by Chuck Sommers
Sunday, Nov 06, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: InfoCision Stadium, Akron, OH
Where to watch: TBD
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
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Season record
Eastern Michigan: 5-4 (2-3 MAC)
Akron: 1-8 (0-5 MAC)
We're coming down to the wire in what should be an exciting final month of the college football season. The conference championship chases are on, bowl games are to be decided, and who gets into the College Football Playoff is anybody's guess to this point. If you're still trying to figure out who's the best to play at this point of the year, look no further than our champion handicappers leading the way in the college football world. Our own Kyle Hunter is 23-8-0 over the last month, while Brian Bitler is 21-13-0 in the run. Kyle's reeled in a net profit of over $14,000. Now you feel like you should be getting on the action, huh? Make sure you go check out bigal.com to see all of the work our champion handicappers are trying to do to get money in YOUR pocket with our selections. Make sure to hit up our Best Bets page for more!
Eastern Michigan - Akron preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Eastern Michigan: lost 27-24 vs. Toledo (Oct. 29)
Akron: lost 27-9 vs. Miami-Ohio (Oct. 29)
The Eastern Michigan Eagles are one win away from bowl eligibility, but at the very least there’s a reasonable chance that they will get to that this week when they take on the 1-8 Akron Zips on Tuesday in some lovely MACtion.
The Eastern Michigan Eagles are one win away from bowl eligibility, but at the very least there’s a reasonable chance that they will get to that this week when they take on the 1-8 Akron Zips on Tuesday in some lovely MACtion.
Eastern Michigan is coming off a tough 27-24 loss to Toledo that required the Rockets coming back in the fourth quarter to win the game. EMU’s offense isn’t lethargic like an emu, but the Eagles’ offense runs through fullback/running back touchdown machine Samson Evans, and he did that once again with 3 touchdowns and 88 yards on 24 carries. Even though EMU had just 217 total yards, they’re getting the production from their running back.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, quarterback Taylor Powell was not that great completing 9 of 17 passes for 61 yards and 1 interception. For a team that held the ball for 36 minutes, that can’t be what the quarterback does for this offense. Ultimately, this is a 5-4 group that has relied on running the ball all year and it’s working to their advantage.
And if you look at how Eatern Michigan has gotten by, it’s just 138 rushing yards per game and 204 through the air. This is a group that is sitting at 5-4 despite giving up more points than they’ve scored. It’s a weird group, but again, that’s why they’re getting an Akron team that’s given up 37 points per game and almost 200 rushing yards per game. Buckle up because this might be one lopsided adventure.
Akron has not done anything since the 30-23 overtime win against St. Francis. Only three of those games have been decided by one score. The last game was definitely not that in the 27-9 loss to Miami-Ohio on Oct. 29. How bad was it? Akron outgained then 396-268 and held the ball for five fewer minutes. DJ Irons threw for 316 yards, a touchdown and an interception while running for 58 yards, but that was all him.
Miami-Ohio dominated that game and things are bleak for the time being for the Zips. But at least with the Zips, maybe there is some sort of pride in play if they want to play spoiler. I just can’t see that happening with how bad Akron has been. When you get these mid-conference teams that are at the bottomfeeders, then you tend to have groups that have just figured the time is now to be done.
Prediction
If this turns into a track meet of running the football, it’s going to fall in Eastern Michigan’s hands. You never want to see a man of Samson’s caliber just dominate them that way, but it’s likely going to happen in those short-yardage situations. It’s all about controlling the clock, and Akron has shown this year it doesn’t know how to do that. If you’re laying money on Eastern Michigan, make it so. Eastern Michigan by 17
Betting trends
Eastern Michigan is 14-14 ATS off a bye week since 1992.
Eastern Michigan is 26-12 ATS since 1992 off a 7-point loss in a conference game.
Eastern Michigan is 5-7 ATS off a home game the last three years.
Akron is 9-10 ATS against conference opponents the last three years.
Akron is 5-1 ATS off a home loss by 14 points the last three years.
Statistical leaders
Eastern Michigan:
Passing: Taylor Powell -- 1,232 yards, 8 TD, 7 INT
Rushing: Samson Evans -- 722 yards, 9 TD
Receiving: Tanner Knue -- 425 yards, 5 TD
Akron:
Passing: D.J. Irons -- 2,515 yards, 9 TD, 6 INT
Rushing: D.J. Irons -- 282 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: Shocky Jacques-Louis -- 770 yards, 2 TD
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
