Tuesday marks a bittersweet day for the college football world.
On one hand, we have another set of midweek MACtion with two games — UMass vs. Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan vs. Western Michigan — on deck. On the other hand, this is the last day of midweek MACtion for the rest of the season.
But you know the saying: "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
That's exactly what we'll aim to do on Tuesday. Our college football writers broke down both MACtion games this week and came through with a pick for each.
It's been another beautiful season here at the MACtion Network, so let's make one final trip to Green Dot City.
So, let's dive into our college football picks and NCAAF predictions for Tuesday, November 25.
College Football Picks, Best Bets for Tuesday Night MACtion
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our college football betting staff is targeting from Tuesday's slate of MACtion games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 4:30 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAF Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
UMass vs Bowling Green Pick
By Road to CFB
Take note of the kick time here. It’s an odd window – 4:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
UMass opened as a +16.5 home underdog but dropped to +14.5 over the weekend. Weather should cooperate for it being late November, with temperatures in the 40s and no notable wind or precipitation.
Bowling Green’s three wins this year came by an average of 11.3 points per game and included FCS Lafayette, Liberty (not bowl eligible) and Toledo (which has dropped more games as a 10-plus point favorite in the FBS over the last five years).
Not exactly a championship resume. It also hasn’t found 30 points at all this year.
So, it makes sense why the Minutemen would take some action at home in a low-scoring affair. It’s good betting practice.
But let’s not lose track of who we’re dealing with in this game.
Akron had not scored 30 against FBS competition until it played UMass (44 points); NIU was the second-worst scoring offense in the country until it played UMass (45 points); Kent State hadn’t scored 40 in three years until it dropped 42 points on UMass. Shoot, Ohio scored 42 points in a swimming pool last game.
This is a historically terrible defense capable of making the nation’s most stagnant offense look like an efficient unit.
On the other end, Bowling Green fields a formidable defense capable of shutting down quarterbacks AJ Hairston, Brandon Rose, Grant Jordan and whoever else UMass decides to trot out on the field. UMass has scored 10 or fewer points seven times this year.
Very few metrics don’t paint the Minutemen as the worst offense in the country; they rank dead last in the FBS in scoring, Points Per Drive, EPA Per Play and Success Rate.
Yes, a low-scoring affair and multi-touchdown home underdog points to taking that home ‘dog. But don’t overthink this one.
UMass is as bad a team that’s looking forward to the end of a historically bad 0-11 season against a team looking to end the season on a high note.
Bowling Green is bad, but don’t underestimate UMass' ability to make the Falcons look great.
Pick: Bowling Green -14.5 (Play To Any Number)
| |
Eastern Michigan vs Western Michigan Pick
By Joshua Nunn
There's so much on the line for Western Michigan in this game. A win would send the Broncos to Detroit, where they'd play in the conference championship game. They would have also swept Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan to win the Michigan MAC title, which is very important to these three programs.
I'm going to lay the -7.5 with WMU on Tuesday night.
This Western Michigan defense is playing incredible football, and it has had tremendous success defending mobile quarterbacks this season.
EMU likes to use quarterback Noah Kim in the run game. While he is mobile, WMU completely shut down Ball State’s Kiael Kelly and Ohio’s Parker Navarro earlier this season. WMU maintains rush lane integrity well and doesn't get beat on the weak side, which really aids it in preventing big plays.
The Broncos rank 32nd nationally in Rushing Success Rate allowed and 38th in Passing Success Rate allowed. This defense has allowed just 3.5 yards per carry this season, and the front seven is excellent at generating Havoc.
In fact, WMU has registered 33 sacks and 65 tackles for loss this season. This unit should find success against EMU here.
On the other side, Eastern Michigan has a weak defensive front that struggles to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks or stop the run. EMU ranks 132nd nationally in Havoc and 122nd in rush explosives allowed.
Western Michigan is going to line up and run the football here, and I don’t think EMU is equipped to stop it. Jalen Buckley should have a big game for WMU on the ground, and the Broncos should rack up chunk plays with regularity.
I expect WMU to sustain drives in the second half and lean on the EMU defensive line in the late stages.
The Broncos have a major special teams advantage here, grading out with the fourth-strongest special teams unit in the MAC. Surprisingly and uncharacteristically, the Eagles come in as the worst special teams group in the conference.
Western Michigan is the stronger team and should win this game and with a cover. Eastern Michigan will play hard in a rivalry game on Senior Night, but it's significantly outclassed here.
WMU punches its ticket to the MAC title game and brings the Michigan MAC trophy back to Kalamazoo. Lay it.
Pick: Western Michigan -7.5
