The Miami (OH) RedHawks take on the Western Michigan Broncos in Kalamazoo, MI. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
Miami (OH) is favored by 11.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -950. The total is set at 161 points.
Here’s my Miami (OH) vs. Western Michigan prediction and college basketball picks for February 27, 2026.
Miami (OH) vs Western Michigan Prediction
My Pick: Miami (OH) 1H ATS
My Miami (OH) vs Western Michigan best bet is on the RedHawks to cover the first-half spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Miami (OH) vs. Western Michigan Odds
| Miami (OH) Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-11.5 -110 | 161 -105o / -115u | -950 |
| Western Michigan Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+11.5 -110 | 161 -105o / -115u | +625 |
- Miami (OH) vs Western Michigan spread: Miami (OH) -11.5
- Miami (OH) vs Western Michigan over/under: 161 points
- Miami (OH) vs Western Michigan moneyline: Miami (OH) -950, Western Michigan +625
Miami (OH) vs Western Michigan College Basketball Betting Preview
Miami (OH) Basketball
Miami (OH) is ever so close to finishing the season with a 31-0 record. All it needs is three wins, starting with this one in Kalamazoo on Friday.
The RedHawks' offense is just so steady, as it ranks 60th in offensive efficiency, per KenPom. But that feels a bit low. For a better representation, Miami (OH) is fifth in effective field goal percentage, third in 2-point percentage and 25th in 3-point percentage. Plus, it only turns the ball over 14% of the time.
They don't have a true "star," but they have six players who average 10+ points per game. Sharpshooting forward Brant Byers and crafty guard Peter Suder lead the team with 14.6 points per game. Point guard Luke Skaljac may be the most important of the bunch. The smooth-shooting southpaw is a dazzling passer and is a hugely impactful player.
In this duel, keep an eye on Antwone Woolfolk. The 6-foot-9, 245-pound forward can put pressure on opposing defenses with his ability to shoot it and post-up. He's become one of the more important players on this roster because the drop off from him to the backup bigs is drastic.
They have to go way smaller without Woolfolk, and that creates real defensive issues.
Let's travel back to when Miami (OH) got in a three-game tussle where it had to sneak out three wins. It had little to do with the elite offense. As I mentioned, it was all about defense.
During that run, it allowed more than 1.20 points per possession in each game, and it's tough to win that way. Since then, the RedHawks allowed 1.09 PPP or fewer in the last seven games. That boosted Miami (OH) to 85th in defensive efficiency, per Bart Torvik — up from 136th for the season.
Western Michigan Basketball
Western Michigan is among the bottom four teams in the MAC, but it pulled out a stunning upset over Bowling Green on Tuesday. The Broncos, who are 4-11 in MAC play, scored 88 points on 1.21 PPP against a top-tier MAC defense.
I'd keep an eye on the availability of two of the Broncos' top-four scorers: Jalen Griffith (12.7 PPG) and Brady Swartz (7.7 PPG), who each missed the last few games.
The Broncos' defense is a total train wreck, as it ranks 328th in defensive efficiency — one of the worst marks in the MAC. Opponents make a living scoring on the questionable Broncos interior, shooting 54% from 2-point range (298th nationally). Their 3-point defense isn't much better, as teams drill 3s at a 36% clip.
The interior play for Dwayne Stephens' squad is a real issue. Starting center Max Burton averages 6.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in over 25 minutes. There isn't much depth behind him, either.
Since Western Michigan is sure to give up loads of points to Miami (OH), it'll need to keep pace offensively. The Broncos check in at No. 197 in KenPom's offensive efficiency, but they need to shoot well to keep it close. Due to the lack of a true rim-scoring presence, the Broncos' offense can be somewhat one-dimensional.
Western Michigan shoots a strong 35% from downtown, while only attempting 3s on 35% of its field goals. It often settles for low-percentage mid-range 2s, which opposing defenses will gladly give up instead of a 3.
They'll rely heavily on Justice Williams, a guard with deep shooting range, and small-ball four, Jayden Brewer, who can use his quickness to his advantage against less-agile foes.
Miami (OH) vs. Western Michigan Betting Analysis
One thing I've tracked with Miami (OH) is how good it plays in the first half compared to the second.
For example, the RedHawks jetted out to a 21-point halftime lead against Eastern Michigan, but lost the second half, 42-31.
That's a trend for Miami (OH), which covered the first-half spread in seven consecutive games.
With the spread sitting at Miami (OH) -12.5 on the road, I don't really want to stomach another second-half meltdown.
I'd rather roll with what's been working, and that's the RedHawks firing early and covering the first half number.
My Pick: Miami (OH) 1H ATS
