Ohio vs. Bowling Green Betting Odds, Picks: Will the Bobcats Run Up the Score?

Ohio vs. Bowling Green Betting Odds, Picks: Will the Bobcats Run Up the Score? article feature image
Credit:

Charles LeClaire, USA Today Sports.

  • Ohio is a massive 20.5-point favorite over Bowling Green in the latest odds from bookmakers, though some sharp action has come in on the Falcons at a certain price.
  • Our experts break down this game from several betting angles and give their picks for this MACtion contest (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU).

Ohio at Bowling Green Odds

  • Spread: Ohio -20.5
  • Over/Under: 57
  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • TV: ESPNU

Collin Wilson: Has This Spread Moved Too Much?

There is an outside chance that a 6-6 Ohio team could be selected for a bowl game. The Bobcats MAC aspirations were extinguished in the past couple weeks thanks to a poor defense.

The biggest mismatch in this game is Ohio's rushing attack, led by quarterback Nathan Rourke. The Bobcats rank 14th in rushing success rate, so they should rack up plenty of ground yards against Bowling Green's defense, which ranks 73rd in defensive rushing success rate. More importantly, the Falcons rank 122nd in opponent rush explosiveness.

Outside of its game against Akron, Bowling Green's offense has been incompetent in conference play — the Falcons have scored a grand total of three offensive touchdowns in their past three games.

However, if there was a chance for a break-out performance, this could be the right matchup. Ohio has allowed at least 21 points over its past five conference games and is giving up an average of 29.7 points per game.

Our Action Network projections make this line Ohio -18.5, which is right where it opened on Sunday. The Bobcats have caught a lot of steam, moving to -20.5.

While I am not running to back Bowling Green, any number above three touchdowns deserves a look on the Falcons.

Kyle Miller: Ohio Can Name the Score

Ohio is coming off a three-game stretch against three of the top teams in the MAC. The bad news: they went 1-2 in that stretch and eliminated themselves from MAC East contention.

The good news: they get soft landing in their final two games against lowly Bowling Green and Akron. The Bobcats need to both games to go bowling for a fifth straight season.

As mentioned, Bowling Green is among the worst teams in the entire country. If this team has a strength, it’s their rush defense and defensive line. Unfortunately, they’ll still have massive disadvantages in those categories because Ohio ranks 14th in rushing success rate and 22nd in line score.

Ohio will be able to name their score, but can they get the stops they so desperately needed last week? Much like the Bowling Green defense, Ohio’s doesn’t have a true strength. It’s a bad unit that ranks 100th or lower in every category but passing success rate and Bowling Green rarely throws the ball.

The Falcons’ offense is no where near as powerful as Ohio’s, though. In fact, it’s probably worse than their defense when considering the entire picture. I don’t think Bowling Green puts up more than a couple touchdowns and I don’t see a scenario where Ohio scores less than 40 points. Lay the points with the Bobcats.

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