Pinnacle +6½ -101 Bet365 +6½ -110 SportsInteraction +6½ -110 5DIMES +6½ -110 888Sport +6½ -110

Posted at 11:00 PM EST. 

For NITRO subscribers - on ESPN2 in the CAN/USA Sports section.

Miami (OH) +6½ -101 over Central Michigan

Ford Field – Detroit, MI - Mid-American Conference Championship Game

12:00 PM EST. Central Michigan is one of 2019’s surprise teams. Under first-year Head Coach Jim McElwain, the Chippewas have transformed from the ugly duckling of the MAC into a beautiful swan. After going 1-11 straight up in 2018 and failing to win a game against an FBS opponent, the Chips have won the MAC West in 2019 and could finish with 10 wins should it emerge victorious here and then in their bowl game. In addition to the feel-good element and heightened sentimentality that such a story can bring, the Chippewas took advantage of being supremely undervalued and have been kind to those that have backed them, going 9-3 ATS over the span of the 2019 regular season. Given how hot the Chips have been against the spread (covering nine of their previous 10), it’s the perfect time to sell high. One of the common pitfalls of first-time conference championship contestants is feeling too much fait accompli in winning the division, leading to a "just happy to be there" mentality. Miami fielded just the 11th-best total offense in the league but rode a lot of lucky bounces and the best special teams in the MAC to a division crown.

Though Central Michigan offers a better won-loss record compared to the Redhawks, a closer look under the hood would reveal that perhaps Miami Ohio should actually be favored here. In conference play, the Redhawks and the Chippewas attained equal marks, both winning six and dropping two. However, their out-of-conference dossiers are anything but equal. Central Michigan faced the likes of Albany (FCS), New Mexico State, Miami, and Wisconsin. In terms of FBS opposition, New Mexico State won just two games in 2019 and the Hurricanes of Miami backed their way into a bowl with a six-win season. The only team that offers any kind of quality in the aforementioned would be the #8 Badgers who made a mockery of the Chippewas in a 61-0 rout when they hosted CMU in Madison.

Miami (OH) though owning one more loss than their counterparts at 7-5 played three teams that are presently ranked to comprise their out-of-conference schedule (excluding FCS Tennessee Tech as the fourth non-conference opponent), including at #1 Ohio State, at #16 Iowa, and at #20 Cincinnati. While none of the results against any of these teams were pretty (especially the 76-5 beat-down suffered against the Buckeyes), there is little question that Miami Ohio is the more battle-tested bunch, as they played a higher echelon of competition outside their MAC docket. Had CMU failed to cash in perhaps just once over their 9-1 ATS run, we might have seen them as the pup here. However, as a result of this plot line, we get to play the Redhawks at an enhanced figure. Upset potential is high in this match-up but we’ll stick with the points.

----------------------------------------------------

A cheaper and better alternative to CABLE

TV Programming

A GREAT OFFER FOR SPORTSWAGERS READERS:

We’re offering a better and cheaper alternative to cable TV. You will literally save thousands of dollars. If you’re sick of paying a fortune for programming that you don’t even want or need, this is for you. All pro sports -- EVERY GAME, tons of college football and basketball games and tons of regular programming (non-sports). Over 2500 channels all in HD for a mere $20 per month. You have to be nuts not to get it.

Get all the details here