Miami University Basketball: From Undefeated to NCAA Tournament Contenders

The 2025-26 college basketball season has been full of surprises, but few teams have captured the nation’s attention quite like the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks. Their remarkable 31-0 start sent shockwaves through the sport, culminating in a heartbreaking 87-83 loss to UMass in the MAC tournament quarterfinals. Despite lacking a signature ‘Quad 1’ victory, the NCAA Selection Committee granted them a bid, setting the stage for a First Four showdown against SMU as two 11 seeds.

A Betting Public’s Darling

Oddsmakers might be wary, but the betting public is overwhelmingly backing the RedHawks. Miami (Ohio) has emerged as the most-bet team in early NCAA tournament wagering. At BetMGM, a staggering 71% of all wagers and 63% of the total money wagered are on Miami (Ohio) to cover the spread as of Tuesday afternoon. The line has already shifted significantly, opening as high as 8.5-point underdogs and settling at a consensus of 7 points.

“We opened Miami (Ohio) +8.5 and took a heap of Miami money,” explained Seamus Magee, BetMGM college basketball trader, to Yahoo Sports. “Now we’re down to +6.5, where we’re starting to see some buy back on SMU -6.5. Certainly plenty of interest on the Miami money line.”

The enthusiasm extends to moneyline bets, with a remarkable 81% of wagers favoring Miami (Ohio), who opened at +260 and have since improved to +225. They are the most-bet moneyline team for any NCAA tournament game at BetMGM.

Las Vegas Echoes the Sentiment

The trend is consistent in Las Vegas, a hub for both sharp bettors and casual fans. Casey Degnon, risk supervisor at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, noted, “It’s been all Miami (Ohio) so far in both tickets and money. And I don’t think that will change. We opened SMU -8.5, got as high as -9, down to -7 now. As of now, we’re rooting for SMU to run ‘em out.”

Sharp Money and Potential Shifts

While the public is firmly in Miami’s corner, some sharp money is starting to trickle in on SMU, particularly with the line movement. Chase Michaelson, college basketball trader at Circa Sports, commented, “We’ve had some of our sharpest accounts on the ‘dog. We’ve had pretty good two-way action, but overall it’s been bet down to a version of 7. This is the kind of game that will divide sharp opinion because on one hand Miami is facing a level of competition it hasn’t this season, but SMU has really limped into this spot.”

Adding to the complexity, SMU may regain the services of B.J. Edwards, who has been sidelined since February 25th with an ankle injury. Michaelson anticipates a potential shift towards SMU closer to tip-off. Regardless, this First Four matchup presents a crucial early decision for sportsbooks as the NCAA tournament unfolds.

Stay updated on the NCAA March Madness Tournament for the latest scores and analysis.