Never, Ever Gamble on the MAC: The 2024 Win Totals Edition
Never, Ever Gamble on the MAC: The 2024 Win Totals Edition
Take my advice and just don't do anything I'd do.
Welcome to a new series that I’ll be doing throughout the 2024 football season titled “Never, Ever Gamble on the MAC.” Since gambling will always be a part of college football and these media companies are nakedly telling you that so much of their entertainment enterprises are funded by the house, it only makes sense to finally have some sort of gambling-angled content.
I, too, do some sports gambling. Or at least I have done it. I’ve already told my wife that getting a 4-leg sports parlay to hit is easily a top-5 experience. But truthfully I don’t win enough parlays to keep wanting to throw $5 or $10 into the machine to pick some spreads. I’ve got student loan debt to still climb out of, and everything seems more expensive to me these days, so I’ve just decided to not gamble on sports so much.
That’s not to say this stuff isn’t still fun to look at and talk about. I just don’t feel like coming at you with a super positive attitude towards gambling like I’ve got my worry-free guarantee picks written below. If I had a crystal ball that told me the future, I would never let you find out.
So instead of amping up the hype factory behind the casinos that live in your pocket (depending on the state you live in), I’m going to splash some cold water on you while I throw out some free betting advice.
My free betting advice to you:
Don’t listen to me.
Follow your heart.
Be wise enough to remember that you’re putting real money down on gambling what the outcomes of Mid-American Conference football games could be.
Or, in this introductory piece’s case, what the outcomes for the entire seasons for these MAC teams will be. ESPN BET has the win totals and preseason conference championship odds below, and five picks as well:
TOLEDO: OVER 8.5
Assuming Toledo’s quarterback situation post-Dequan Finn isn’t a complete nightmare, I think the Rockets will be just fine this year. I don’t think it’s crazy to think that this team could win double-digit games in the regular season. And it’s plus odds if you win. This is a very easy habit-forming bet to make if you ask me.
MIAMI: OVER 7.5
I always bet like nothing bad’s ever going to happen to me or anybody I put some sort of investment into. Brett Gabbert will play every single snap this year AND be a two-way contributor. So will Jack Coldiron. Matt Salopek’s return on defense can only mean he’ll have three defensive scores on his own. In my personal notes, I have Miami going 9-3 overall, 7-1 in MAC play. Maybe I should have them going undefeated instead.
EASTERN MICHIGAN: OVER 4.5
Forget anything you know about the roster turnover and any analysis on how you thought the offense or defense looked last year and what it all may look like this year. Put those opinions to the side and simply look at the track record Chris Creighton has leading this team. Since 2016, the only years EMU didn’t go to a bowl game were in 2017 (won 5 games) and 2020 (pandemic year). This program has been pretty consistent in grabbing the minimum six wins to go bowling.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN: UNDER 5.5
Plus odds to bet under CMU’s win total? Sure, take my money.
Also, I know I’m the one who comes out as a hater in my season picks, but I’d be surprised if CMU ended up going bowling this year after my eyeballs tell me this team’s only been trending down since it last made it to the MAC championship game in 2019.
BALL STATE: UNDER 4.5
At -165, the odds aren’t wonderful if you’re motivated by money. But I’m motivated by making picks, and I damn sure won’t be burned by playing a 3.5-to-2.5 win total number for Akron or Kent State. No sir-ee Bob.