The Miami (OH) RedHawks take on the Ohio Bobcats in Athens, Ohio. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Miami (OH) is favored by 5.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -245. The total is set at 159.5 points.
Here’s my Miami (OH) vs. Ohio predictions and college basketball picks for March 6, 2026.
Miami (OH) vs Ohio Prediction
My Pick: Under 160 (Play to158)
My Miami (OH) vs Ohio best bet is on the under. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Miami (OH) vs. Ohio Odds
| Miami (OH) Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -110 | 159.5 -110o / -110u | -245 |
| Ohio Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -110 | 159.5 -110o / -110u | +200 |
Miami (OH) vs Ohio Betting Preview
Miami (OH) Basketball
It all comes down to this for the Miami (OH) RedHawks. We've seen this group take care of business up to this point, and now the 30-0 RedHawks seek to conclude the regular season undefeated.
Miami (OH) is certainly in rare air, but the win streak hasn't come without its share of adversity. The RedHawks have played three closer-than-expected bouts in a row.
This road tilt with Ohio will be a challenge for the RedHawks, who need to get a bit of swagger back before the conference tournament next week.
We know about the RedHawks' balanced offensive attack led by Brant Byers and Peter Suder, who are each averaging 14 points per contest. Eian Elmer scores a dozen points on average, and Almar Atlason and Luke Skaljac — who returned from an injury sustained against Western Michigan — each average 10.
This is a balanced group that shares the ball well, can bury the 3-point shot as well as anyone in America and has been much more aggressive in getting to the rim. Turnovers were a problem against Toledo, but I expect a sharper performance offensively against Ohio.
Miami (OH) does have a surprisingly efficient defense that does well to contest shots and force low-percentage jumpers. The RedHawks are second-best in the conference at limiting opponents from getting to the free-throw stripe, concomitant to a less aggressive style.
Miami (OH) doesn’t force a ton of turnovers, but it cleans up on the glass well and has a strong post presence with Antwone Woolfolk. Ohio has some athletic players on the block and does well working the ball high and low to free up shooters.
This will be a test on Friday.
Ohio Basketball
Ohio has tapered off of late, losing four of six games down the stretch, and sit at 9-8 overall in league play heading into the finale. The Bobcats will be either the five or six seed in the MAC tournament — which is scheduled for next week — so this game isn't of critical importance either way for Ohio.
I'm sure the Bobs would love to end Miami (OH)'s magical run and get a little juice back in the tank before conference tournament play starts next week.
Jackson Paveletzke leads the Bobcats in scoring and assists with 16.8 points per game and 150 assists on the season. Javan Simmons and Aidan Hadaway each chip in 14 points apiece, and JJ Kelly scores nine.
The Bobcats have struggled all season from deep and are one of the worst teams in the MAC when it comes to outside shooting.
Ohio gets to the line a fair amount, but it should be more efficient overall, which it's going to have to be in this game if it wants to keep pace with Miami (OH).
The defense has struggled all season with being out of position and shooters getting open. Ohio can't defend without fouling and sends its opponents to the line more frequently than anyone else in the MAC.
The interior has been solid, but Ohio does give up some second-chance opportunities and is middling in terms of forcing turnovers.
Miami (OH) vs. Ohio Betting Analysis
This line opened Miami (OH) -4.5 with a total set at 160. I'm going to play the under here.
Both Miami (OH) and Ohio have slowed the tempo as the season comes to a close. Miami (OH) played back-to-back games against faster-paced opponents with horrific defenses, and those games were played in the 60s for total possessions.
The RedHawks have also failed to surpass 80 points three games in a row, which were all games that finished under the posted total.
Ohio hasn't been efficient offensively, and while its game against UMass had a barrage of points scored at the end, it was in part the result of 65 combined foul shots attempted.
Defensively, Miami (OH) doesn't send its opponents to the stripe routinely. I don’t think Ohio is going to get paint touches resulting in foul attempts, and I can't trust the Bobcats to sink outside shots against one of the premier 3-point defenses in the MAC.
Miami (OH) has a little pressure in this game. This is it: Everyone is going to be watching to see if it can conclude the regular season with a flawless mark, and being on the road, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it come out a little tight.
Three of the RedHawks' last four conference road games stayed comfortably under, and while I believe Miami (OH) will have success offensively, I think the pace will be a hair slow, and Ohio will struggle to match it.
I want the under here.
My Pick: Under 160 (Play to 158)
