CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Mid-American Conference has announced a 34-game men's and women's basketball league television package produced and distributed by the new home for MAC basketball -- SportsTime Ohio (STO). The 34 scheduled games are part of the largest men’s and women’s television package in league history. In addition, there will be at least 13 other men’s basketball games that are scheduled to be televised on ESPN’s Family of Networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com) – the conference’s most extensive national cable package ever.

 The men's basketball television schedule will begin on Tuesday, November 16 as Central Michigan battles Hawaii at 4 a.m. ET as part of ESPN’s College Hoops Tip-off marathon. STO’s coverage of the MAC will begin on Wednesday November 24 as Akron hosts Cleveland State and will culminate with quarterfinals (STO), semifinals (STO) and Championship game (ESPN2, 6 p.m. ET) coverage of the FirstEnergy MAC Men's Basketball Tournament on March 10-12.

 Michael Reghi will be joined by MAC Hall of Famer and former Toledo and Philadelphia 76ers standout Steve Mix as talent for the MAC men's basketball SportsTime Ohio package. STO’s Mike Cairns will provide the play-by-play for the women’s broadcasts with the analyst role to be determined.

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Western Michigan will travel to InfoCision Stadium in Akron for the third MAC Football contest on SportsTime Ohio this season. The Broncos, led by veteran coach Bill Cubit, have played just two conference games this season and by splitting those two games remain very much in the hunt for the MAC West crown. Akron, though winless this season, has shown tremendous improvement as the team gets more familiar with first-year head coach Rob Ianello’s system.

The game kicks off at 3:30 Saturday.

“Akron is a dangerous football team. They’ve got talent, but it’s a new system there and they’re just trying to get used to it,” Cubit said of the Zips. “They have talented kids and it’s going to be a tough match-up and a tough road trip for us.”

The Zips are coming off a rough trip to Peden Stadium in Athens, where Ohio rolled to a 38-10 victory. The Bobcats’ first four possessions ended with scores (three touchdowns and a field goal) while the Zips’ first four times with the football saw them go three-and-out. This is a recurring theme for Akron, who has been out-scored 156-60 in the first half this season, and actually went to its hurry-up offense in the first half.

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The betting lines in Vegas, how they move and change as the money flows in on one side or the other, have always fascinated me. Vegas doesn’t care who wins or loses a game, all they want is for an equal amount of money to be bet on both sides so they can cash in on the 10 percent vigorish they charge on each bet. The “vig” or the “juice” means Vegas will always make money, as long as they are not too heavy on one side.

Here is an example. Say, for instance, Ohio State is a seven point favorite over Michigan. Now imagine everyone thinks the Buckeyes will win by more than a touchdown. They will lay the points. So if they want to bet the Buckeyes for $500 they will pay $550 for their bet, the additional $50 going to the bookmaker.

Now imagine everyone is betting on Ohio State and the bookmaker has $5,000 from various bets on Ohio State and just $200 on Michigan. The bookie will then move the line a half-point or a point, meaning they are now posting Ohio State minus eight (Ohio State -8 at Michigan). They hope this will get people to start betting on the Wolverines because they are $4,800 heavy on Ohio State.

If people continue to bet the Buckeyes they might move the line another half-point or point. They will continue to manipulate the betting line until their books even out. In a perfect world for the bookmaker there would be exactly the same amount bet on each team. If there is $10,000 bet on Ohio State and $10,000 bet on Michigan, no matter which team wins or covers the spread, the bookie is going to make $2,000 on this game (10 percent of the $20,000 wagered).

There are seven games on the Mid-American Conference schedule this weekend and some very interesting betting lines. Here is how I think things will go. Remember, this is for entertainment purposes only. Don’t go betting your mortgage money on these games because I confirm what you have been thinking about a certain game. That, my friend, would be foolish.

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Ron English had a very good gig.

As defensive coordinator at Louisville, one of the top football programs in the Big East year after year, English was one of those names that always popped up when there a head football coaching position became available because of a firing or resignation. He had just joined the Louisville staff when Charlie Strong replaced Bobby Petrino at the helm if the Cardinals program after spending five seasons in Ann Arbor, where he was the secondary coach for four seasons and defensive coordinator for one.

A four-year letterwinner as a defensive back for the Cal Golden Bears, English had built an impressive resume after his playing days ended, on the staffs of San Diego State (secondary coach 1996-97) and Arizona State (secondary coach 1998-02).

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