2005 Miami Ohio Handicapping Review

 

By Tom Wilkinson

 

Miami of Ohio was coming off a sensational 2003 season in which they went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the odds, capping off the season with a 49-28 GMAC Bowl win over Louisville as 14-point chalks. Another added benefit to the program was the publicity that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger brought both as the team’s quarterback in 2003, and as a rookie with Pittsburgh in 2004, which incredibly enough, may have hurt Miami’s value against the odds.

In fact, Miami got off to a shaky start to 2004 as after a 49-0 season opening win against 1-AA Indiana State in an un-lined game, Miami was pounded 10-43 at Michigan as 13-point dogs and then was mauled again the very next week at Cincinnati 26-45 as 3.5-point dogs. With back-to-back blowout losses, Miami of Ohio was about to regain some of the value, however.

In their next game at home against Ohio, as 19-point chalks, Miami prevailed 40-20 to eke out a payoff for sports bettors. But as 7-point dogs at Marshall, Miami again failed against top-notch competition in a 25-33 loss to fall to 2-3 straight up and 1-3 against the odds. Being a MAC team with such a record and start does not ensure much popularity for a team with sports bettors, who are averse to having such teams on their lists of football picks. This was eventually to be a good thing for sports handicapping bargain hunters.

Miami’s next game was home against Kent State, and as 19-point chalks they prevailed 47-27. Next was a 25-7 win as 20-point chalks at Buffalo, but Miami began to get the money on a regular basis from there as they beat the sports betting odds in four consecutive games with straight up wins over Central Florida (43-7), Toledo (23-16), Western Michigan (42-21), and Akron (37-27). After that poor start, Miami rallied to finish 8-3 straight up and 6-4 against the odds with six covers in their final nine games. Best of all, they made the MAC Championship Game against Toledo.

Miami, defending MAC Champions, were installed as 1.5-point chalks in the title game at Detroit. Many sports betting bloggers touted them as having edge since they played in the game and won it in 2003. But Toledo prevailed 35-27 and Miami then lost to Iowa State 13-17 as 2-point dogs in the Independence Bowl to end 2004 with two losses against the line.