A couple of teams that prefer to keep it on the ground, Broncos (-4) are ready to welcome the Eastern Michigan Eagles to Western Michigan. This conference matchup is scheduled to get underway at 12:00 p.m. ET and interested parties can witness the action live on ESPN+.
Eastern Michigan Eagles at Western Michigan Broncos Betting Preview
The Eagles enter into this Saturday MAC matchup as the underdog and are currently getting 4 points. The Eagles are also receiving +155 moneyline odds while the Broncos are -175. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 61 points. Should the favorite gets down early, it would probably create a nice live betting opportunity.
Odds have moved slightly from where they originally opened. The opening line was -3 and the game’s O/U was set initially at 61.5.
The Eagles have gained 1.8 units so far in 2018 and are 3-2 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U mark of 1-3. The Broncos have gained 1.0 unit this season. The team is 2-3 ATS and has an even O/U record of 2-2.
The Eagles are 2-3 straight up (SU), including 0-2 SU against conference opponents. The Broncos are 3-2 SU overall and 1-0 SU in conference play.
When these two schools faced one another last year, Western Michigan knocked off Eastern Michigan by a field goal 20-17.
Western Michigan enters this one on a three-game losing streak while Eastern Michigan has won its last three in a row. The Eagles are most-recently reeling from a thin 26-23 defeat to Northern Illinois last week. Tyler Wiegers completed only 17 passes on 40 attempts for 180 yards and one touchdown. Shaq Vann (68 yards on 18 rush attempts, one TD) led the ground attack. Mathew Sexton (five receptions, 34 yards) and Arthur Jackson III (five catches, 56 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Western Michigan just picked up a 40-39 win over Miami (OH). Jon Wassink completed 27-of-42 passes for 439 yards and five touchdowns. LeVante Bellamy (66 yards on 12 rush attempts) and Jamauri Bogan (10 yards on 10 carries) handled the running game while Jayden Reed (seven receptions, 137 yards, four TDs) and D’Wayne Eskridge (seven catches, 141 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
When looking at offensive play-calling, each squad has a similar (52-48) run-pass ratio on the season. The Eagles have run for 113 yards per game (including 102 per game against Mid-American opponents) and have seven scores on the ground this year. The Broncos are logging 205 rush yards per game and have nine total rushing TDs.
It appears that the Broncos should own an advantage in terms of RB efficiency. Their backfield has produced 5.4 yards per carry while the defense has allowed a YPC of 4.5 to opponents. The Eagles have recorded 3.0 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 5.1 to opponents.
The Eagles offensive scheme has averaged 283 yards in the air overall (264 per game against conference opposition) and has 10 passing scores so far. The Broncos have recorded 285 pass yards per contest and have 13 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Eastern Michigan has allowed 220 rush yards and 191 pass yards per game. The Western Michigan D has allowed 191.2 yards per game to opposing passers and 174.0 yards per game on the ground. The Eagles are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 5.38 to opposing QBs, while the Broncos have given up an 8.17 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Wiegers has amassed 794 yards this year, and has completed 62 percent of his 101 attempts with four scores through the air and one interception. He has a 6.92 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 4.62 over the past two outings.
In the other locker room, Jon Wassink has completed 85-of-142 passes for 1,189 yards, 10 TDs and three INTs. Wassink’s ANY/A stands at 8.50 for the season and 12.15 over his past two games.
RELATED: Week 6 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Free NCAA Betting Tip: Eastern Michigan Eagles at Western Michigan Broncos
SU Winner – Western Michigan, ATS Winner – Western Michigan, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Western Michigan offense has lost two fumbles this season while Eastern Michigan has lost three.
The Western Michigan D has sacked opposing QBs 10 times this year. Eastern Michigan has recorded eight sacks.
Eastern Michigan has produced 2.80869565217391 yards per carry across its last three contests and 2.5 over its last two.
Western Michigan has averaged 5.3 yards per carry over its last three outings and 5.1 over its last two.
Eastern Michigan was favored by 4 points in its last game and the Over/Under going into it was 50.5. The under cashed and Eastern Michigan failed to cover in the 26-23 defeat to Northern Illinois.
In its last three games, Eastern Michigan is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Western Michigan was the underdog by 3 points in its last match and the O/U was set at 53. The over cashed and Western Michigan covered in the 40-39 victory over Miami (OH).
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