The Battle of the Bricks rivalry renews Friday night as Miami (OH) heads to Athens to face Ohio in the final regular-season game for both programs. The stakes are dramatically different on each side. Miami (OH) enters the night with a perfect 30-0 record and the Mid-American Conference regular season title already secured, while Ohio sits at 15-15 and looks to gain confidence heading into the conference tournament. The RedHawks have been one of the biggest stories in college basketball this season, ranking inside the national top 20 and averaging more than 90 points per game. Can they complete a perfect regular-season? Find out below as I make my Miami (OH) vs Ohio prediction.
Pick: Miami (OH) -5.5 ATS PRO
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Miami Ohio enters the game as the only undefeated team remaining in Division I. The RedHawks secured their 30th win earlier this week with a 74-72 victory against Toledo, clinching the MAC regular season championship and extending their remarkable run. Their high-scoring offense and efficient shooting have made them one of the most productive teams in the country.
Ohio comes in with a far more inconsistent profile. The Bobcats have dropped three of their last five games and are coming off a 94-82 loss at UMass. At 15-15 overall and 9-8 in conference play, Ohio needs a strong performance to carry positive energy into the MAC tournament.
The first meeting between the schools took place on February 13 in Oxford, where Miami pulled away in the second half for a 90-74 victory. Five RedHawks scored in double figures in that game, showing the balanced scoring that has defined their season.
There is a lot more on the line for Miami (OH) than just a perfect regular season. There is still somehow a debate about whether a 30-0 team is worthy of an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament. The RedHawks will try to remove all doubt in that department with a win here and more wins in the MAC tourney next week.
Category | Miami Ohio | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
Points per game | 90.3 | 77.0 |
Points allowed per game | 73.8 | 77.3 |
Team Field Goal % | 53% | 46% |
Rebounds per game | 35.5 | 33.6 |
Assists per game | 16.2 | 13.6 |
Score Projection: Miami (OH) 85 – Ohio 74 ATS PRO
Win Probability: Miami (OH) 68%, Ohio 32% ATS PRO
Ohio is going to give everything they have in this contest to try and play spoiler against one of their most heated rivals. But I don't think it is going to be enough, as the hyper-efficient offense of Miami (OH) should help them to get a win to move to 31-0 and finish off a perfect regular season. I am going to lay the points with the RedHawks here.
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