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NCAAF PicksSat 1:00 PM ET
Miami-OH RedHawks logo
Miami-OH
RedHawks
4-3
versus
Central Michigan Chippewas logo
Central Michigan
Chippewas
3-3
NCAAF · Miami-OH RedHawks at Central Michigan Chippewas

Your Picks on Miami-OH vs Central Michigan

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Miami-OH RedHawks vs Central Michigan Chippewas Predictions October 24, 2026

Game time: October 24, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET

Venue: Kelly/Shorts Stadium — Mount Pleasant, MI

Article updated Oct 19, 11:56 PM EDT

By SportsJaw Editorial Team

Miami-OH is projected to beat Central Michigan, 21-20, on Oct. 24, with the RedHawks’ recent rushing performance providing the strongest reason to favor them. Central Michigan’s defensive absences last week add uncertainty, but its yardage advantage against Western Michigan makes this a fragile lean. Neither Miami-OH -2.5 (-110) nor the 40.5-point total offers a convincing wager; the official recommendation is Pass.

Miami-OH RedHawks vs Central Michigan Chippewas prediction and best bet

Miami-OH gets the narrow nod because its ground game offers the clearest recent offensive strength in this matchup. The RedHawks can build their approach around that success, but projecting another comfortable victory would give too much weight to one afternoon against Akron.

The best betting decision is Pass. Central Michigan’s injury concerns matter, yet last week’s absences are not confirmation of this week’s lineup. Miami’s rushing advantage is enough to shape the winner prediction, while the uncertainty around both teams’ repeatable production keeps the spread and total off the official card.

Odds, game time and how to watch

Date: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. This is a 2026 college football matchup.

Venue: Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Broadcast: ESPN+.

SportsJaw moneyline: Miami-OH -130; Central Michigan +110.

SportsJaw odds: Miami-OH RedHawks -2.5 (-110); Central Michigan Chippewas +2.5 (-106). Moneyline: Miami-OH RedHawks -130; Central Michigan Chippewas +113. Total: Over 40.5 (-114); Under 40.5 (-106).

SportsJaw total: Over 40.5 (-114); Under 40.5 (-106).

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Picks are opinions, not guarantees. Past results do not predict future outcomes.

Records and recent results: Miami-OH improved to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the MAC by beating Akron 34-14 on Oct. 17. Central Michigan lost 21-14 to Western Michigan that day.

Miami-OH RedHawks outlook

Rodney Nelson supplied the standout performance against Akron, rushing for 142 yards on 13 carries with touchdown runs of nine and 58 yards. Miami finished with 324 rushing yards, its highest total against an FBS opponent since 2018. That gives the RedHawks a compelling starting point for their offensive plan.

The passing performance was less persuasive. Caleb Heavner completed eight of 16 attempts for 65 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Damarion Witten caught the 27-yard scoring pass. If Central Michigan slows the run, Miami would need more from its passing game than it produced last week.

Miami also intercepted four passes and scored 21 points off Akron’s four turnovers. Those takeaways were central to the winning margin. They demonstrate how damaging Miami was when given opportunities, but projecting another four-turnover return would overstate the defense’s expected contribution.

Central Michigan Chippewas outlook

Central Michigan’s defeat contained a meaningful positive: it outgained Western Michigan 337-272 and recorded a season-high 179 passing yards. The timing of its scoring was the problem. The Chippewas entered the fourth quarter down 21-0 before scoring twice, leaving their recovery short of a comeback.

Angel Flores rushed 31 times for 117 yards and completed 14 of 25 passes for 162 yards. He departed with an apparent injury in the fourth quarter and did not return. Replacement Jadyn Glasser scored on a two-yard run. Flores’ status for Miami remains uncertain, making his substantial offensive workload a key consideration.

Coach Matt Drinkall said Central Michigan faced Western Michigan without Jayden Clerveaux, Shawn Foster and three starting defensive linemen. Center Losini Maka also broke his right snapping-hand thumb but continued playing. These are concerns carried forward from that game, rather than confirmed absences for Oct. 24.

Key matchup factors

The central question is whether Miami can sustain drives without the turnover assistance it received against Akron. A productive running game would reduce pressure on Heavner. Early rushing stops, however, could force Miami into a passing workload that its latest performance gives little reason to welcome.

Central Michigan’s fourth-down decisions introduce another swing factor. It converted three of seven attempts against Western Michigan after entering that game 10-for-13 for the season. Successful attempts can extend possessions; failures can surrender useful field position. Neither outcome should be treated as automatic in a close forecast.

