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As Kent State visits, Western Michigan finds itself nursing its wounds this week.
After suffering a disappointing 45-20 defeat against Ball State on their home turf, the Broncos saw their impressive 4-game winning streak come to an end. Moreover, this setback has left them trailing in the Mid-American Conference standings.
Is WMU capable of turning things around this week? The odds at Michigan sportsbooks suggest they believe so.
Kent State at Western Michigan: MAC Football Odds, NCAA Week 7
Oddsmakers like Western Michigan at home vs. Kent State
This week, Western Michigan was initially seen as the clear favorite in their home game.
By Tuesday afternoon, the majority of oddsmakers had designated the Broncos as a 6.5-point favorite for their home game against Kent State. However, BetRivers Sportsbook offered a slightly different spread of 7.5 points.
WMU moneylines fall between -240 and -260, whereas Kent State moneylines range from +185 to +210.
The majority of sportsbooks set the over/under for this game at 65.5 points, while DraftKings Sportsbook sets it slightly lower at 65 points.
Currently, Western Michigan has a 3-2-1 record against the spread, while the under has occurred in 4 out of 6 games. On the other hand, Kent State has a 2-4 record against the spread, with the under prevailing in 5 out of 6 games.
In their all-time matchups, WMU has a record of 35 wins, 20 losses, and 1 tie against Kent State. The Broncos have emerged victorious in their last two meetings, with the most recent one taking place in 2017. It is worth noting that in the past four games against WMU, the Golden Flashes have managed to cover the spread in three instances.
How to watch: Western Michigan vs. Kent State
- Kent State (3-3, 2-0 MAC) is facing off against Western Michigan (4-2, 1-1).
- On Saturday, October 16th at 3:30 p.m. ET
- The location is Waldo Stadium situated in Kalamazoo.
- ESPNU TV will feature John Schriffen and Rene Ingoglia as the announcers.
- Streaming live online: ESPN+
- Bronco Radio Network: Broadcasting the latest updates and news on the radio.
Western falls flat in second half vs. Ball State
Last weekend, Western Michigan had the upper hand on multiple occasions during their game against Ball State, and even managed to remain tied at halftime with a score of 17-all.
Nevertheless, the Cardinals managed to score an impressive 28 consecutive points, distancing themselves from their opponents.
The defense cannot be held responsible for the effort. Ball State was only able to accumulate 375 total yards against WMU, with the Cardinals being limited to just 65 rushing yards. It was the Bronco offense that made four turnovers during the defeat, including one that resulted in a touchdown from a fumble return.
Throughout the season, Western has displayed a formidable defense. The Broncos currently hold the 26th spot in total defense nationwide, allowing an average of 312.3 yards per game. Additionally, they have excelled in both passing defense and rushing defense, ranking within the top 40 teams in these categories.
Kaleb Eleby’s performance as a quarterback was disappointing from an offensive standpoint. He completed only 19 out of 33 passes, accumulating 257 yards, but unfortunately threw two interceptions. Additionally, he fumbled the ball three times, losing possession on two occasions. It’s worth noting that these interceptions were the first of the season for Eleby.
La’Darius Jefferson and Sean Tyler continue to be a dominant force in WMU’s backfield, serving as the team’s primary offensive weapons. Together, they have amassed an impressive 849 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
Kent State rolling in MAC play
Despite starting the season with a disappointing 1-3 record in non-conference play, it is worth noting that Kent State’s losses came from formidable Power 5 teams such as Texas A&M, Iowa, and Maryland.
Last week, the Golden Flashes displayed an impressive recovery in MAC play, securing a 27-20 triumph against Bowling Green and a 48-38 victory over Buffalo.
Kent State started strong against the Bulls, holding a commanding 31-10 lead at halftime. However, they encountered a setback in the third quarter as Buffalo scored 28 points, causing Kent State to fall behind. Nonetheless, the Flashes rallied together and managed to score a field goal, followed by a remarkable 14-0 fourth quarter performance, ultimately securing a victory.
In the triumph, Kent State accumulated an impressive 633 yards, with quarterback Dustin Crum leading the way with a remarkable 407-yard display. Crum notched three touchdowns and established a strong connection with Dante Cephas, who caught 13 passes for 186 yards and all three of the team’s passing touchdowns.
In addition, Crum accumulated 72 rushing yards and scored twice, contributing to an overall offensive performance of nearly 500 yards.
Kent State cannot be pleased with their defensive performance, as they allowed the Bulls to amass 549 yards, including 312 yards on the ground.
Kent State’s defensive performance this year leaves much to be desired, as they are currently ranked among the lowest in the nation. The team ranks 110th in total defense, allowing an average of 449.3 yards per game, and 96th in scoring defense, with an average of 29.3 points allowed per game.
The Broncos have a great opportunity to dominate on the ground as Kent State has been surrendering close to 200 rushing yards per game this season.
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