College Football Predictions – Ohio Bobcats 2021 College Football Preview
Created July 6, 2021
2020 Recap
Record – 2-1
ATS – 1-2
It’s hard to make much out of the TRUNCATED plandemic season as the Bobcats booked a pair of wins over TURDS (Akron, Bowling Green) and lost a close one to Central Michigan. What we DO know is that the Bobcats continued their MAC title drought (1968).
Ohio Bobcats 2021 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Bobcats have been SPICY on offense the past four seasons averaging 34+ PPG on each occasion. They’ve rushed for 200+ yards every year since 2017 and should have one of the best rushing attacks in the MAC. De’Montre Tuggle racked up 403 yards and 6 TDs LY (ya, two of those games were vs TOMATO CANS) and recall that he had over 600Y and 11 TDs in 2019. The offensive line returns four starters, and whilst they lose C Brett Kitrell, they add Va Tech transfer TJ Jackson who’s listed at an impossible 6’7 377. We like the QB situation as they have a good 1-2 combo in Kurtis Rourke (8.8/attempt, 0 INT LY) and the mobile Armani Rogers. #1 WR Isiah Cox averaged 20 YPC LY and he caught 39 balls in 2019. TE Ryan Luehrman had a pair of receiving TDs in 3G LY. We aren’t sure about the overall depth and explosiveness in the THROW GAME.
DEFENSE
It’s a bit of a mixed bag looking ahead to 2021. Their run D has gotten worse in each of the last three seasons (110 YPG to 194 LY; 3.5 to 4.8 YPC) and they lose #2 tackler LB Jared Dorsa and their fine DE Austin Conrad. The good news? They return eight starters on this side of the football and bring back almost the entire two-deep at LB and on the DL. Safety Jamison Collier led the team in tackles LY and there is some good size at DT. They need to get more out of the pass rush as they only bagged 4 sacks in 3G LY (24 in 2019, 25 in 2018). This appears to be a good, but not great defense on paper.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Bobcats will miss STC Brain Hayes who is off to the Sun Belt (App St) and will need to get better results from PK Tristian Vandenberg (2-6 FG LY). Note that they had TWO KR TDs LY, one each from Julian Ross and De’Montre Tuggle. Both men are back in 2021.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – The non-conference docket has a pair of nasty road games (Cajuns, Northwestern) but they miss Ball St and Western Michigan from the MAC West. Two of their “road” games are vs Akron and Bowling Green and note that they get Kent St and Miami Ohio in Athens.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Eastern Michigan (Nov 9)
Ohio is always good for a random stinker and this contest pops-up after the season-defining three game stretch vs East opponents (Buffalo, Kent St, Miami Ohio).
Season Win Total
(per 5Dimes, July 6)
Over 6.5 -125
Under 6.5 +105
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over.
The East is pretty weak and they have a decent draw from the West. They’re more than capable of SHOCKING THE WORLD week one vs Syracuse.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Per the amazing PHIL STEELE mag, the Bobcats haven’t lost a MAC game by more than a TD since 2015.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
This team doesn’t look like a killer BUT they don’t appear to have a significant weakness. A fun game to play with friends and family is “Predict the week that Ohio chokes away the MAC”, but they definitely look good enough to get to the MAC Championship Game and give Bobcats fans that elusive title. <grabs popcorn>
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