Miami-OH RedHawks vs Central Michigan Chippewas spread prediction

Spread recommendation: Pass on Miami-OH -2.5 (-110) and Central Michigan +2.5 (-108). A 21-20 Miami victory would put the Chippewas inside the spread, but that small projected margin is not enough to justify backing them amid their personnel uncertainty.

Laying the points with Miami is also unappealing. Its impressive rushing result came against Akron, while Central Michigan held a yardage advantage in its own loss. The RedHawks are the winner selection, but the evidence leaves too much room for a one-point or two-point finish to endorse the favorite.

Miami-OH RedHawks vs Central Michigan Chippewas total prediction

Total recommendation: Pass on Over 40.5 (-114) and Under 40.5 (-106). The projected 41 points sit almost directly on the line, leaving no meaningful cushion for either direction.

Miami’s turnover-assisted scoring makes its 34-point performance difficult to carry straight into this forecast. Central Michigan’s yardage suggests more offensive potential than its 14 points alone convey, but Flores’ uncertain status complicates that assessment. A run-heavy approach by itself is insufficient reason to bet the Under.

Miami-OH RedHawks vs Central Michigan Chippewas projected score

Game forecast: Miami-OH 21, Central Michigan 20. Nelson’s recent production tips the prediction toward the RedHawks. The strongest counterargument is Central Michigan’s ability to gain more yards than Western Michigan despite losing, especially if Flores is available and effective.

Confidence is low because the forecast depends on one-game strengths and unresolved personnel questions. Miami-OH is the projected winner; both the spread and total recommendations are Pass. The single official SportsJaw betting lean is Pass.

SportsJawGame Predictions
Predicted score

RedHawks21

Chippewas20

Projected winner Miami-OH RedHawksConfidencelow
Pick on the Spread

Published pick: Pass on Miami-OH RedHawks -2.5 (-110) and Central Michigan Chippewas +2.5 (-108)

Pick on the Total

Published pick: Pass on Over 40.5 (-114) and Under 40.5 (-106)

Sources

  • Miami University RedHawksPrevious-game context: ‘Keep Pounding’: RedHawks Pick Off Zips 34-14
  • Central Michigan University AthleticsPrevious-game context: Football Notebook: Chippewas Find Motivation in Loss

SportsJaw RedHawks vs Chippewas game preview analysis and predictions incorporate current odds, injury reports, team statistics and market data. Information is updated regularly, but lines and player availability can change. Please confirm current information before wagering. View history of past RedHawks vs Chippewas matchups or learn how our predictions work.

Current matchup data

Lines, trends and availability

Crowd vs qualified handicappers

No qualifying consensus sample is available yet.

Qualified handicappers need at least 20 graded picks and a 52.5% win rate. A market needs at least three current qualified picks. Selection share is not a win probability.

Line movement since open

  • Moneyline · Miami-OH RedHawks-119 → -130Moved
  • Moneyline · Central Michigan Chippewas+102 → +113Moved
  • Spread · Miami-OH RedHawks-1.5 (-110) → -2.5 (-110)Moved
  • Spread · Central Michigan Chippewas+1.5 (-110) → +2.5 (-106)Moved
  • Total · Over43 (-110) → 40.5 (-114)Moved
  • Total · Under43 (-110) → 40.5 (-106)Moved

ATS and O/U trends

Miami-OH RedHawks
4-3 matchup record · 5-5-0 ATS · 6-4-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file
Central Michigan Chippewas
3-3 matchup record · 5-5-0 ATS · 2-8-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file

Injuries and availability

From the published research (2026-10-20T03:56:19.926Z). Availability may have changed; review the cited sources.

The best betting decision is Pass. Central Michigan’s injury concerns matter, yet last week’s absences are not confirmation of this week’s lineup. Miami’s rushing advantage is enough to shape the winner prediction, while the uncertainty around both teams’ repeatable production keeps the spread and total off the official card.

Angel Flores rushed 31 times for 117 yards and completed 14 of 25 passes for 162 yards. He departed with an apparent injury in the fourth quarter and did not return. Replacement Jadyn Glasser scored on a two-yard run. Flores’ status for Miami remains uncertain, making his substantial offensive workload a key consideration.

Recent head-to-head

  • 2024-10-26Central Michigan Chippewas 7 · Miami-OH RedHawks 46
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