The Eastern Michigan Eagles fell Tuesday at Central, 82-63, but a far bigger story would emerge from the Mid-American Conference clash. Per ESPN’s David Purdum, the game is the second EMU contest this season being audited for suspicious gambling activity after several bettors tried place massive wagers on Central Michigan to cover the first-half spread.
Earlier this season, sports betting watchdog Integrity Compliance 360 also investigated EMU’s December 21 game against Wright State. In this instance, too, users placed abnormally large bets on the opponent’s first-half line.
The size and similarity of the wagers are what immediately garnered attention, but, as it turns out, the problem isn’t limited to these two games, Eastern Michigan, or the 2024-25 season.
Eastern Michigan Eagles and Central Michigan Chippewas Find Themselves Elevated to National Stage–Just Not for Basketball Reasons
The first-half margin in the Central Michigan game opened at CMU -3.5, Purdum notes, but skyrocketed within an hour of tipoff to -6.5. The full-game spread landed on -8. That kind of gap does not represent normal market conditions. The discrepancy stuck out like a sore thumb and helped get the game flagged for investigation.
The initially flagged bet was the user’s largest ever, according to the IC360 alert, which also mentioned “two other high stakes wagers from two accounts in a different jurisdiction, both on Central Michigan 1st Half Spread.”
The Chippewas led by a point with 1:02 until the break, but a pair of Eagles turnovers produced two extra possessions, ending in a layup and, with one second on the clock, a made three-pointer to give CMU a 39-33 advantage–and a first-half cover–heading into the locker room.
Against Wright State, bettors invested heavily on Raiders -2.5. The break saw them up 38-27 before EMU trounced them 59-44 in the second half.
According to the ESPN article, the activity involving Eagles’ games fits within a larger pattern:
The unusual betting activity on first halves is part of a trend that veteran bookmakers and professional bettors have been tracking on college basketball games dating to last season, including on games involving Temple, multiple gambling industry sources told ESPN.
Particularly in a smaller conference like the MAC, whose games aren’t likely to attract as many casual bettors, large sums placed on non-standard markets are more likely to indicate professional action or, in this case, possible foul play.
The alert suggests a connection behind betting accounts that wagered on these markets in 2023-24 and the individuals that have wagered this season against the Eastern Michigan Eagles.
EMU Report Marks the Latest Chapter in the Jontay Porter Era of Sports Betting Corruption
During the 2023-24 NBA campaign, former Missouri Tiger and Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter, brother of Denver Nuggets sharpshooter Michael Porter Jr., was banned from the league following an investigation into his performance and irregular wagers made on the “under” in Porter’s player prop markets. Since then, the potential of gambling corruption has seen greater public attention.
Purdum states that an unnamed ex-Temple Owls player is currently under investigation for gambling irregularities surrounding a Temple-UAB game last season.
EMU learned of the complications from Tuesday’s game the next day, prompting a statement:
We became aware of the matter on Wednesday and a review is underway. At this time we do not know anything further about what may have precipitated the suspicious activity. We are working with the Mid-American Conference and will provide further details as we learn additional information.
Gambling-based controversy is not the type of publicity a small school like Eastern needs. Already concerned for player safety with the rise of player props and, in turn, angry losing gamblers, the NCAA certainly doesn’t need it, either.
Depending on how the investigation progresses, updates could surface during March Madness–exactly the wrong time for athletic administrators and TV networks who want their product to shine unsullied.
Hopefully the issue will be clarified quickly so that the university, the program and the players can focus on scandal-free basketball. Set to play Bowling Green on Saturday, EMU sits 7-9 (1-3) in the MAC.
For More Great Hardwood Heroics Content
Follow me on Twitter at @ezsniper14 for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in NBA and College Basketball, click here!
