RedHawks Triumph in Miami: Heat Takeover Sends Team on Historic Charge for NBA Crown!
The betting public is all over the 31-1 Miami (Ohio) RedHawks in their First Four matchup with SMU.
The Miami (Ohio) RedHawks have been one of the biggest storylines in the 2025-26 college basketball season, as the team started 31-0 before shockingly losing 87-83 to UMass in the quarterfinals of the MAC tournament. There was plenty of discussion as to whether the RedHawks — a team without a Quad 1 win this season — deserved a spot in the 2026 NCAA tournament , but the Selection Committee gave them a shot and they'll take on SMU in a Wednesday First Four game between two 11 seeds. Oddsmakers will be rooting against Miami (Ohio).
[ Enter Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem now for your shot at $50K ] The betting public has been strongly backing the RedHawks so far, as they are the most-bet of any NCAA tournament team in early wagering. At BetMGM sportsbooks, 71% of the wagers and 63% of the total dollars wagered were on Miami (Ohio) to cover the spread as of Tuesday afternoon. The RedHawks opened as high as 8.
5-point underdogs, before respected money pushed the line down to a market consensus of 7. "We opened Miami (Ohio) +8. 5 and took a heap of Miami money," Seamus Magee, BetMGM college basketball trader, told Yahoo Sports.
"Now we're down to +6. 5, where we're starting to see some buy back on SMU -6. 5.