Eastern Michigan will try to build on its win over UMass when it travels to Western Michigan on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles lost their first MAC game of the season, falling to Buffalo in a 50-31 final two weeks ago. Western Michigan is 2-3, but it has a 1-0 record in the conference after beating Ball State.
Eastern Michigan has faced a tough schedule so far this season, playing as a double-digit underdog against Louisiana and Arizona State. The Eagles pulled off a huge upset as 20.5-point underdogs against the Sun Devils three weeks ago, recording a 30-21 victory. They were unable to build on that win, losing to Buffalo in a blowout as 6.5-point favorites in their first conference game of the year. Eastern Michigan bounced back with a win over UMass last week, but it did not come close to covering the 20.5-point spread in a 20-13 final. The Eagles have now only covered the spread once in their last seven games.
Ready for battle ??#ETOUGH? | #StackEm pic.twitter.com/KML3s6inj3
— Eastern Michigan Football (@EMUFB) October 5, 2022
They have been without starting quarterback Taylor Powell in their last two games due to a shoulder injury, and he is questionable to play on Saturday. Sophomore Austin Smith has stepped in as the starter, but he has not had much success as a passer, completing just 56.9% of his passes for 372 yards in those two games. Running back Samson Evans is the key player offensively, rushing for 540 yards and three scores on 92 carries, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Smith has added 166 rushing yards and one touchdown on 31 attempts. Eastern Michigan has covered the spread in five of its last six games against Western Michigan.