The Miami (OH) RedHawks (1-4) and the Eastern Michigan Eagles (4-1) meet in Ypsilanti on Saturday for a huge MAC matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
This is a meeting between two veteran MAC coaches, Chris Creighton and Chuck Martin.
To make the spectacle even better, The Temptations will perform at halftime with EMU’s band, and the home team will host a beer fest at Rynearson Stadium.
Sign me up for MACtion and beer tasting!
The road team is -2.5 on the spread with the moneyline sitting at -135. Meanwhile, the total is set for 46.5 at the time of writing.
Here's my Miami (OH) vs Eastern Michigan predictions and my college football picks for Saturday.
Miami (OH) vs Eastern Michigan Picks, Prediction
- Miami (OH) vs Eastern Michigan Picks: Eastern Michigan ML (+125)
My Miami (OH) vs Eastern Michigan best bet is on the Eagles moneyline, with the best line currently available at bet365, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Miami (OH) vs Eastern Michigan Odds, Spread, Over/Under
| Miami (OH) Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 -110 | 46.5 -110o / -110u | -150 |
| Eastern Michigan Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -110 | 46.5 -110o / -110u | +125 |
- Miami (OH) vs Eastern Michigan Point Spread: Miami (OH) -3 (-110) · Eastern Michigan +3 (-110)
- Miami (OH) vs Eastern Michigan Total: Over/Under 46.5
- Miami (OH) vs Eastern Michigan Moneyline: Miami (OH) -150 · Eastern Michigan +125
Miami (OH) Football vs Eastern Michigan Football Preview
Miami RedHawks Betting Preview: Expect a Turnaround
After a brutal non-conference slate, Coach Martin is ready to turn the page in conference play, where his program has been highly successful during his tenure.
Miami was 4-14 in his first 18 MAC games. Since then, the RedHawks are 42-18 in their last 60 contests against league opposition.
The program's dominance in conference play has been the main reason it has been bowl-eligible in seven of the last eight campaigns. This sounds even better when you read that the school only had two winning seasons from 2006-15.
The RedHawks' record coming into MACtion is not great after playing multiple Power 4 teams. However, this is nothing new for Miami.
Since 2019, Martin’s team has only come out of non-conference play with a winning record once. This hasn’t stopped the program from winning two MAC championships.
This was a veteran squad coming into the year, and I expect the RedHawks to turn it around against league foes.
Eastern Michigan Eagles Betting Preview: Strong Off a Bye
Unlike Miami, Eastern Michigan has enjoyed an excellent start to the season.
For the first time since 2016, the Eagles have won four of their first five games.
With a win in this one, Creighton’s team would secure its best six-game start to a campaign in 35 years. Also, Eastern would be riding a four-game winning streak for the fourth time since 1988.
One thing that has helped EMU has been the softer non-conference slate, but there have been some solid victories. It started with a convincing triumph at UMass before defeating Jacksonville State in double overtime.
After opening MAC play with a 19-point win at Kent State, Creighton has had two full weeks to prepare for the defending league champions' visit to Ypsilanti.
Miami (OH) vs Eastern Michigan Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Miami (OH) and Eastern Michigan match up statistically:
Miami (OH) Offense vs. Eastern Michigan Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 127 | 105 | |
| Line Yards | 67 | 65 |  |
| Pass Success | 76 | 103 | |
| Havoc | 107 | 76 | |
| Finishing Drives | 133 | 32 | |
| Quality Drives | 92 | 56 | |
Eastern Michigan Offense vs. Miami (OH) Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 73 | 90 | |
| Line Yards | 87 | 103 | |
| Pass Success | 70 | 56 | |
| Havoc | 43 | 125 | |
| Finishing Drives | 97 | 27 | |
| Quality Drives | 32 | 103 | |
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 130 | 74 |
| PFF Coverage | 124 | 133 |
| Special Teams SP+ | 72 | 27 |
| Middle 8 | 108 | 84 |
| Seconds per Play | 27.9 (79) | 26.2 (49) |
| Rush Rate | 42% (131) | 59% (49) |
How To Make College Football Picks For My Miami (OH) vs Eastern Michigan Prediction
This sets up to be a classic MAC matchup.
Neither team has excellent advanced metrics, but a couple of standout metrics point to one side for me.
My best bet is to take Eastern Michigan on the moneyline of +110 odds or better. If the spread creeps back up to a field goal, I would rather have that instead.
The starting point is how well Creighton has been at home. The Eagles are 14-6 in their past 20 games in Ypsilanti.
I also like that EMU is coming off a bye. Meanwhile, the RedHawks are fresh off one of their most important games of the year after playing at Toledo.
Once you dive into the metrics, Eastern Michigan's significant advantage comes on special teams.
According to SP+, EMU’s special teams unit is rated 27th in the FBS, which is much better than Miami's 72nd ranking.
It is difficult to decipher the profiles of both programs too deeply due to the discrepancy in their schedule strengths. Yet, the two do have a single common opponent in UMass.
The RedHawks needed overtime at home to get a win, while EMU triumphed by multiple scores on the road.
I’m putting my trust in Creighton and the Eagles as home 'dogs.
Pick: Eastern Michigan ML (+125, bet365) | Play to +110
Miami (OH) vs Eastern Michigan Start Time, Channel, Streaming, How to Watch
| Location: | Rynearson Stadium, Ypsilanti, MI |
| Date: | Saturday, Oct. 12 |
| Kickoff Time: | 2 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ESPN+ |
Miami (OH) travels to Ypsilanti on Saturday, Oct. 12, to take on Eastern Michigan at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
