Updated Dec. 5, 2025, 12:56 p.m. ET
The Miami Ohio RedHawks (7-5, 6-2 MAC) and Western Michigan Broncos (8-4, 7-1) meet Saturday in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship Game. Kickoff from Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, is scheduled for noon ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA football odds around the Miami Ohio vs. Western Michigan odds and make our expert college football picks and predictions for the best bets.
Miami leads the all-time series 39-24-1, including victories in each of the past 2 meetings. The RedHawks won 26-17 in Oxford on Oct. 25 as a 2-point favorite as the Over (40) cashed, dealing the Broncos their only conference loss of the season.
In that win over Western Michigan in late October, Miami QB Dequan Finn, who has since left the program to concentrate on preparing for a possible NFL career, threw for 260 yards and a TD, while running for 52 yards and a score. RB Jordan Brunson had 90 rushing yards, while WR Kam Perry had 4 grabs for 98 yards, and WR Cole Weaver pulled in 9 receptions for 96 yards.
Western Michigan QB Broc Lowry completed 16-of-28 passes for 172 yards, 1 TD and 0 INT, while leading with 82 rushing yards. WR Tailique Williams went for 5 receptions for 71 yards and a TD on 7 targets, while WR Aveion Chenault was good for 4 receptions and 65 yards on 7 targets.
Miami bounced back from back-to-back losses at the Ohio Bobcats, and home to the Toledo Rockets, with wins at the Buffalo Bulls and home to the Ball State Cardinals, covering both outings. It topped the Cardinals 45-24 as a 17-point favorite as the Over (40) cashed. The RedHawks are 7-2 SU/ATS in the past 9 games, with the Over going 4-2 in the past 6 outings.
Since the loss at Miami, Western Michigan has won 4 in a row, while going 2-0-1 ATS in the final 3 games. The Over is 4-1 in the past 5 outings.
Miami is making its eighth MAC Championship Game appearance. It has 4 wins, including 2023. It is making its third straight title game showing. Western Michigan is in the title game for the fourth time, and its lone championship came in 2016, a 29-23 win over Ohio enroute to a Cotton Bowl Classic appearance. It lost back-to-back appearances in 1999 and 2000 against the Marshall Thundering Herd in its only other showings.
– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
Watch NCAA football on Fubo!Miami Ohio vs. Western Michigan odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 11:31 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Miami +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Western Michigan -120 (bet $120 to win $100)Against the spread: Miami +1.5 (-110) | Western Michigan -1.5 (-110)Over/Under (O/U): 43.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)Miami Ohio vs. Western Michigan picks and predictionsPrediction
Miami 25, Western Michigan 22
MIAMI (+100) is worth a look at even-money. We’re banking on the experience of the RedHawks in this title game, especially the recent experience in the past 2 outings.
Western Michigan has been snakebitten in the title game, and while it has only lost once inside the conference this season, the Broncos are facing the only team to solve them.
AVOID.
Side with Miami +1.5 (-110) straight up for a better value, unless, for whatever reason, you’re absolutely, positively convinced Western Michigan is going to win by only a single point. If you like the RedHawks, they’re a better value on the moneyline.
OVER 43.5 (-110) is worth a look, but don’t get carried away.
The Over cashed in the final 2 games of the season for Miami, with the offense averaging 41.0 points per game (PPG) on offense. The RedHawks have gone for 26 or more points in 4 of the past 6 games, including the 26-17 win over Western.
WMU registered 33.0 PPG in the final 2 games, going high on the total on the road at the Northern Illinois Huskies and Eastern Michigan Eagles to close the season. The Over was 4-1 in the final 5 games for the Broncos.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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