Eastern Michigan vs. Ohio Recap: Kickoff Return Sends the Total Over

Ohio beat Eastern Michigan 24-20 after two late scores 13 seconds apart flipped the lead twice. Eastern Michigan took a 20-17 lead on a 24-yard Joey Mattord touchdown catch with 3:53 left, and Darren James-Hamilton returned the next kickoff 100 yards for the winning score. Two DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

ALT: Eastern Michigan over 12.5 points (-400 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Eastern Michigan had scored 13 or more in 8 of its last 10, averaging 21.7, and Ohio had allowed 13 or more in 7 of 10. The main team total was 19.5. - What happened: Eastern Michigan scored 20, 7.5 over the line. It reached 13 before halftime: Aaron Kearse returned a fumble 25 yards for a touchdown, and Rudy Kessinger added field goals from 31 and 41 yards, the second on the final play of the half. - Worth watching: Eastern Michigan converted only 2 of 15 third downs and still cleared this number, partly thanks to a defensive score. A low alt team total gives that kind of game room to breathe, but at -400 it only makes sense as a small piece of a card.

ALT: Over 41.5 total points (-258 DraftKings / -260 FanDuel): CASHED - Our read: Both teams' games had gone over 41.5 in 8 of their last 10, averaging 48.8 combined. The main total was 48.5. - What happened: The teams combined for 44, 2.5 over the line. It was 17-13 Ohio after three quarters, then the Mattord touchdown and the kickoff return added 14 points in 13 seconds of game clock. - Worth watching: This one needed a special-teams touchdown to get there. Ohio had 356 yards and Eastern Michigan 307, yet the offenses produced only three offensive touchdowns between them. The alt cushion did its job.

How the game played out

Ohio opened the scoring on a 78-yard Nick Poulos pass to Dom Dorwart in the first quarter. Poulos threw for 266 yards on 19 of 29 passing, and Dorwart finished with 4 catches for 125 yards. Ohio went ahead 17-13 on a 1-yard Poulos run with 0:26 left in the third. Eastern Michigan's touchdown drive late in the fourth covered 98 yards.

Trends to watch

• Dom Dorwart averaged 31.3 yards a catch. Ohio is willing to take deep shots, which makes his longest-reception and yardage lines interesting.
• Brogan McCaughey threw 39 passes for 197 yards. Eastern Michigan's passing game is high volume and short.
• Both teams combined for three field goals, and Eastern Michigan's first touchdown came on defense. When drives stall like this, unders on offensive touchdown props are worth a look.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. For more, see alt lines and implied probability, or check the college football board.