Eastern Michigan (3-1) squares off against Kent State (0-4) in the conference opener for both teams. The game kicks off on Saturday September 28 at 3:30 p.m. ET and can be seen live on ESPN+.
The Eagles produced a shutdown victory over St. Francis (PA) in their last game while the Golden Flashes haven't scored a single point in two weeks, although they played two top-10 teams, Tennessee and Penn State.
EMU comes into this matchup as a 14.5-point favorite. The over/under is set at 46.5.
My Eastern Michigan vs Kent State prediction and college football picks are below.
Eastern Michigan vs Kent State Odds, Line, Pick
| Eastern Michigan Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-14 -110 | 46 -105 / -115 | -550 |
| Kent State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+14 -110 | 46 -105 / -115 | +410 |
- Eastern Michigan vs Kent State spread: Eastern Michigan -14
- Eastern Michigan vs Kent State over/under: 46.5 points
- Eastern Michigan vs Kent State moneyline: Eastern Michigan -550
- Eastern Michigan vs Kent State pick: Eastern Michigan -15
My Kent State vs Eastern Michigan best bet is on the Eagles spread, with the best line currently available at DraftKings, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Eastern Michigan vs Kent State Betting Preview
Eastern Michigan Football
EMU beat the same St. Francis (PA) team that defeated Kent State. EMU used a defensive fumble return touchdown and a punt block score to fuel the route.
The Eagles completely shut down St. Francis' rushing attack, limiting them to 43 yards on 35 attempts. The defense also registered six sacks and 10 tackles for loss in the matchup. EMU has played better than expected this season and is 4-0 against the spread. Also, two of the Eagles' three outright wins came when they were listed as underdogs.
Kent State Football
Kent State has played a tough schedule that has included three Power 4 opponents. We saw the Flashes get completely outclassed in those three games as the talent disparity and difference in roster depth was on full display.
It is really hard to judge Kent State on those performances, but we are able to draw conclusions from another game the Flashes lost this year. It was shocking to see Kent State get dominated in the trenches against a weak St. Francis (PA) squad that outgained Kent State by 122 yards.
Kent State couldn’t run the ball against the Red Flash and really struggled on third down, going just 2-for-14. When the offense needed a play, the Golden Flashes couldn't make one. Overall, Kent State had very little offensive explosion in the contest.
Eastern Michigan vs Kent State Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Eastern Michigan and Kent State match up statistically:
Eastern Michigan Offense vs. Kent State Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 97 | 131 | |
| Line Yards | 106 | 134 | |
| Pass Success | 82 | 130 | |
| Havoc | 61 | 131 | |
| Finishing Drives | 115 | 129 | |
| Quality Drives | 23 | 134 | |
Kent State Offense vs. Eastern Michigan Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 133 | 117 | |
| Line Yards | 130 | 79 | |
| Pass Success | 129 | 84 | |
| Havoc | 127 | 77 | |
| Finishing Drives | 130 | 24 | |
| Quality Drives | 133 | 70 | |
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 91 | 106 |
| PFF Coverage | 131 | 120 |
| Special Teams SP+ | 20 | 121 |
| Middle 8 | 89 | 133 |
| Seconds per Play | 26.7 (56) | 29.9 (118) |
| Rush Rate | 59% (49) | 57% (47) |
Eastern Michigan vs Kent State Prediction
I am going to lay the points with EMU and continue to fade Kent State until we start to see some improvement from the Flashes.
Kent State has played one of the toughest schedules in the country and has nothing to show for it, except injuries. Quarterbacks Devin Kargman and JD Sherrod were both lost for the season in the first half against Penn State. Third stringer Tommy Ulatowski has started at Kent State in the past, but reports are that he has a nasty finger injury and can hardly grip the football. He was 0-for-6 in the Penn State game as Kent State didn’t even attempt to pass in the second half.
Kent State’s most explosive player, Chrishon “Big Play” McCray, has been bottled up all season as defenses are keying in on him. The Flashes just haven’t found a way to get him the football.
I'm not confident in Kent State's ability to run the ball against a loaded box and a quarterback with a banged-up finger is really going to compound the issue.
The offense has been voided of explosives and has struggled to move the football all season. The run game has averaged 1.7 yards per carry and has accumulated just two explosive rushing plays.
Meanwhile, EMU is playing with confidence after a thrilling double-overtime victory against Jacksonville State and a 36-0 win over St. Francis (PA).
The concern for EMU is protecting Cole Snyder as EMU has allowed 14 sacks this year. The Eagles played much better against SFPA and UMass, two defensive fronts that are comparable to what Kent State show as the Golden Flashes are dealing with injuries at linebacker and defensive line.
I feel as though EMU will have enough offensive success to put it in position to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
EMU was able to completely shut down Kent State's attack last year and has a really good grasp of what Kent State wants to do.
It’s hard to quantify how bad the Flashes are given the schedule they've played, but quarterback depth and injury factors are too much to overcome here.
I have zero faith in Kent State being able to execute offensively and keep this game within the number. EMU hasn’t started 4-1 since 2016, but the Eagles have to like their chances in a wide-open MAC. This spread should be closer to three touchdowns, not two.
Pick: Eastern Michigan -15
How to Watch Eastern Michigan vs Kent State Live: Start Time, TV Channel, Location
| Location: | Dix Stadium |
| Date: | Saturday, Sept. 28 |
| Kickoff Time: | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ESPN+ |
Eastern Michigan vs Kent State Betting Trends
- Eastern Michigan is 3-1 in its past four games.
- Eastern Michigan is 4-0 ATS in its past four games.
- Kent State is 0-4 in its past four games.
- Kent State is 0-4 ATS in its past four games.
Eastern Michigan vs Kent State Weather
