Week 12 of the college football season continues Wednesday with the MAC, with the Eastern Michigan Eagles visiting the Kent State Golden Flashes, and the Miami RedHawks facing the Northern Illinois Huskies. Read on for the best Eastern Michigan-Kent State and Miami (OH)-Northern Illinois MAC bets, odds and pick.
Be sure to check out our OddsShopper tool for the best odds.
College Football Odds: Eastern Michigan-Kent State Odds
Eastern Michigan: +7 (-105)
Kent State: -7 (-115)
Over/Under: 60 (-110)
Marquez Cooper Carries Kent State
The Golden Flashes average 210.3 rushing yards per game, mainly behind starting running back Marquez Cooper, who has 1,106 rushing yards this season. Their defense is a mixed bag, though, as they struggle against both the pass and run. Thankfully for Kent State (4-6, 3-3 MAC East), the main Eastern Michigan shortcoming on that side of the ball is its run defense.
The Eagles allow 161.7 rushing yards per game and more passing and rushing yards than they accumulate. The Eagles (6-4, 3-3 MAC West) have the second-weakest schedule in the FBS, so its record has some flaws. Austin Smith has taken over at quarterback, so they don’t have seasonlong camaraderie, either. Smith took over from QB Taylor Powell, who had eight touchdowns and seven interceptions on the season. Smith had one interception, two touchdowns and 190 yards in a 34-28 win over Akron last Tuesday.
Eastern Michigan is 4-1 on the road. Kent State is 3-1 at home and has the most notable strength-on-weakness matchup in this game. Considering that, back the Golden Flashes at home.
Best MAC Bet: Kent State -7.0 (-115) DraftKings
College Football Odds: Miami (OH)-Northern Illinois Odds
Miami (OH): +1.5 (-110)
Northern Illinois -1.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 46 (-110)
Harrison Waylee Powers Northern Illinois
The strength of both Northern Illinois (3-7, 2-4 MAC West) and Miami (4-6, 2-4 MAC East) is in the run game. Huskies RBs Harrison Waylee and Antario Brown each has more than 100 carries this season, gaining 863 and 592 yards, respectively. Northern Illinois actually wins the turnover battle despite their quarterbacks having thrown 11 interceptions.
Oddly enough for two teams under .500, the RedHawks can say the same, as QB Aveon Smith has just four interceptions. However, RB Keyon Mozerr has just 455 yards. The RedHawks are not effective offensively and average just 15.8 first downs per game. On the season, they have a 57.9% completion rate.
The RedHawks also have one of the weakest schedules in the nation, although the Huskies’ isn’t much better.
Miami is 2-3 against the spread (ATS) on the road, and considering the strength of the Northern Illinois attack, and it being at home, back the Huskies to cover.
Best MAC Bet: Northern Illinois -1.5 (-107) DraftKings
