2013 Record: 7-6

2014 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 5.5

2014 Season Win Total Prediction: 'Under'

This posted total seems to be right on the money. If I was going to go on the Bobcats I would take the 'under' as they lost a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. Last season was a solid one for Ohio, but that was due to a crop of talent that they haven't had in a while. I would stay away from this line, but if you needed to make a play here it is the 'under'.

Ohio is coming off two straight bowl wins and a season in which they saw themselves ranked in the top 25 for about a minute. Much of this success was due to their quarterback Tyler Tettelton. The Bobcats are going to have to replace Tettleton with either junior Derrius Vick or sophomore JD Sprague, neither of which has the talent of TT. Ohio is also going to have to find someone to take the place of running back Beau Blankenship, who rushed for nearly 1,000 yards last season. Having to replace your starting QB and RB are not good things and Ohio will struggle on the offensive side of the ball.

Defensively the Bobcats are going to be a bit better this season. Ohio had to rebuild last year so their returning players are a bit older. I still don't see them being good enough to get to .500. If this team gets there it will be all about the defensive side of the ball. The Bobcats should be solid in the linebacking core and have a decent secondary.

Ohio does have a favorable schedule this season. But I don't see them winning at Marshall or at Kentucky. The Bobcats do have a shot at .500 in the conference but that will get them to 5-7, or in the gambling word…'under'.

2014 Houston Cougars Schedule

DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET) Location Result

Sat, Aug 30^th, 2014 @ Kent State 06:00 PM Dix Stadium

Sat, Sep 6^th, 2014 @ Kentucky 03:30 PM Commonwealth Stadium

Sat, Sep 13^th, 2014 @ Marshall 12:00 PM Joan C. Edwards Stadium

Sat, Sep 20^th, 2014 Idaho TBD Peden Stadium

Sat, Sep 27^th, 2014 Eastern Illinois TBD Peden Stadium

Sat, Oct 4^th, 2014 @ C. Michigan TBD Kelly/Shorts Stadium

Sat, Oct 11^th, 2014 Bowling Green 02:00 PM Peden Stadium

Sat, Oct 18^th, 2014 Akron TBD Peden Stadium

Sat, Oct 25^th, 2014 @ W. Michigan TBD Waldo Stadium

Wed, Nov 5^th, 2014 Buffalo 08:00 PM Peden Stadium

Tue, Nov 18^th, 2014 Northern Illinois 08:00 PM Peden Stadium

Tue, Nov 25^th, 2014 @ Miami (OH) 07:00 PM Yager Stadium

All Times EST

*Season Win Total Odds from Raphael Esparza. Esparza was a Las Vegas sportsbook manager for 13 years at some of the largest books on The Strip. He is a proven oddsmaker and this is his projected total.

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