NCAA Football Preview - Miami-Ohio RedHawks

NCAA Football Betting Lines

08/21/2007 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - 2006 SEASON IN REVIEW: Usually the RedHawks are one of the better teams in the MAC, however, last year that was not the case and in fact, they were one of the worst teams in the conference. In their opener, the RedHawks suffered a 21-3 setback to Northwestern on their home field. Unfortunately, the losing did not stop there as Miami lost five more games, opening the year with an 0-6 mark, which included an 0-2 ledger in MAC play. The team was able to snap the run of futility with a thrilling 38-31 victory over Buffalo. However, the RedHawks would go right back to their losing ways, dropping three straight contests, including back-to-back decisions to Ball State and Western Michigan by a combined six points. Miami collected its second victory of the season in ugly fashion, defeating Bowling Green (9-7) on the road. That would be the last victory for Miami though, as the team would close out the regular season with a 34-24 setback to Ohio University. Needless to say, a 2-10 overall ledger is bad, but for the RedHawks it is simply inexcusable.

2007 ANALYSIS:

OFFENSE: Two of the biggest issues for Miami last season was a lack of scoring and a terrible running game. The return of tailback Brandon Murphy should help the RedHawks in both areas. Murphy was limited last season by an ankle injury, but the team is hoping he is back to his 2005 form when he rushed for 1,070 yards. Murphy will have the luxury of running behind a line that returns four starters, including OT Steve Sutter. Someone who will greatly appreciate the return of Murphy is quarterback Mike Kokal, who had to carry the Miami offense last year. As a junior, Kokal threw for 2,419 yards and tossed 14 touchdowns against eight interceptions. Unfortunately, for Kokal to equal or surpass those numbers he will have to build a rapport with several new targets. Deep threat Ryne Robinson is gone, so Kokal is going to have to rely on Dustin Woods and Sean McVay to find opening down field. Woods was second on the squad last year with 25 catches for 506 yards and four scores, but McVay has little experience, grabbing 20 passes for 198 yards.

DEFENSE: Last year the RedHawks were abused by the opposition's ground attack, allowing 173.4 ypg and it could be more of the same for this unit this time around. Miami returns only two starters along the front line -- defensive ends Joe Coniglio and Craig Mester. Mester is a fifth-year senior with a ton of experience, while Coniglio racked up a team-high five sacks in 2006. Linebacker Joey Hudson was terrific last season as a rookie, leading the team with 97 tackles and he also came up with five INTs. Hudson should be primed for another stellar season and will get help from Clayton Mullins and Caleb Bostic. The secondary returns just two starters, but the unit should be fine. Jerrid Gaines and Robbie Wilson return to their starting spots at CB and SS, respectively, while sophomore Wendall Brunson will start at the other corner. Taking over at free safety is sophomore sensation Jordan Gafford.

SPECIAL TEAMS: This unit will take a huge step back with the loss of Ryne Robinson. Robinson was one of the best return men in the nation and will surely be missed. Most likely Jeff Thompson will be his replacement, but he has very little experience. As for the kicking game, Trevor Cook provided solid play as a freshman, netting 10-of-13 field goals. Punter Jacob Richardson also did a commendable job, averaging 41.1 yards per punt. Overall, the Miami special teams should be one of the top units in the MAC this year.

OUTLOOK: The RedHawks' No. 1 priority this year will be its ground game. If the team can put forth a balanced attack, Miami will have a better chance of putting more points on the board. Defensively, the front line will still have issues against the run, but overall the team should play better all around. Miami opens the year with three road games in its first four matchups and for the season, the team will play seven games away from Oxford. If the RedHawks can win at least three of those road tilts, they could finish at or near .500, which would be a great improvement over last season.

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Will Ohio State continue to run the table in College Football betting odds?
MySportsbook.com favors Buckeyes, Fighting Irish and Golden Bears in this weekend's big games.

NEW YORK, NY, Sept. 21 - My Sportsbook NCAA football fans: things are beginning to get really interesting on college football's national stage. Following last weekend's "Separation Saturday", which included five teams ranked in the top 15 dropping games, the BCS Championship picture is beginning to take shape - with Ohio State leading the charge. And, according to odds makers at MySportsbook.com, the number-one-ranked Buckeyes will continue their winning ways this weekend.

