The Miami (OH) RedHawks and the Western Michigan Broncos will meet Saturday in the 2025 Mid-American Conference Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit. These teams faced each other earlier this season, with Miami (OH) earning a 26–17 win in late October. The Broncos will look for revenge in their home state, while the RedHawks will try to lock up another MAC title.
Our Miami (OH) vs Western Michigan Pick
- Pick: Under 43.5
- Confidence: 3/5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Miami (OH) RedHawks vs Western Michigan Broncos
- Date & Time: Saturday, December 6, 2025, 12:00 PM ET
- Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
- Broadcast: ESPN
Miami (OH) vs Western Michigan Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Western Michigan –2.5 | Miami +110 / Western Michigan –130 | 43.5 |
Key Storylines
- Rematch with history on the line: Miami (OH) defeated Western Michigan 26–17 on October 25. In that game, Miami erased a 17–9 deficit with a dominant fourth quarter. That result put Miami atop the MAC standings. But Western Michigan hasn’t lost since then and got back on top of the MAC by the end of the regular season. The Broncos will try to even the season series on a neutral field with the conference championship on the line.
- Defense vs Offense: Western Michigan’s defense ranks among the best in FBS this season, allowing just 18.7 points per game and 302.3 total yards per game. Miami (OH) generates 26.1 points per game on offense, but their +8 turnover margin has helped them generate sudden-change scoring opportunities.
- Broncos’ Running Game: Western Michigan relies mostly on the ground game, averaging 189.2 rushing yards per game (33rd nationally) and keeping opposing offenses off the field with long drives (time of possession of 32:13 per game). That could be crucial in a low‑scoring, defensive battle.
- Miami’s edge in offensive balance: The RedHawks average 195.9 passing yards per game and 159.3 rushing yards per game. Their ability to mix up the run and pass could challenge a Broncos defense used to facing more one-dimensional offenses.
Quarterback Play
Western Michigan’s Broc Lowry leads the offense. He’s completed 63.5% of his passes for 1,572 yards on the season with 7 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. More importantly, he is a constant threat on the ground. He has 875 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns on the year. His ability to run adds a different dimension to the Broncos’ offense, forcing Miami’s defense to stay honest against both pass and run at all times.
Miami (OH) quarterback Thomas Gotkowski was effective last week, throwing three touchdown passes with no interceptions in a win over Ball State. DeQuan Finn had 1,451 passing yards, 9 passing touchdowns, and 6 interceptions this year. But he left the program mid-season and it looks like it will be up to Gotkowski to deliver in this MAC title game.
Betting Trends
- Western Michigan is 8-3-1 against the spread so far this season.
- Miami (OH) went 8-4 against the spread in the regular season.
- The RedHawks went over the total in 7 of their 12 games.
- The Broncos are 6-6 in the over/under market going into the MAC championship game.
Miami (OH) vs Western Michigan Model Projection
Score Projection: Western Michigan 24 – Miami (OH) 17
Win Probability: Western Michigan 58%, Miami (OH) 42%
Final Thoughts
This is going to be a tight game between two teams that are good on defense. I think that Western Michigan has a slight edge given Miami (OH)’s quarterback situation late in the year. But my best bet for this matchup is for the game to stay under the total in what will be a defensive battle throughout.
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