Western Michigan at Kent St – Preview and Prediction
W MICHIGAN 22 KENT ST (56)
MEGALOCKS LINE – W Michigan -16.5 Sagarin ratings – W Michigan -25
“Vegas” Implied Projected Score: W Michigan 39 Kent St 17
Massey Ratings Projected Score: W Michigan 38 Kent St 14
The Game
The Broncos just keep chugging along. 9-0 in the MAC and still in line to make the most prestigious bowl in school history. No pressure. Kent St is sitting at 3-6 and for all intents and purposes are just playing for pride at this point. The defense has been really good but the offense…..not so much. Hey, it’s still MACtion.
The Match-Up
W Michigan offense vs Kent St defense
The Broncos boast one of the best offenses in college football. QB Zach Terrell is having a fantastic senior season with 23 TD vs 1 INT (!!). Terrell is 4th in the FBS in passing efficiency. WR Corey Davis will be playing on Sundays and has already surpassed 1,000 yards (again) on the season. Even if RB J Bogan is unable to go on Tuesday night, the Broncos still have a legit #1 RB in Jarvion Franklin ready to pick up the slack. The Broncos are not going to have an easy time moving the ball because the Goldenn Flashes are ranked #1 in the MAC in yards per play defense. Even with the suspension of Nate Holley due to kidnapping charges (for real, yo), Kent St is a tough defense to deal with, and the Broncos will have to be sharp and focused on Tuesday night.
Kent St offense vs W Michigan defense
Pop quiz. What Kent St player has been the QB the past two weeks and also rushed for over 300 yards ? That’s right, kids. Nick Holley is back at QB after leading the team in receptions after week three. The injury situation at QB has been difficult but Holley has done a decent job, particularly when running the football. Holley has 65 carries the past two weeks (!) for over 300 net yards. He is the straw that stirs the Golden Flashes’ drink right now as the passing game is limited. The good news for Kent St is that the Broncos have exposed their SOFT UNDERBELLY giving up 298 rushing yards to Ball St last week and 149 to E Michigan over the past two games. If Kent St wants to get MEDIEVAL and ugly, it seems to us that they can pound the run game and keep the ball away from W Michigan provided that they convert on 3rd downs.
MEGA MACtion MORSELS
The Broncos are a very impressive 25-9 ATS in their lat 34 games and 19-7 L26 ATS on the road….The under is 19-7 L26 in Kent St home games…..TREND GUY will note that the favorite has covered the last 10 straight meetings between these two squads….WM is 7-3.
Summary
We have no doubt that this is too many points to give a really good defensive team. Having said that, it is not every day that your star defensive player gets charged with kidnapping, so who knows where the players’ heads will be at come Tuesday night.
Conclusion
Official play: None.
Lean: Kent St at +21 or better. Under 55 or better. Small potatoes as well.