Revenge will be the name of the game in Columbus this Saturday, as Ohio State looks to even the score following last season's loss to Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions. Although Penn State are listed as 16.5 point underdogs, they are 11-10 all-time versus the Buckeyes. Paterno and the Lions, however, will have to shut down Heisman Trophy favorite Troy Smith who has thrown for 769 yards and seven touchdowns this season.

Speaking of revenge, Notre Dame will be out for some against Michigan State, following last year's 44 - 41 overtime loss to the Spartans in South Bend. The thirteenth-ranked Irish, listed as a 3-point favorite, will also be looking to avenge last Saturday's thrashing from the Michigan Wolverines. The Spartans, meanwhile, have won seven of the last nine match-ups against Notre Dame and are coming off an impressive 38-23 victory over Pittsburgh.

Out west, 22nd-ranked Arizona State will be battling for their first victory over 21st-ranked California since 2000. Although the Golden Bears are listed as 7.5-point favorites, the Sun Devils are 3-0, lead the nation in sacks with 18 and possess the Pac-10's leading passer in sophomore quarterback Rudy Carpenter.

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NCAA Football betting lines (home team in CAPS)
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Date Favorite Opponent Point Spread
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Sept 21 GEORGIA TECH Virginia 17
Sept 22 NEVADA Northwestern 6.5
Sept 23 MICHIGAN Wisconsin 14
Sept 23 Minnesota PURDUE 3
Sept 23 SYRACUSE Miami (Ohio) 6.5
Sept 23 MISSOURI Ohio 21.5
Sept 23 Louisville KANSAS STATE 14
Sept 23 TENNESSEE Marshall 22
Sept 23 CLEMSON North Carolina 16.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA Kentucky 24
Sept 23 Iowa ILLINOIS 20.5
Sept 23 FLORIDA STATE Rice 30.5
Sept 23 AUBURN Buffalo 41.5
Sept 23 BOWLING GREEN Kent 7
Sept 23 NAVY Tulsa 4.5
Sept 23 VIRGINIA TECH Cincinnati 27
Sept 23 BYU Utah State 29
Sept 23 OHIO STATE Penn State 16.5
Sept 23 TEXAS Iowa State 25
Sept 23 Washington State STANFORD 10
Sept 23 CALIFORNIA Arizona State 7.5
Sept 23 UCLA WASHINGTON 3
Sept 23 INDIANA Connecticut 1.5
Sept 23 Central Michigan EASTERN MICHIGAN 4
Sept 23 WYOMING Air Force 1
Sept 23 UTEP NEW MEXICO 9.5
Sept 23 West Virginia EAST CAROLINA 21
Sept 23 Boston College NORTH CAROLINA STATE 7
Sept 23 GEORGIA Colorado 27
Sept 23 ARKANSAS Alabama 1.5
Sept 23 BAYLOR Army 11
Sept 23 WESTERN MICHIGAN Temple 28
Sept 23 MISSISSIPPI Wake Forest 2.5
Sept 23 KANSAS South Florida 5.5
Sept 23 TEXAS A&amp;M Louisiana Tech 23.5
Sept 23 UAB Mississippi State 9.5
Sept 23 LSU Tulane 36
Sept 23 Utah SAN DIEGO STATE 6.5
Sept 23 BOISE STATE Hawaii 15
Sept 23 Notre Dame MICHIGAN STATE 3
Sept 23 USC ARIZONA U 22
Sept 23 Oklahoma State HOUSTON 1
Sept 23 OREGON STATE Idaho 23
Sept 23 OKLAHOMA Middle Tennessee State 29
Sept 23 MARYLAND Florida International 18.5
Sept 23 AKRON North Texas 17.5
Sept 23 SOUTH CAROLINA Florida Atlantic 29.5
Sept 23 NEBRASKA Troy 23
Sept 23 SMU Arkansas State 6

For complete NCAA football odds and World Series odds please visit MySportsbook.com