Miami (Ohio) was in a position to win the MAC Championship but couldn’t quite get it done.
The RedHawks (7-6) didn’t always seem like they would be contending for a conference championship after losing its first three games to Wisconsin, Rutgers, and UNLV. But they won seven of their next nine games to clinch a spot in the MAC title game. They defeated Lindenwood, Northern Illinois, Akron, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Buffalo, and Ball State during that time while losing back-to-back games to Ohio and Toledo.
It was impressive Miami managed to stay in MAC title contention at all considering quarterback Dequan Finn left the program during the final stretch of the season to focus on preparing for pro opportunities. But Miami couldn’t win the rematch with WMU in the league championship, falling 23-13.
Still, led by Group of Five All-American defensive lineman Adam Trick and defensive back Eli Blakey, Miami finished the 2025 season 23rd in the HERO Sports Group of Five Top 25 media poll. Head coach Chuck Martin will want his team to finish the season on a high note with a triumph in the Arizona Bowl, where the RedHawks will play Fresno State.
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With G5 All-American offensive lineman Jacob Spomer up front, the Bulldogs were the 20th team in the G5 Top 25. They were in the mix for a Mountain West Championship berth for much of the season.
The Bulldogs opened the 2025 campaign, their first with Matt Entz as their head coach, with a loss at Kansas. But they followed that up with five consecutive wins over Georgia Southern, Oregon State, Southern, Hawaii, and Nevada. They lost back-to-back contests against Colorado State and San Diego State but then followed that up with wins over Boise State and Wyoming.
The Bulldogs lost again to Utah State – meaning they went 2-3 against teams that will be in the Pac-12 like Fresno State will be next year. But the Bulldogs ended the regular season with a 41-14 win over San Jose State and will be aiming to win their first bowl in the Entz era.
Miami (Ohio) vs. Fresno State Betting Odds
Fresno State is a -5.5 college football betting odds favorite against Miami (Ohio), with the Over/Under being 41.5 as of this writing. The moneyline for Miami (Ohio) is +180, while it’s -220 for Fresno State.
Miami (Ohio) vs. Fresno State On TV
The matchup between Miami (Ohio) and Fresno State will be televised on The CW Network.
The game will kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 27. The contest is taking place at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona.
Miami (Ohio) vs. Fresno State Prediction
I predict Fresno State will win and cover the 5.5-point spread. I also project the game will go Under 41.5 total points.
This is a battle of two incredible defenses. Fresno State is 14th in the nation in total defense, allowing 293.5 yards per game, while Miami (Ohio) is 31st in total defense with 329.6 YPG allowed.
The Bulldogs are 25th in the FBS in scoring defense with 20.08 points per game allowed, and the RedHawks are 44th with 22 PPG allowed. And neither offense has been particularly consistent, as neither team is in the top 50 for points or yards.
But I do think the Bulldogs will be a little bit better on that side of the ball. So while I anticipate this will be a defensive battle, I believe Fresno State will lean on its ground game and score just enough points to earn a bowl win.
