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Eastern Michigan vs. Kent State Prediction and Odds for College Football Week 12 (Back MACtion Underdog)

By Reed Wallach

Sep 17, 2022; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Eastern Michigan Eagles running back Samson Evans (22) pushes
Sep 17, 2022; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Eastern Michigan Eagles running back Samson Evans (22) pushes / Alex Gould/The Republic / USA TODAY
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Kent State folded to their treacherous non conference schedule that included road trips to face Washington and Georgia, but the team showed their upside last week by dismantling Bowling Green, 40-6, on the road.

Now, the Golden Flashes return home in hopes of making a push to six wins and a bowl berth. They host 6-4 Eastern Michigan, who also got a win in Week 11, handling Akron, 33-27. Kent State has been looked at favorably all season in MAC play, can they hold up their end of the bargain and win their last two to qualify for a bowl? Let's look at the odds and find out:

Eastern Michigan vs. Kent State Odds, Spread and Total

Eastern Michigan vs. Kent State Betting Trends

  • Both teams are 4-6 against the spread (ATS) this season
  • Eastern Michigan is 4-1 ATS as an underdog this season
  • Kent State is 2-4 ATS as a favorite this season
  • Kent State is 0-4 ATS as a favorite of more than a field goal against FBS opponents

Eastern Michigan vs. Kent State Prediction and Pick

Kent State is full of talent, but has underwhelmed when expected to win all season, mainly due to their porous defense. While the team faced a tough non conference schedule, the team remains poor on that end of the field, 112th in success rate and 125th in success rate against the pass.

This may be an issue against a formidable Eastern Michigan offense. While quarterback Taylor Powell has been injured at times this season, backup Austin Smith has done just fine and the offense hasn't missed a beat without Powell, ranking top 50 in success rate. It's unknown who will start this week, but it was Smith last week in the win against Akron, completing 16-of-28 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns. The team is sixth in the country in red zone touchdown percentage and boasts a strong running game that is due in part to the teams elite MAC offensive line (top 50 in line yards).

Against a porous Kent State defense, EMU can match any offense that the Golden Flashes offense puts up and stay within one touchdown. Kent State's offense showed it's potential against Bowling Green with quarterback Collin Schlee fully healthy and Dante Cephas back from injury at receiver.

There is something to the point that Kent State hasn't covered as a big favorite all season against MAC foes and Eastern Michigan has the offense to stay within a touchdown against the Golden Flashes. I'll take the points and an outright upset wouldn't surprise me.


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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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