yards per catch and should catch his 10th touchdown of the season on Tuesday, making him a must-play.
Hope for the best and grab Hippenhammer with that price.
Prediction for Ohio vs. Miami (OH)
In a vastly different clash of styles, the real question of the matter is which unit has the edge. Ohio’s offense is the top offense in the MAC by far. Miami’s defense is the second-best defense in the MAC.
On the flip side of that, Miami’s offense is the worst in the MAC, and Ohio’s defense is the same.
Will the defenses prevail as Ohio finally has a favorable matchup against a hapless RedHawks offense? Or will Miami’s defense keep Ohio’s high-flying offense in check for the first time this season?
Given recent history, the answer heavily leans towards Ohio’s offense being dominant, yet again.
The Bobcats are averaging 431.3 yards per game and a whopping 6.45 yards per play. They are incredibly balanced, scoring 14 touchdowns on the ground and another 21 through the air.
Led by Kurtis Rourke, Ohio has scored 33 or more points in three of their last four outings and four of their last six. Rourke is a dual-threat artist from Ohio’s backfield, rushing for 234 yards while he’s thrown for 2,725 yards in 2022.
His targets are plentiful and even though Miami’s defense ranks near the top in total defense, they’ve been prone to giving up big plays through the air this season. Mercer transfer Yahsyn McKee, ECU transfer Nolan Johnson, and junior John Saunders Jr. will have their hands full with Ohio’s wide receivers all night long.
Rourke’s accuracy, decision-making, and ultimate poise on the national stage will lead the Bobcats to a decisive victory, inching them closer to a MAC East crown.
Prediction: Ohio 29, Miami (OH) 21