We closed out August in style last night with a nice cover in the Nebraska game and now move on to September. With it comes a ton more college football, including a handful of games on Friday night. It is opening week for basically all teams, but there could be some value in buying early on some squads. One of the best options tonight is Miami (Ohio) traveling down to Florida to take on the University of Miami (Florida), so let’s get into a Miami (Ohio)-Miami pick, accompanied by a Caesars bonus code!
Best CFB Bets Today: Miami (Ohio)-Miami
It is no surprise Miami is a sizable favorite at -16.5. This number is pretty steady across the board on OddsShopper, and getting this under 17 is one of the key reasons to lock this bet in. There is a massive talent gap between these two teams at basically every level, which further adds to interest in Miami (Florida).
Miami (Ohio) comes from the MAC and does not get to play this level of competition too often. Last year the RedHawks played both Kentucky and Cincinnati in non-conference, and the results were 24- and 21-point losses. One could argue this is an even worse spot, and with Miami (Ohio) having no major upgrades, there is a lot to worry about with this squad. The positive is both of its quarterbacks returning, but the offensive line is an issue and the skill position players are average at best. Defensively the RedHawks return a good number of players, but again, the level of competition is the key factor here.
This is a big opportunity for Miami (Florida) to get the season started on the right foot and get some momentum before a huge game against Texas A&M next week. Normally it does not feel great laying a lot of points before a marquee game, but 16.5 is not a crazy number in a matchup where starters being pulled could have a major impact. If this were a lesser opponent and a 40-point spread, that might be a reasonable worry. However, the Hurricanes also return their quarterback, two quality backs and a cast of weapons on the outside. The offensive line brought in a few top transfers and a high-end recruit, and it also returned a handful from last season. All this quickly adds up to a more dynamic offense that should complement a defense that has depth at all three levels.
Miami (Florida) will find out how good it really is when Texas A&M comes to town, but in the meantime, Miami (Ohio) should not provide much resistance. The talent gap is too big, and this spread is at a very appealing 16.5, which provides plenty of ways to get there. Miami (Florida) should avoid any major disruptions and get its season started with a 20-point win.
Miami (Ohio)-Miami Pick For Our Best CFB Bets Today: Miami -16.5 (Caesars Bonus Code)