Colorado State (8-4) vs Miami-OH (8-5)
Game Info: Saturday, December 28, 2024 at 4:30 pm (Arizona Stadium)
Betting Odds: Colorado State +3 / Miami-OH -3 --- Over/Under: 42.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
Where to Watch: The CW
The Miami-Ohio RedHawks and the Colorado State Rams meet in the Arizona Bowl in college football action from Arizona Stadium on Saturday afternoon. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Miami-Ohio vs. Colorado State prediction.
Miami-Ohio Recap
The Miami-Ohio RedHawks come into this bowl game on behalf of the MAC, finishing the year 8-5 overall including a 38-3 beatdown loss to Ohio in the MAC title game. Miami-Ohio will be looking for their first bowl game win since 2021 after back-to-back bowl losses.
RedHawks Looking To Finish On High
Brett Gabbert will play in the bowl game which should be big for Miami-Ohio as he was the key to a lot of their success this season, throwing for 2,737 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 INTs on 57.6% passing and Keyon Mozee looks good to go as well after rushing for over 1,000 yards. The problem for Miami-Ohio is that they’re without their top two receivers as Javon Tracy and Reggie Virgil have committed elsewhere as has their starting LT Will Jados. On defense, Raion Strader’s committed to Auburn which is a big deal for a Miami-Ohio team that was one of the best defensive units in the MAC this season.
Why the Miami (OH) RedHawks will win
- Colorado State has lost each of its last nine games at neutral venues.
- The favorite has won each of Colorado State's last 12 games.
- Colorado State has failed to cover the spread in each of its last nine games played at neutral venues.
- The favorite has covered the spread in each of Colorado State's last seven games.
Colorado State Recap
The Colorado State Rams come into this game with an overall record of 8-4, repping the Mountain West in this bowl game. This will be Colorado State’s first bowl appearance since the 2017 season.
Rams Looking To Snap Bowl Drought
Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi has thrown for 2,475 yards, 13 touchdowns and 7 interceptions and is looking like he’s good to go here, which will be key as the statuses of RBs Avery Morrow and Justin Marshall are up in the air with both dealing with injuries late in the year. That’s big as well because Colorado State’s offensive emphasis shifted from pass heavy to run heavy after the season-ending injury to star receiver Tory Horton. Colorado State loses top receiver Caleb Goodie to the portal as well as Starting LB Buom Jock who led the team in tackles and starting DTs Mukendi Wa-Kalonji and Nuer Gatkuoth.
Why the Colorado State Rams will win
- The underdog has won each of Colorado State's last three Bowl games.
- Miami (OH) has lost four of its last five games against non-conference opponents.
- Colorado State has covered the spread in eight of its last nine games.
- Miami (OH) has failed to cover the spread in three of its last four games as a favorite against non-AP-ranked teams.
Miami-Ohio vs. Colorado State Prediction
I’m on Colorado State here. The area of Colorado State’s defense where you have to attack is the secondary and I’m not sure the RedHawks can after losing their top two receivers. Colorado State can move the ball on the ground and I think they’ll have all of the motivation here, having not played in a bowl since 2017 and not having won one as a program since 2013. I don’t get Miami-Ohio being favored here. Give me the Rams and the points.
Chris’s Pick Colorado State +3
AUTHOR: Chris Ruffolo
