Western Michigan Broncos vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

7 minute read

Nov. 16, 2021

Dan Dobish
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The Western Michigan Broncos (6-4, 3-3) travel to Ypsilanti, Mich. on Tuesday to battle the Eastern Michigan Eagles (6-4, 3-3) in a MAC East Division battle at Rynearson Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on ESPN2.

Score Prediction

Western Michigan 40, Eastern Michigan 33

Best Bets

OVER 66 (-110)

Western Michigan Broncos vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles Predictions

The Broncos registered a 45-40 win over Akron last Tuesday in Kalamazoo, coming nowhere near covering a 26-point number as the OVER easily cashed. Western Michigan slapped the brakes on a two-game losing skid, although the Broncos have failed to cash in the past three. Western Michigan rolled up 316 rushing yards last week against the Zips, while going for 217 passing yards. Special teams were a big part of last week's game for WMU, both good and bad. The Zips ripped off a 94-yard kickoff return for touchdown in the second quarter, which wasn't good. But the Broncos responded with a 96-yard kickoff return for score in the third quarter. Western was also victimized for a pick-six in the fourth quarter.

Western Michigan needs to clean up costly miscues and sloppy special teams, as Eastern Michigan will provide a much bigger challenge, especially on the road.

EMU enters this one in a foul mood, losing 34-26 to Ohio last week in Ypsi. The Eagles were six-point favorites, but were never covering at any point. In fact, Eastern never even held the lead at any point against the Bobcats. Eastern was gashed for 265 yards on the ground and 230 yards through the air, while allowing three passing touchdowns. The good news is that QB Ben Bryant went for 354 passing yards while completing 41 of his 57 attempts, and WR Tanner Knue showed out with 11 snags for 127 yards. Big-play wideout Hassan Beydoun, a favorite target of Bryant, struck for nine grabs and 85 yards, while Cleveland-native WR Dylan Drummond was good for nine catches, 73 yards and a touchdown. EMU will need that kind of pass distribution if it wants to corral the Broncos.

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Western Michigan Broncos vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles Betting Odds

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Ohio Bobcats vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles Betting Resources

Matchup: MAC
Date: Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Venue: Rynearson Stadium
Location: Ypsilanti, Michigan
TV-Time: ESPN2 - 7:30 p.m. ET

Western Michigan Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

SU: 6-4
ATS: 4-5-1
O/U: 5-5
ATS - Home: 3-3
ATS - Away: 1-2-1

The Broncos haven't had a lot of success against the number lately, going 0-3 ATS across the past three outings, and Western Michigan is a dismal 1-4-1 ATS in the past six games since rattling off a three-game cover streak from Sept. 11-25. Total bettors have enjoyed the Broncos, however, as the OVER has hit in four of the past five for WMU. The past three OVER results in particular haven't been cheapies, either. Last week against Akron saw a total of 85 points, with the line set at 62. Prior to that, Western combined with Central Michigan for 72 points with a total of 64.5. On Oct. 16, Western Michigan and Kent State posted 95 combined points on a total of 69.

Western Michigan enters with a 5-1-1 ATS mark across the past seven against winning teams. However, that's about the only good trend going at the moment. The Broncos are just 1-3-1 ATS in the past five on the road, 1-4-1 ATS in the past six games overall, and 1-7-1 ATS in the previous nine MAC tilts.

As far as the totals are concerned, Western has hit the OVER in four of the past five league games, while going OVER in four of the past five as a favorite. However, the UNDER is 4-1 in WMU's past five games on the road.

Eastern Michigan Eagles Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

The loss to Ohio last week was shocking, as the Bobcats entered just 2-7 SU. Perhaps Eastern Michigan would rather play on the road, where it won 52-49 at Toledo the previous week on Nov. 2, and at Bowling Green 55-24 on Oct. 23. The UNDER last week also put a halt to a 3-0 OVER run for the Eagles.

Although it failed to over last week, there is something Eastern Michigan likes about facing down on a Tuesday. The Eagles are 5-2 ATS in the past seven MAC contests on a Tuesday night. EMU is also good at picking themselves up and dusting themselves off, going 22-9 ATS in the past 31 games following a straight-up loss, and 19-7 ATS in the past 26 following a non-cover in the previous outing.

For the Eagles, it's all about the pass game, going for 276.7 yards through the air to rank 23rd in the nation. Defensively, they're not good, yielding 431.3 total yards, 194.9 rushing yards and 28.2 PPG.

Eastern has won the two past meetings in this series, and it has covered three in a row. Western Michigan won five straight in the series from 2014-18. The OVER is 5-2-1 in the previous eight meetings, including last season's battle in Kalamazoo which saw the teams combine for 95 points. Eastern Michigan won that one 53-42 as 13.5-point underdog. The 'dog has covered four of the previous five meetings, too.

SU: 6-4
ATS: 4-6
O/U: 5-5
ATS - Home: 2-3
ATS - Away: 2-3

Western Michigan is looking to snap a three-game losing streak to Eastern Michigan. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Western Michigan Broncos

Record: 6-4
VI Ranking: 92
Points Scored: 307
Points Allowed: 300
PS/G: 30.7
PA/G: 30.0

Inside the Stats - Eastern Michigan Eagles

Record: 6-4
VI Ranking: 95
Points Scored: 340
Points Allowed: 282
PS/G: 34.0
PA/G: 28.2

Key Players to Watch

WMU: Kaleb Eleby - QB (179/294, 2,470 yards, 19 total TD, 4 INT)
WMU: Skyy Moore - WR (66 catches, 860 yards, 5 TD)
EMU: Ben Bryant - QB (219/314, 2,544 yards, 14 TD, 6 INT)
EMU: Samson Evans - RB (52 rushes, 213 yards, 11 TD)

Western Michigan Broncos vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles Betting Conclusion

Western Michigan was able to steer clear of Akron despite a bevy of miscues and some ugly special teams, and Eleby was tagged for a pick-six which didn't help. But the Broncos were able to overcome those mistakes to win at home. They cannot have a repeat against Eastern Michigan, a team which has a more talented offense.

However, Eastern Michigan was run over by Ohio last week, and that's a huge point of concern facing a Western Michigan rushing attack which ranks 34th in the country with 194.8 yards per game. RB La'Darius Jefferson has racked up 718 combined scrimmage yards and 10 rushing touchdowns with 4.2 average yards per attempt. RB Sean Tyler actually leads the team with 837 yards and 6.1 yards per attempt, cashing in seven touchdowns on the ground. That two-headed monster will likely be too much for Eastern Michigan to handle. Western has dropped the past three meetings, and will have revenge on their minds after a disappointing loss to Eastern at home last season. Revenge is a dish best served cold, on a Tuesday, in MACtion.