The Eagles of Eastern Michigan (-2) are set to welcome their in-conference foe Buffalo Bulls to Rynearson Stadium. This key afternoon matchup is scheduled to get underway at 12:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch it live by tuning in to ESPNU.
Betting Preview: Buffalo Bulls vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles
In this Saturday Mid-American game, Eastern Michigan is projected as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 2 points. The Bulls are also receiving +110 moneyline odds while the Eagles are -130. There might be multiple good in-game betting opportunities during this matchup, and oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 50.5 points.
This game’s line opened at -2, while the total has yet to move after it was initially set at 50.5.
Each of these teams has been profitable this year as the Bulls have recorded 2.5 units while the Eagles are up 1.1 units.
The Bulls have gone 4-4 straight up (SU), including 2-2 SU against conference opponents. The Eagles are 4-4 SU overall and 1-3 SU in conference play.
The Bulls are looking to maintain momentum following a solid 43-20 win over Central Michigan last week. Kyle Vantrease completed only 13 passes on 25 attempts for 179 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Jaret Patterson (149 yards on 28 rush attempts, one TD) and Kevin Marks (37 yards on 21 carries, one TD) provided the ground attack while Antonio Nunn (five receptions, 77 yards, two TDs) and Zac Lefebvre (three catches, 21 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Eastern Michigan narrowly lost a 37-34 game to Toledo. Mike Glass III completed 21-of-37 passes for 286 yards and one touchdown. Shaq Vann (110 rushing yards on 20 attempts, two TDs) and the signal-caller Glass III (43 yards on 12 carries, one TD) led the running game as Quian Williams (nine receptions, 87 yards) and Arthur Jackson III (four catches, 73 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Buffalo has run the ball on 68.6 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Eastern Michigan has an overall rush percentage of 46.2 percent. The Bulls have run for 221 yards per game (including 219 per game against Mid-American opponents) and have 13 scores on the ground this year. The Eagles are putting up 108.8 rush yards per game (115 in conference) and have nine total rushing TDs.
Judging by the results so far, it appears that the Bulls should have the edge in terms of RB efficiency, since their backfield has produced 4.5 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 2.7 YPC to opponents. The Eagles have ran for 3.3 yards per carry and allowed a YPC of 5.0 to opponents.
The Bulls offense has tallied 134.1 yards/game through the air overall (132.5 per game versus conference opposition) and has 10 passing TDs so far. The Eagles have produced 289.8 pass yards per outing (300 in the MAC) and have 18 total pass scores.
Buffalo appears to have the upper hand in both defensive facets. The team has let opponents run for an average of 92.5 yards and throw for 211.8 yards per game. The Eastern Michigan defense has allowed 239.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 204.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Bulls are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 6.05 to opponents, while the Eagles have given up a 7.24 ANY/A.
Offensively, Vantrease is up to 406 passing yards on the year. He’s connected on 32-of-53 attempts with four passing scores and one interception. He has an 8.06 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 4.98 over the past two games.
Preston Hutchinson has managed to complete 34-of-41 passes for 372 yards, three TDs and zero INTs for Eastern Michigan. His ANY/A stands at 8.65 for the season and 10.18 over his past two games.
When these two squads faced one another a year ago, Buffalo knocked Eastern Michigan off by a touchdown 35-28.
Buffalo Bulls at Eastern Michigan Eagles Free Pick
SU Winner: Buffalo, ATS Winner: Buffalo, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- The Bulls offense has recorded five pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Eagles have put up four such plays.
- The Buffalo defense has allowed six pass plays of 40+ yards, while Eastern Michigan has given up nine such plays.
- The Buffalo offense has created 11 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Eastern Michigan has created six such runs.
- The Bulls defense has allowed seven rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Eagles have given up 10 such runs.
- The Buffalo defensive unit has 24 sacks on the year while Eastern Michigan has just 13.
- Buffalo has averaged 4.0 yards per carry over its last three games and 4.0 over its last two.
- Eastern Michigan has averaged 3.7 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.2 over its last two.
- Over its last three matchups, Eastern Michigan is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Buffalo’s last game was set at 47. The over cashed in the team’s 43-20 win over Central Michigan.
- In its last three contests, Buffalo is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Eastern Michigan’s last matchup was set at 52.5. The over cashed in the 37-34 defeat to Toledo.
