Investigation Launched Into Suspicious Betting on Eastern Michigan Games

The integrity of college basketball betting is under scrutiny as several men’s basketball games involving Eastern Michigan have been flagged for suspicious wagering activity. Most notably, a recent game between Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan on January 16 has caught the attention of betting integrity firms after unusual gambling patterns were identified. Integrity Compliance 360 (IC360), a leading sports betting monitor, issued an alert to its clients—including sportsbooks, state gaming regulators, and NCAA conferences—after a bettor attempted to place a large wager on Central Michigan to cover the spread in the first half of the game.

Previous incident in December involving Eastern Michigan:

According to ESPN’s report, the alert from IC360 highlighted that the bettor was attempting to place “their largest wager to date” on Central Michigan’s first-half spread, raising concerns within the industry. Further investigation revealed two other high-stakes wagers placed on the same market—Central Michigan’s first-half spread—by bettors in different jurisdictions, specifically in Connecticut and Tennessee. The involvement of multiple high-value bets across different locations has led to the suspicion of potential match-fixing or insider information being exploited.

Interestingly, this was not the first time Eastern Michigan’s basketball program had attracted attention for suspicious betting activity this season. The game against Wright State on December 21, 2024, was also flagged for irregular betting patterns. According to the alert sent to IC360’s clients, the first-half spread on the Wright State-Eastern Michigan game was notably impacted by similar unusual betting. The point spread for that game had been set at Wright State -2.5 in the first half, and the betting lines shifted significantly as the game approached. Despite trailing 38-27 at halftime, Eastern Michigan made a dramatic comeback in the second half to win 86-82.

This recurrence of unusual betting behavior in games involving Eastern Michigan has raised alarms about the potential for widespread integrity issues. The fact that suspicious betting is focused on the first-half spread of these games is particularly noteworthy. According to industry experts, when significant betting activity drives the first-half line to a point equal to or higher than the full-game line, it raises a “red flag,” as one seasoned Las Vegas bookmaker described it.

Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan game: betting shift before tipoff:

The January 16th game between Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan saw the betting line for the first half shift dramatically. Initially set at Central Michigan -3.5, the line increased to -6.5 just an hour before tipoff. This rapid change in the line is indicative of substantial betting activity and is often associated with insider knowledge or other manipulative behavior. The Chippewas led 39-33 at halftime, and eventually secured an 82-63 victory. However, the sharp shift in the betting market prior to the game has caused concern for betting regulators and integrity bodies.

Eastern Michigan University has acknowledged the investigation into the suspicious betting activity but has stated that it has no further information at this time. Greg Steiner, the senior associate athletics director for external affairs at Eastern Michigan, confirmed the university’s awareness of the issue. “We became aware of the matter on Wednesday,” Steiner stated, as reported by ESPN. “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.”

The university has committed to cooperating with both the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and the relevant authorities to uncover more details about the nature of the suspicious betting. Both IC360 and the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) have been notified of the concerns. However, both organizations have declined to offer specific comments regarding the ongoing investigation.

This investigation into Eastern Michigan’s basketball games forms part of a wider trend that has emerged in recent college basketball seasons. Veteran bookmakers and professional bettors have reported unusual betting patterns on a number of games, including those involving other teams like Temple. In particular, first-half betting lines have become a focus for integrity monitors, with several games being flagged for suspicious wagers in recent months. ESPN previously reported that federal authorities are investigating a former Temple player after a game between Temple and UAB was flagged for suspicious wagering.

In response to these concerns, some sportsbooks have taken the precaution of removing the option to bet on first-half lines for certain games. This includes multiple offshore sportsbooks, as well as at least one U.S. bookmaker. Such actions underscore the seriousness with which the industry is treating the growing problem of suspicious betting activity.