Ohio Bobcats 2025 Season Preview

In a year that started with a lot of roster turnover, the Ohio Bobcats enter the 2025 season as defending MAC champions. They answered every question last fall by going 11-3 and beating Miami (OH) in the conference title game. Now the bar is officially raised.

The biggest change? Head coach Tim Albin left after the championship run, and Ohio promoted Brian Smith to lead the program. Smith had already been on staff and stepped in as interim during bowl prep, so it wasn’t a total overhaul. Most of the coaching staff stuck around, including offensive coordinator Scott Isphording and defensive coordinator John Hauser.

Quarterback Parker Navarro is back after leading the Bobcats down the stretch in 2024. He threw for over 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns while keeping turnovers low. He’s not flashy, but he runs the offense efficiently and wins games.

The run game is still the identity. Desmond Reid and Anthony Tyus III form a strong one-two punch behind a veteran offensive line. They ran the ball nearly two-thirds of the time last season, and there’s no sign they’ll stray from that formula.

Defensively, Ohio returns key players at all levels. The pass rush was one of the MAC’s most consistent units, and the secondary held opposing quarterbacks to under 200 yards per game. That wasn’t a fluke.

As of late July, Ohio ranks No. 49 in Action Network’s college football power ratings with a score of 77.3. That places them firmly in the MAC’s top tier and squarely in the hunt to repeat.

Betting on the Ohio Bobcats

There are plenty of ways to bet on Ohio throughout the 2025 season: spreads, totals, moneylines, and even futures if you think they’re going back-to-back.

Betting Ohio's Moneyline

Moneyline bets are simple. Just pick the winner. No need to worry about the score difference or any point spread.

Here’s how it might look:

• Ohio -160
• Akron +130

A $160 bet on Ohio would profit $100. A $100 bet on Akron would pay out $130 if they win. This is the most basic betting format and was a strong angle last year. Ohio went 10-3 straight up, including some outright wins as an underdog.

Betting Ohio's Point Spread

The point spread is the most common way to bet football. Oddsmakers set a line, and you pick whether the favorite covers or the underdog keeps it close.

Example line:

• Ohio -3.5 (-110)
• Akron +3.5 (-110)

Ohio needs to win by at least four points to cover. Akron bettors win if they lose by three or fewer, or pull off the upset.

Ohio finished 7-6 against the spread in 2024. Not dominant, but steady.

Betting Ohio's Over/Under

Over/unders, also called totals, are wagers on the combined score of both teams.

If the total is 70 points:

• Final score of 38-34 means the over wins
• Final score of 35-30 means the under wins
• If the two teams combine for exactly 70, it’s a push

Ohio’s run-heavy pace can influence totals. Matchups against fast-paced MAC offenses may push the number higher.

Betting Ohio Props

Player props let you bet on individual performances, passing yards, touchdowns, rushing attempts, and more.

Examples might include:

• Parker Navarro over/under 225.5 passing yards
• Desmond Reid to score a touchdown
• First player to reach 100 rushing yards

Not all sportsbooks or states allow college props, so double-check your local rules.

Betting Ohio Futures

Futures are season-long bets. These include team win totals, conference champion odds, and individual awards.

Popular options include:

• Over/under 7.5 total wins
• Ohio to win the MAC
• Navarro or Reid for MAC Offensive Player of the Year

If you’re bullish on Ohio’s continuity and coaching staff, there’s early value in backing them before the season heats up.