2025 MAC preview: Four bets that stand out
MACtion is officially back to its chaotic roots, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Eight teams open with win totals of 5.5 or less and 10 teams are sitting at 6.5 or lower. That's not just parity, it's pure unpredictability. Just the way we like our football: dramatic, messy and full of late-game swings. And if we're being honest, it seems like sportsbooks don't quite know either. That's what makes this conference so fun. There's real value if you know where to look.
Here are four bets that stand out from this conference -- three overs, one under and one massive warning sign. This might be the only conference in college football where the bottom is so low, and it could feature the worst team in the entire FBS.
All odds are accurate as of time stamp. All times Eastern. For the latest odds go to ESPN BET.
Toledo Rockets OVER 8.5 wins (-125)The Rockets might have dipped last season, but they're built to bounce back in 2025. Nine starters return, the team has fixed their run game through the portal, and QB Tucker Gleason is surrounded by legit options on offense. The defense is always tough under DC Jason Candle, finishing top three in the conference in yards per play allowed five straight years. Toledo also benefits from one of the lighter schedules in the MAC. With a strong returning core, a revamped backfield and stability across the board, this is the most complete team in the league. The Rockets are ready for liftoff. Anything fewer than nine wins would actually be a disappointment.
Buffalo Bulls OVER 7.5 wins (-120)Head coach Pete Lembo quietly crushed in his first year with the Bulls, and this group could be even better in year 2. Buffalo brings back 16 starters from a nine-win team and play Toledo at home. The Bulls' offense averaged the third-most points per game in conference play (28 PPG) and return 1,000-yard rusher Al-Jay Henderson behind a veteran line. If Kansas State transfer Ta'Quan Roberson steps in smoothly at quarterback, this offense could pop. Roberson was a nonfactor at K-State but did throw over 2,000 yards at UConn the year prior. Defensively, 10 starters are back, including a nasty front seven and an experienced secondary. Add in one of the easiest schedules in the country, and it's hard to see the Bulls not pushing for eight or more wins and even making a title run. Taking them at +400 to win the MAC championship is an intriguing option.
Miami (OH) RedHawks OVER 6.5 wins (+105)Miami is losing a lot, but it's hard to overlook Chuck Martin's 15-3 MAC record the past two years. Adding QB Dequan Finn, who made noise as a three-year starter at Toledo before a one-year trial at Baylor, gives this offense a boost. He is is the most dynamic quarterback in the conference. Finn led the MAC in yards per play and total offense in 2023, and he'll have help from Florida State, Colorado and Notre Dame transfers at receiver. RB Kenny Tracy is back from injury after sitting out the entire 2024 season, while the defense returns five starters, including standout DB Silas Walters, who could anchor the backfield. Miami's offense will take time to gel, but the RedHawks will lean on their defense early and still have enough to reach seven wins with a strong November push.
Kent State Golden Flashes UNDER 1.5 wins (+135)The Golden Flashes haven't just lost games, they've lost their spark, finishing 1-23 the past two years, gutted by the portal, and now led by an interim coach after firing Kenni Burns in April. Gone are the days of Dustin Crum. This program has completely unraveled with just four total starters returning, and even the FCS opener vs. Merrimack isn't a sure thing after the Golden Flashes lost to an FCS squad last year. Kent State's offense has no proven options, the defense is shredded, and the culture is in shambles. If they get a win, it'll be a miracle. The only thing flashing in 2025 is the warning sign.
espn
