The Ohio Bobcats have had the Eastern Michigan Eagles’ number, winning eight of the last nine head-to-head matchups, including the last two. Can the Eagles stop the bleeding in Week 12 and book their ticket to a bowl game?
Our Eastern Michigan vs. Ohio preview breaks down the matchup, offering key betting insights to help you make informed picks.
Eastern Michigan vs. Ohio Betting Preview
All Eastern Michigan vs. Ohio odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. The CFN Spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Ohio -7.5 - Spread
Ohio -9 - Moneyline
Ohio -325, Eastern Michigan +260 - Over/Under
49.5 points - Game Time
7:00 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Nov. 13 - Location
Peden Stadium | Athens, Ohio - Predicted Weather at Kick
52 degrees, 3 mph winds, cloudy - How To Watch
ESPN2
While EMU is 7-2 against the spread in its last nine games, the program is only 1-6 ATS in its previous seven meetings with Ohio. Plus, Ohio is 5-1 ATS in its past six home games against the Eagles.
MORE: CFN Betting Parlay Calculator
If you’re off ATS for MAC games — fair enough — perhaps the total tickles your fancy? The over has hit in:
- Four of Eastern Michigan’s last five games.
- Four of Ohio’s last six.
Eastern Michigan’s Winning Probability
The Eagles are just one win away from bowling for the fourth straight year but securing it won’t be easy. According to the FPM, they aren’t favored to win any of their final three games, two of which are on the road.
- at Ohio: 34.3%
- vs. Buffalo: 49.2%
- at Western Michigan: 28.4%
Ohio’s Winning Probability
The Bobcats are already bowl-eligible at 6-3 on the year, but they are playing for a spot in the MAC Championship. They are one of four teams at 4-1 in conference play, and although they won’t play any of the other contenders (Miami-Ohio, Bowling Green, and Western Michigan), those three will play each other, leaving Ohio’s destiny in its own hands.
- vs. Eastern Michigan: 65.7%
- at Toledo: 49.4%
- vs. Ball State: 71.6%
Prediction for Eastern Michigan vs. Ohio
These squads enter Week 12 in contrasting forms. In its last two games, EMU handed the Akron Zips their first FBS win (25-21) and fell to the Toledo Rockets by one point (29-28). Meanwhile, Ohio dusted both the Buffalo Bulls (47-16) and the Kent State Golden Flashes (41-0), posting their first two 40+ point outings of the year.
“That’s just a two-game sample size!” The full-season view doesn’t get any better for the Eagles, whose five wins have come against UMass, early-season Jacksonville State, FCS-level St. Francis, Kent State, and Central Michigan.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season With CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
The Eagles are +7 in turnover differential to the Bobcats’ -8, but that’s about their only advantage. They have aired it out with Cole Snyder under center, putting pressure on the offensive line to hold up, resulting in 25 sacks allowed, second-most in the MAC.
The Bobcats haven’t exactly harassed QBs all year, generating 2.22 sacks per game, but their strength is Eastern Michigan’s weakness: the edge. Ohio’s trio of Bradley Weaver, Marcel Walker-Burgess, and Ben McNaboe have combined for 10 sacks, while EMU’s OTs (Joshua Anderson, Blake Bustard, and Mark Indestad) have conceded 10 on the year.
Making matters worse, the Eagles’ offense will likely have to throw their way back into the game, as the defense, which checks in at 124th in EPA per dropback and 91st in EPA per rush, will struggle to stop the Bobcats.
With Parker Navarro and Anthony Tyus III in the backfield, Ohio has remained on schedule, ranking 33rd nationally in offensive success rate (44.5%). Take the Bobcats to win and cover at home.
Prediction: Ohio 31, Eastern Michigan 20
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