MAC play continues on Saturday afternoon as the Ohio Bobcats (3-2) travel to Mount Pleasant to take on the Central Michigan Chippewas (3-2).
Both teams enter one game above .500, and one will slip back down to an even record after Saturday.
The Bobcats are listed as 3-point road favorites on the point spread, with the over/under set at 49. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
Ohio enters this game with a 3-2 record and is coming off a 30-10 win over Akron. The Bobcats hold a 3-2 record against the spread and have gone under in three games this season. Central Michigan also holds a 3-2 record and is riding a 2-game winning streak. However, Central Michigan is only 2-3 against the spread and has gone over in three games this season, including two at home.
The weather is expected to be favorable during the game as winds will be around six MPH and there is no precipitation expected during the game. Let's get to my Ohio vs. Central Michigan predictions and college football picks for Saturday, October 12.
Ohio Bobcats vs Central Michigan Chippewas Prediction
- Ohio vs Central Michigan Pick: Central Michigan +3 (-110)
My Central Michigan vs Ohio best bet is on CMU to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at DraftKings, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Ohio vs Central Michigan Odds, Spread, Line
| Ohio Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -120 | 50.5 -110 / -110 | -140 |
| Central Michigan Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 +100 | 50.5 -110 / -110 | +120 |
- Ohio vs Central Michigan Point Spread: Ohio -2.5 · Central Michigan +2.5
- Ohio vs Central Michigan Total: 50.5 Points
- Ohio vs Central Michigan Moneyline: Ohio -140 · Central Michigan +120
Ohio vs Central Michigan Preview
Ohio Bobcats Betting Preview: Ground and Pound Offense
Tim Albin's Bobcats have had a stop-and-start season with a 3-2 record. They are averaging 21.2 points per game and 5.9 yards per play. The offense has a 44% success rate and averages 3.4 points per opportunity. Teams have typically found success generating Havoc against Ohio, as the Bobs allow a reasonably high 17.6% Havoc rate.
The team features a run-centric offense but is led by quarterback Parker Navarro. Navarro is completing 68.1% of his passes for an average of 8.3 yards per attempt. He's struggled with turnovers, as his pass-to-interception ratio is four to four. As a team, Ohio's Passing Success Rate is 43.5%, which ranks 95th nationally.
Despite his struggles, Navarro somewhat makes up for it with his legs. He ranks second on the team in rush attempts, amassing 212 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Anthony Tyus III leads the team in rushing with 500 yards and four touchdowns on 87 attempts. The Bobcats run the ball 40 times per game at a rate of 59.6%, which ranks 20th nationally. They have a 44.8% Rush Success Rate, and the offensive line generates 3.05 Line Yards per attempt.
The defense is fairly average across the board. They allow 23.0 points per game and 5.3 yards per play. Opponents have averaged a 40.1% Success Rate and 3.85 Points per Opportunity. They've been more vulnerable against the pass, allowing a 43.2% passing success rate and a 63.4% completion percentage.
Central Michigan Chippewas Betting Preview: Gaining Momentum
Jim McElwain has his team building momentum as they enter the heart of conference play. With back-to-back wins, Central Michigan holds a 3-2 record. The Chippewas are averaging 30.0 points per game and 6.3 yards per play. They have a 42% Success Rate and score 3.8 Points per Opportunity. They allow a 17.6% Havoc rate.
Central Michigan runs a balanced offense with 33.6 pass attempts per game compared to 34.4 rushes per game.
Leading the passing attack is Joey Labas. He's averaging 7.1 yards per attempt while completing 58.3% of his passes. He has 1,078 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and seven interceptions for the season. Central Michigan has a 37.6% Pass Success Rate as a team, averaging 3.8 20-yard passes per game.
Three players have more than 20 carries for the Central Michigan offense. Marion Lukes leads the team in rush attempts, while BJ Harris leads the team in rushing yards. As a unit, they average 184.6 rushing yards per game and 5.4 yards per rush attempt. They have a 46.9% Rush Success Rate behind an offensive line that generates 3.5 Line Yards per attempt.
The Chippewas' defense has struggled at times this season but has done enough to keep them in games. They allow 29.4 points per game and 5.5 yards per play. Opponents average a 40.3% Success Rate and 3.97 Points per Opportunity. The highlight of the defense is its ability to generate Havoc (17% rate).
Central Michigan vs Ohio Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Central Michigan and Ohio match up statistically:
Ohio Offense vs. Central Michigan Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 62 | 56 | |
| Line Yards | 74 | 81 | |
| Pass Success | 58 | 118 | |
| Havoc | 110 | 69 | |
| Finishing Drives | 107 | 84 | |
| Quality Drives | 88 | 94 | |
Central Michigan Offense vs. Ohio Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 30 | 34 |  |
| Line Yards | 15 | 17 | |
| Pass Success | 117 | 98 | |
| Havoc | 79 | 35 | |
| Finishing Drives | 123 | 78 | |
| Quality Drives | 34 | 81 | |
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 93 | 23 |
| PFF Coverage | 82 | 96 |
| Special Teams SP+ | 96 | 75 |
| Middle 8 | 84 | 90 |
| Seconds per Play | 29.6 (115) | 26.0 (44) |
| Rush Rate | 64% (23) | 51% (82) |
How to Bet My Ohio vs Central Michigan Pick
As of this writing, Ohio is listed at most books as a 3-point favorite, and the line hasn't moved since opening. Approximately 88% of bets and 92% of money is backing the Bobcats.
According to the Action Network PRO Report, Sharp Action has been tracked in favor of Ohio, while the Action Network Model projects Central Michigan as a slight favorite.
My preferred play is to back the underdog.
Central Michigan's defense largely struggles against the passing game, but against a run-first offense, it's unlikely to be a major issue. The game will likely come down to Ohio's ability to stop the running game, and I expect that Central Michigan will be able to run the ball consistently enough to keep the game within a field goal.
Pick: Central Michigan +3 (-110)
Ohio vs Central Michigan Start Time, TV Channel, How to Watch
| Location: | Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Mount Pleasant, MI |
| Date: | Saturday, Oct. 12 |
| Kickoff Time: | 4 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ESPNU |
Central Michigan vs. Ohio is scheduled for 4:00 PM EDT live from Kelly/Shorts Stadium on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
Central Michigan vs Ohio Betting Trends
Ohio vs Central Michigan Weather
