College Football Predictions – Eastern Michigan Eagles 2020 College Football Preview
July 2020
October 2020 – Schedule notes updated. RB W Parker has opted out.
2019 Recap
Record – 6-7
ATS – 6-7
The Eagles started out winning three of their first four games, and that included a road win over a Big Ten opponent when they took down Illinois (W 34-31). They lost four of their first MAC contests and that quickly sealed their fate in terms of contending for the division crown. They played Pitt tough in the Quick Lane bowl and lost a close one (L 34-30).
Chris Creighton has done great job building this team up from the ashes. Recall that they won just SEVEN total games in a four year span from 2012-2015.
2020 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
West Division – TBD
MAC – TBD
Eastern Michigan Eagles 2020 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Eagles didn’t get a lot done on the ground last year but they were the #1 (!) passing attack in the MAC averaging 283 YPG. Former starting QB Mike Glass is going to be tough to replace given that he threw for over 3,000 yards and 24 TDs LY whilst rushing for 8 scores on the ground. Thankfully, Preston Hutchinson did some good work in limited action (75%, 3-1 TD to INT) and is almost certainly going to be the starting QB when they take the field in the fall. The Eagles boast a fine WR group and note that their top-two receivers are back in the mix, and Arthur Jackson and Quian Williams combined to catch 98 balls and 13 TDs LY. Don’t sleep on QB turned WR Jarius Grissom who is poised to be a SURPRISE PACKAGE. They’ll need to replace #1 RB Shaq Vann who slugged his way for 700+ yards and 8 TDs on the ground LY and it’s unclear what kind of talent they may have in the RB room. Three starters return to an offensive line that features a couple of solid players in senior center Mike Van Hooven and LG Sidy Sow.
We expect the Eagles to fly high in the THROW GAME but worry about getting much done on the ground.
DEFENSE
The defense took a drop off the ledge last year as they allowed 30+ PPG for the first time since 2015. They finished #9 in the MAC in total defense after posting top-two rankings in each of the previous two campaigns. Five starters are back this year but it’s unclear how much talent is on board. The DL looks like the strongest level of the stop unit with three returning starters including senior DE Turan Rush who led the Eagles in sacks LY. They’ll be without their three of their top-four tacklers from a season ago and look pretty thin in the back seven.
With the loss of so many productive seniors and an apparent lack of pass rushing demons (22 sacks LY, #8 MAC) this still looks like a defense that will finish in the bottom half of the MAC in most key statistical categories.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The kicking game looks to be in good shape. PK Chad Ryland is coming off a decent year (14/19 FG, 5/6 from 40+ yards) and senior punter Jake Julien is one of the best in the MAC. Dylan Drummond is a decent return man. This should be one of the best special teams units in the conference.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – They draw the juggernaut Kent St Golden Flashes out of the East division. Their fate will be sealed with a stretch of three games in which they take on Toledo, the Chips, and Western Michigan.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Ball St (Nov 11)
The Cards looks to be improved and this road tilt occurs before the yuuuge game with Toledo.
Season Win Total
TBD
MEGALOCKS says:
TBD
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Eastern Michigan hasn’t won a bowl game since 1987 but have had CLOSE SHAVES in their last three bowl appearances losing them by a combined TEN points.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
It’s worth saying again. Chris Creighton has done an impressive job turning this program into an annual contender in the MAC West. They haven’t bagged a bowl win or division title under his watch, but they have been very competitive and just need to finish out more close games. We have faith in the THROW GAME but not sure that the defense is up to the task. Six wins feels like a challenging, yet attainable goal. Maybe this is the year they bag that elusive bowl win?
Go Eagles!
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