The Northwest Wildcats (1-2) from the Big Ten will host the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks 1-2 from the MAC on Saturday. Miami leads the all-time series 6-3, but these schools have not met since 2009 when Northwestern won 16-6. The Wildcats are a 6.5-point favorite with the total set at 49.5.
Miami is coming off a 38-17 loss to their arch non-conference rival Cincinnati as a 22.5-point dog last week. The Redhawks were outgained 478 to 183 in total yards and 25 to 13 in first downs but won the turnover battle 3 to 1 keeping the game close for a while. The game was tied 17-17 until the Bearcats broke the tie on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 13 seconds before the half. In the second half, it was all Bearcats.
@MiamiOHFootball Aveon Smith is one of the ascending young QBs in CFB..Brett Gabbert was the top QB in the MAC conference, and he may not get his job back now. Really impressive kid.. pic.twitter.com/5EwW6L7Iky
— Shaun (@FCSScout) September 17, 2022
Miami is now 1-2. They lost the opening game this season 37-13 as a 16-point dog to Kentucky and beat Robert Morris 31-14 as a 30.5-point favorite. Miami suffered a heartbreaking blow in their season-opening loss to Kentucky, as Brett Gabbert, one of the top quarterbacks in the MAC went down with a season-ending injury. Freshmen Aveon Smith is now the top signal caller. He has thrown for 284 yards on 53.2% completions, with five touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Redhawks offense is averaging 20.3 ppg, and ranks just 114th with 162.3 passing yards and 92nd with 132.7 rushing yards per game. The defense is allowing 29.7 ppg, 12th allowing just 75.7 rushing yards but 110th allowing 274.3 yards in the air.