For one final week, midweek MACtion takes over our early college football picks and predictions as the middle of November shapes our conference championship games pictures clearer. Grab early line value and find your sweet spot on these MAC games this week.
Week 12 College Football Picks and Predictions
With early line value, be sure to take advantage of every opportunity thrown your way. Especially those offered by sports books. DraftKings Sportsbook is throwing you $200 as a new user by betting $5 on a moneyline.
Bowling Green (+16) vs. Toledo
The Toledo Rockets are the lone team with a clinched spot in the MAC Championship Game at this point. With that information, the Rockets certainly have less to play for than Bowling Green’s improving defense, as the Falcons are fighting to stay alive in the MAC East.
Bowling Green dropped their last game against Kent State in uncharacteristic form. The defense was run over and looked dazed and confused by the end of it. But the offense didn’t hold up their end of the bargain, either.
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Still, this BGSU team is in control of their own destiny and needs a victory on Tuesday if they want to play for a MAC East title against Ohio in the season finale. The Falcons have what it takes to give Toledo a run for their money, with Odieu Hilaire and Tyrone Broden ready to cause mismatches on the outside for Quinyon Mitchell and Co. in the Rockets’ secondary.
Toledo wins it, but it’s certainly not near a three-possession kind of game.
Prediction: Toledo 27, Bowling Green 21
Ohio (-6) vs. Ball State
The hottest team in the conference and one of the hottest teams in the country, Ohio is set to clinch their spot in the MAC Championship Game with a win, then some help, so they can coast in the season finale.
Kurtis Rourke is playing lights-out football and has thrown 24 touchdowns this year. He has 13 of those touchdowns during Ohio’s five-game win streak compared to just two interceptions.
MORE: College Football Playoff Predictions Week 12
Rourke has averaged at least 10 yards per pass attempt in three of five games since their last loss while putting up video game-like numbers since their last loss on Oct. 1.
In his last five games, Rourke has dominated:
- vs. Akron: 24-27, 427 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT / 4 carries, 32 yards
- @ Western Michigan: 22-34, 264 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT / 6 carries, 24 yards, 1 TD
- vs. NIU: 14-26, 200 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT / 7 carries, 64 yards, 1 TD
- vs. Buffalo: 20-29, 317 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT / 6 carries, 45 yards
- @ Miami (OH): 25-35, 362 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT / 7 carries, 3 yards
That averages 314 yards per game and three touchdowns per contest. Ball State’s defense has been their calling card in 2022, but they’ve still been prone to points allowed. And they haven’t faced a quarterback on the shortlist for every major award in the conference.
Rourke wins it, big.
Prediction: Ohio 35, Ball State 24
Eastern Michigan (+7) vs. Kent State
Without a shot at the MAC East, the Kent State Golden Flashes are fighting for a bowl game. They’re fresh off a 40-point outing as Collin Schlee found his footing with four total touchdowns against a stout Bowling Green defense.
Schlee and the rushing attack averaged well over five yards per carry against BGSU’s sound defensive front, while Eastern Michigan’s front seven consists of just Jose Ramirez. The team’s leader in sacks and tackles for loss is among the nation’s best, but Kent State has a game plan that can isolate opposing team’s best defenders and find mismatches elsewhere with their talent.
Kent State needs two straight wins to reach bowl eligibility. They do so here in another dominant outing.
Prediction: Kent State 38, Eastern Michigan 23
Western Michigan vs. Central Michigan (49.5 points)
The total line here is an intriguing one. Central Michigan’s defense has allowed at least 21 points in six of their last seven games and in all but two games this season overall.
Given the way Bert Emanuel Jr. came in and ran the ball, CMU can score at least 28 themselves yet again, and this total seems within reach at bare minimum. The Chippewas will likely deploy a two-quarterback system, causing havoc on WMU’s defensive front with Daniel Richardson throwing the ball and Emanuel running it.
MORE: Week 11 CFB Players of the Week Includes Bert Emanuel Jr.
After he reached nearly 300 yards on the ground and three scores in just over a half’s worth of work last week, Emanuel is in line for a huge game against WMU.
#FireUpChips. Fire up the over.
Prediction: Central Michigan 34, Western Michigan 21
Miami (OH) (+3) vs. Northern Illinois
Somehow, the Miami Redhawks have an outside shot at a bowl game this season. Despite a 16-point loss to Ohio last week, Miami is still the deeper team here than Northern Illinois. This line may move closer to a pick’em between these two, so act now with a field goal for Miami.
Brett Gabbert has the Miami offense humming now that he’s returned to the lineup. In four starts, the team is 1-2, but Gabbert has averaged nearly eight yards per attempt, and that’s unlocked Miami’s best playmakers: Mac Hippenhammer and Jalen Walker.
Hippenhammer caught three touchdown passes against Ohio this past week and is in line for another big game. The former Penn State receiver has seven touchdowns this year and is fresh off his best game.
Northern Illinois keeps it close, but the talent gap and something to play for propels Miami to an upset.
Prediction: Miami (OH) 26, Northern Illinois 21
