College Football Predictions – Ohio Bobcats 2019 College Football Preview
2018 Recap
Record – 9-4
ATS – 8-5
The Bobcats dropped three games in the first half of the season but those were against tough competition (Virginia, Cincinnati, Northern Illinois). They got on a BIG TIME roll down the stretch and won six of their final seven games. The icing on the cake was a 27-0 win over San Diego St in the Frisco Bowl and they became the first MAC team to post a shutout in a bowl game.
Is this the year that HC Frank Solich gets his first MAC Championship?
2019 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
East Division – #1
MAC – #1
Ohio Bobcats 2019 Outlook
OFFENSE
Ohio lit up scoreboards all over the United States last year and averaged 40.1 PPG (#2 MAC, #12 FBS). They were really cooking late in the year and put up 49+ points in five of their last six regular season contests. WHOA NELLIE.
Ace QB and MEGALOCKS fav Nathan Rourke is back for his senior campaign and is the best QB in the MAC. Last year Rourke threw 23 TD passes and rushed for another 15 scores but he will have a tougher task getting to those lofty heights this year as there are a lot of new faces. AJ Ouellette leaves the program as the program’s #3 all-time leading rusher after completing what seemed like a 13-year career with the Bobcats. #2 rusher Maleek Irons is off to the CFL. It’s unclear what Ohio has in the RB room but maybe we will get an idea during fall camp? Legendary Bobcat WR Papi White departs as the #1 receiver in program history and will be greatly missed. Last year’s #2 wideout Andrew Meyer must also be replaced. Three of their top WRs are back for duty but we also have questions about what to expect from these guys. The offensive line has been fantastic over the past couple of years but only returns a pair of starters. They do have nice size and a solid LT in Austen Pleasants.
We anticipate a significant drop in scoring output (40.1, 39.1 PPG L2Y) even with Rourke back at QB.
DEFENSE
Ohio almost always fields one of the better defenses in the MAC and this year should be no exception. They bring back six starters to a stop unit that allowed 24.6 PPG (#3 MAC) and just 137 YPG on the ground (#2 MAC) in 2018. The defense got better as the season went along and the hope is that they can pick up where they left off. The DL boasts quite a bit of experience and they return both starters at DE. The secondary could be the best in the MAC as they return both starting CBs and fantastic FS Javon Hagan (1st Team MAC LY). The weak link on defense may be the LB corps and as they will miss star Evan Croutch who led the Bobcats in tacklers and TFL a season ago.
We like the look of the defense and anticipate another strong season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Ohio has had excellent special teams play over the past two years and they should be the best in the conference once again. The Bobcats boast a great PK,P combo with Louie Zervos and Michael Farkas back in the fold. Both main KRs are back but they need to find new PRs given the departure of Papi White and Kylan Nelson.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – Things look pretty good. They have a pair of tough out-of-conference road games (Pitt, Marshall) in back-to-back weeks but get their main rival for the division (Miami Ohio) at home. They draw Northern Illinois and Western Michigan from the MAC West but get both of those games in Athens.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Nothing noted.
Season Win Total
Over 7.5 -150
Under 7.5 +130
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean to the over. The offense will take a step backwards but this is still one of the most talented teams in the MAC.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Nathan Rourke won the Cornish Trophy for the second consecutive season. That’s the award given to the Most Outstanding Canadian in NCAA football. Rourke hails from Oakville, Ontario, the location of the Canadian Heritage Site, YOUNG MEGALOCKS HOMESTEAD. Take a tour with family and friends and don’t forget to visit the Gift Shop.
Ohio has won four division titles (shared or outright) under the leadership of HC Frank Solich (2006, 2009, 2011, 2016) but have yet to bag all the MAC marbles. Ohio’s last conference championship came back in 1968 when they won the MAC with HC Bill Hess (10-1, 6-0).
MEGALOCKS ATS Outlook: Neutral
Ohio looks like the clear favorite to win the division. They have the QB, defense, special teams and HC to make a legitimate run for the MAC Championship. If it’s all going to come together this season it will be up to the new faces at RB and WR to give Rourke some support.
The Bobcats are 55% ATS in the last ten years of the Frank Solich era and have not had a losing mark vs the point spread since 2014. We will go with a neutral view on their ATS outlook for now but understand that it’s not usually a good idea to underestimate these guys.
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