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Tuesday’s intrastate MACtion football clash between Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan is filled with intrigue, thanks to a seventh win, a distant title shot, and a heated trophy tug-of-war.
Both teams have achieved bowl eligibility, however, only the Broncos have a slim possibility of winning the MAC title. Eastern is the sole contender to host the highly sought-after “Michigan MAC Trophy” in Ypsilanti until the following season. Any loss would eliminate their chances.
After narrowly defeating Akron, Western heads to Rynearson Stadium, while Eastern seeks to bounce back from their loss to Ohio.
Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan: MACtion Odds
Western Michigan a moderate opening favorite
According to Michigan sportsbooks, Western Michigan is expected to have a slight advantage in a closely contested one-score game.
On Monday morning, Western Michigan was given 5 points by DraftKings Sportsbook and Caesars Sportsbook, while BetMGM Sportsbook had them listed at 4.5 points.
Eastern’s moneyline varies from +150 to +175, while Western’s moneyline falls between -180 and -215.
Michigan sportsbooks have set the over/under for the game within the range of 53.5 and 55 points.
Eastern Michigan has a record of 5-5 against the spread, whereas Western Michigan’s recent win against Akron resulted in them improving to 4-4-1, but fell significantly short of the 26.5 points that the underdog Zips were predicted to score.
How to watch: Western Michigan Broncos at Eastern Michigan Eagles
- Western Michigan (6-4, 3-3 MAC) will be playing against Eastern Michigan (6-4, 3-3).
- The scheduled time is 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 16th.
- Location: Ypsilanti, Michigan at Rynearson Stadium.
- The television channel is ESPN2.
- ESPN+ offers livestreaming services.
- WEMU-89.1 FM, the Bronco Radio Network.
Ohio strikes back in third quarter to beat Eastern
Eastern Michigan, having achieved bowl eligibility for only the sixth time in its history, suffered a 34-26 defeat against Ohio in last week’s crossover #MACtion encounter.
Early in the third quarter, the Eagles managed to level the score at 20-all. However, the Bobcats swiftly responded with two touchdowns, successfully fending off the hosts. It is worth mentioning that the hosts were initially favored by 7 points before the game.
Ben Bryant, the senior quarterback, achieved an exceptional milestone with 41 successful completions out of 57 attempts. He showcased his talent by throwing for a remarkable 354 yards, along with scoring a touchdown and unfortunately throwing one interception.
Bryant had his finest performance of the season the previous week, in which he amassed 354 yards and threw three touchdowns during the Eagles’ victorious 52-49 game against Toledo.
Bryant’s only passing touchdown of the game was caught by Dylan Drummond, who recorded a total of nine receptions for 73 yards.
In addition, Hassan Beydoun was the recipient of nine passes, accumulating a total of 85 yards. His impressive performance has earned him a ranking of fourth in the MAC and twenty-third in the nation, with a season tally of 815 yards.
Samson Evans’ running game consisted of eight carries, which earned him a total of 62 yards and resulted in two touchdowns.
In his second game after returning, Tanner Knue made an impressive 11 catches, accumulating a total of 127 yards. Chad Ryland, who has maintained a flawless record in extra points this season, successfully kicked two field goals, with one of them being a remarkable career-high 55-yarder.
Tyler scores three ways as Western Michigan snaps two-game losing streak
Last Tuesday night in Kalamazoo, the Broncos, who were favored by 26 points, managed to prevent a nearly shocking upset and secured their eligibility for a bowl game with a 45-40 victory against the Zips.
Western had been in the lead since the second quarter until Akron’s Cory Smigel kicked a 39-yard field goal, giving Akron a 40-38 advantage with only 2:22 left on the clock.
Corey Crooms secured a 45-yard touchdown pass from Kaleb Eleby during the following six-play drive, giving Western the lead with less than two minutes remaining.
Despite Akron’s attempt to make a comeback, the game concluded with an incomplete pass from Zach Gibson on a fourth-and-25 play.
Sean Tyler had an impressive performance, finding the end zone three times in various ways. One of his notable achievements was a remarkable 96-yard kickoff return. Additionally, Tyler showcased his prowess on the ground, accumulating 147 yards on 16 carries, contributing significantly to Western’s 316-yard rushing attack. Alongside his exceptional rushing abilities, the sophomore running back showcased his receiving skills with two catches, totaling 25 yards and resulting in a touchdown.
Although Western outgained Akron by a margin of 533-391, the Zips managed to control possession for a total of 32 minutes and 20 seconds.
In the game, La’Darius Jefferson rushed the ball 19 times, gaining a total of 99 yards. Jaxson Kincaide, on the other hand, had six carries, resulting in 70 yards and a touchdown. Additionally, Crooms contributed by making three catches, accumulating 73 receiving yards, and securing the winning score.
Late in the first half, Michael Mathison from Akron returned a kick for a staggering 94 yards.
Eastern looking for third consecutive win, trophy chance against Western
Despite Western’s hardware and overall series lead of 34-20-2, Eastern has emerged victorious in their last two encounters. In a surprising upset, the Eagles secured a 53-42 triumph in Kalamazoo in 2020, marking their first win on Western’s turf since 2012.
However, because of a defeat against Central last season, the Michigan MAC Trophy remained in Kalamazoo for a second consecutive year without any competition.
Western has the potential to ruin Eastern’s chances of winning a trophy, but if the Eagles win, the Michigan MAC Trophy will be awarded to either Ypsilanti or Mount Pleasant.
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