WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – Betting integrity firms are scrutinizing the Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team after sportsbooks reported unusual betting during their game against Central Michigan University.
According to ESPN, the men’s college basketball game played on Tuesday (Jan. 14) between the EMU Eagles and the CMU Chippewas has caused betting integrity firms to investigate after they say multiple sportsbooks reported unusual wagering activity.
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After the 82-62 loss to CMU, the Integrity Compliance 360 distributed an alert to its clients, which included sportsbooks, state gaming regulators, leagues, and NCAA conferences with an alert after a bettor had attempted to place their largest wager to date on CMU to cover the spread in the first half of its home matchup vs. EMU.
The alert noted that Tuesday’s game was the second involving the Eagles flagged by sportsbooks this season.
IC360 also sent an alert regarding suspicious betting activity on a Wright State-EMU game on Dec. 21, 2024.
Officials say the suspicious betting in both instances was against the Eagles.
In an email to ESPN, a spokesperson for the Michigan Gaming Control Board said they were aware that a second sports betting monitor, the International Betting Integrity Agency (IBIA), was Reviewing an NCAA basketball game on Tuesday but declined further comment.
The point spread in the first half of the game opened at CMU at -3.5 and moved to -6.5 an hour before tipoff.
CMU hit a three-pointer in the final seconds to put the Chippewas up 39-33 at halftime.
Multiple gambling industry sources told ESPN that the unusual betting activity on first halves was part of a trend that veteran bookmakers and professional bettors have been tracking on college basketball games dating back to last season. This includes games involving Temple University, which is being investigated after a former basketball player was flagged for suspicious wagering in March 2024.
ESPN said multiple offshore sportsbooks and at least one U.S. book had removed the option to bet first halves on select games during the 2025 season.
According to ESPN, the alert for the Wright State-Eagles games said that suspicious wagering was on the Wright State first-half spread of -2.5.
Officials said EMU trailed Wright State 38-27 at the half, but the Eagles won 86-82.
First-half lines typically equal around 50% of the full-game point spread. The point spread on the whole game between the Eagles and the Chippewas closed at -8, while the first-half line closed at -6.5.
In some of the other games flagged by bookmakers and bettors, enough action came in to cause the first-half line to close equal or greater than the line on the entire game.
In a statement to ESPN, EMU confirmed that a review of the matter was underway.
Look for the Eagles this Saturday when they take on the Bowling Green Falcons at 2 p.m. inside Stroh Center.
