Wednesday’s MAC Best Bets, Odds, Predictions

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

15 minute read

Editor's Note: Be sure to cash College Football Week 11 winners from Joe Williams on VegasInsider.com. Click to win!

The Mid-American Conference continues in Week 11 on Wednesday with three more matchups on tap. 

Straight Up (SU), Against the Spread (ATS)

MAC Betting Results - Week 10

• Home-Away: 4-2 SU, 3-3 ATS
• Favorites-Underdogs: 4-2 SU, 3-3 ATS
• Over-Under: 4-2

For this piece, we're focusing on the three games for Wednesday and unlike Tuesday's slate, this three-game card is expected to be much more competitive and once again points are expected.

Week 11 - Wednesday's MAC Schedule

Akron at Ohio
Kent State at Bowling Green
Miami Ohio at Buffalo

Let's break down the MACtion!

MAC Wednesday's Best Bets

Eastern Michigan (0-1 SU, 1-0 ATS) at Ball State (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS)

• Odds: Ball State -8.5, Total 60.5
• TV-Time: CBSSN, 7:00 p.m. ET
• Venue: Scheumann Stadium
• Location: Muncie, Indiana

Eastern Michigan was tripped up 27-23 at Kent State in their opener last Wednesday, but they did manage to cover the 4.5-point number. They trailed for the first three quarters, but took the lead 23-20 with a touchdown and two-point conversion early in the fourth. That decision to go for two helped side bettors at most shops.

Quarterback Preston Hutchinson tossed a pair of touchdowns while running for another, but the difference was two turnovers to just one for Kent State.

They’ll be looking for some revenge in this game, too. EMU fell in Ypsilanti against the Cardinals by a 29-23 score as two-point favorites on Oct. 12, 2019 in a rare ‘under’ result for EMU last season.

EMU heads into this one with a 21-6 ATS mark across the past 27 road games, and 23-7 ATS in the previous 30 as a ‘dog. The good news is that the Eagles are 5-1 ATS in their past six trips to Muncie, and the road team has hit in six of the past seven in this series.

Ball State was dumped 38-31 at Miami-Ohio last week, failing to hit as a one-point road favorite. The Cardinals offense showed out, posting 478 total yards with 309 yards through the air, while they allowed 422 total yards with 288 passing yards allowed. QB Drew Plitt will now look to maintain his tremendous rapport with WR Justin Hall. Those two connected for 124 yards, while RB Caleb Huntley gobbled up 130 yards on the ground with two scores.

The Cardinals have had difficult against the number in recent seasons, hitting in just 12 of the past 37 at home, while going 6-15 ATS in the previous 21 as a home favorite.

All trends point to the over here. The over is 6-1-1 in the past eight for EMU as an underdog, while going 6-1 in their past seven on the road, too. For Ball State, the over has hit in five straight league games, while cashing in the past four as a favorite.

That’s the trend in the head-to-head matchups, too, as the over is 9-2 in the past 11 in this series, and 5-0 in the past five meetings in Muncie.

Best Bet: Over 59

Toledo (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS) at Western Michigan (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS)

• Odds: Western Michigan -2.5, Total 59.5
• TV-Time: ESPN2, 8:00 p.m. ET
• Venue: Waldo Stadium
• Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan

The Rockets rolled over their rivals from Bowling Green, 38-3. They will likely get a much bigger test on the road in Kalamazoo from the Broncos. Toledo rolled up 524 total yards of offense, including 310 rushing yards, showing off their tremendous depth against the overmatched Falcons. The one-two backfield punch of RBs Shakif Seymour (13-93-1) and Bryant Koback (21-74-0) showed well in the opener, and overall the Rockets averaged 6.0 yards per tote.

QB Eli Peters, the dual threat, also tossed four touchdowns while running for 67 yards, showing his great versatility. Toledo nearly doubled up Bowling Green in total yards, 524 to 267, while dominating the time of possession battle at nearly 2-to-1.

Western Michigan will be looking to avenge a loss to Toledo last Oct. 5, as the Rockets defended the Glass Bowl with a 31-24 win as 1.5-point favorites with the ‘under’ easily cashing.

The Broncos looked sharp last weekend in Akron, but doesn’t everyone look good against the Zips? WMU blasted the beleaguered Zips 58-13, covering as 19.5-point road favorites. They racked up 218 yards on the ground, with La’Darius Jefferson leading the way.

QB Kalab Eleby was everything as advertised, going for 262 yards, and he hooked up with his old pal WR D’Wayne Eskridge for 114 yards. That might end up being one of the best pass-catch combos in this abbreviated season in the MAC.

The Rockets do not respond terribly well as an underdog, going 2-10 ATS in the past 12 as a ‘dog, and 0-5 ATS in the past five as a road underdog. Western, on the other hand, relishes the role of favorite, going 5-1 ATS in the past six as a home fave, and 6-1-1 ATS in the past eight at home overall.

Best Bet: Western Michigan -2.5

Central Michigan (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS) at Northern Illinois (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS)

• Odds: Central Michigan -7.5, Total 57.5
• TV-Time: ESPNU, 8:00 p.m. ET
• Venue: Huskie Stadium
• Location: DeKalb, Illinois

The defending MAC champions opened with a solid 30-27 victory over Ohio U last weekend, covering at home as 2.5-point underdogs.

Backup QB Daniel Richardson threw for 243 yards, as he holds down the fort with starter David Moore still suspended by the NCAA for testing positive for a banned substance last year. The offense didn’t skip a beat, posting 427 total yards with 243 passing yards and 184 yards on the ground in their win, and RB Kobe Lewis ran for 112 yards and two scores while WR Kalil Pimpleton looks like the next star receiver for the Chips. The defense was also fairly stout, yielding just 345 total yards, and only 110 yards on the ground.

Central has posted an impressive 11-1-1 ATS mark in its past 13 appearances on a Wednesday, while going 19-6-2 ATS across the past 27 as a road favorite.

For Northern Illinois, looks are deceiving, and so was the score last week. They fell 49-30 against Buffalo, and by all indications it was a blowout loss.

However, a deeper dive into the numbers shows NIU actually outgained the East favorites 397 to 357 in total yards while outperforming Buffalo 26 to 14 in first downs. The big problem that the Huskies will need to clean up is the turnovers, as they coughed it up five times while posting a minus-3 turnover ratio. Three of those turnovers resulted in touchdowns, with two scoop and scores and a pick six, all in the second half.

The Huskies were dumped 48-10 last season on Nov. 2 in Mount Pleasant, so they’ll be looking for a much better showing this time around.

NIU does enter with a 7-3 ATS mark in the past 10 against teams with a winning record, but they’re just 3-12-1 ATS in the past 16 following a double-digit loss at home. They’re also 0-6 ATS in the past six tries against CMU.

Best Bet: Over 57.5

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