The Eastern Michigan football team returns home Saturday to host Texas State following two road games at Wisconsin (a 34-7 loss) and Massachusetts (a 42-28 win).
They take on the Bobcats, who are traveling to Ypsilanti after a 42-34 loss at home to FCS Incarnate Word last week.
Will the Eagles keep rolling, or will a depleted Texas State squad dig deep and bounce back on the road?
Texas State at Eastern Michigan: NCAA Football Odds
Eastern Michigan favored status neared a touchdown
Eastern Michigan heads into Week 4 as favorites, giving a midweek range of 5.5 to 6.5 points to the visiting Bobcats.
BetMGM Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook were giving Texas State takers 6.5 points, while DraftKings Sportsbook has Eastern giving up 5.5 points.
On the moneyline, BetMGM was giving +200 to Texas State and -250 for Eastern.
The DraftKings moneyline was +185 for Texas State and -225 for Eastern. FanDuel’s moneyline ranges from +190 to -240.
The top oddsmakers trio each are offering slightly different over/under numbers. As of Wednesday early evening, BetMGM offered a 62 o/u, DraftKings had it set for 61.5 and FanDuel had the highest by a half point at 62.5.
Saturday’s game marks the first meet between the teams. In six of Texas State’s past nine games, the total hit the over. The over was hit in 10 of Eastern’s past 15 games.
How to watch: Texas State Bobcats at Eastern Michigan Eagles
- What: Texas State Bobcats (1-2) at Eastern Michigan (2-1)
- When: 2 p.m., ET, Saturday
- Where: Rynearson Stadium, Ypsilanti, Mich.
- Online livestream: ESPN + (Announcers: Anthony Lima, Marcus Ray)
- Radio: 89.1 WEMU-FM
Eastern Michigan rebounds against UMass
Eastern Michigan split the difference in its last two road games. The Eagles followed up a 34-7 loss to Wisconsin in Week 2 with a 42-28 win against Massachusetts on Sept. 18.
The Eagles were up by 21 in Week 3 before the Minuteman got anything on the board. Senior Ben Bryant heads into Saturday’s game with an 81.8 quarterback rating.
Against UMass, Bryant was 14-for-21, throwing for 298 yards. He had a touchdown to receiver Zach Westmoreland, who had two catches for 97 yards and the score.
The rest of the scoring came on the ground. Senior running back Jawon Hamilton had 16 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown. Freshman running back Darius Boone Jr. scored twice on 11 carries and 27 yards. Backs Samson Evans and Preston Hutchinson each added a touchdown, too.
Junior wide receiver Hassan Beydoun broke the 100-yard mark for the first time this season, catching six passes for 101 yards.
Defensive back David Carter Jr. snagged his second interception in as many weeks. He helped set up a scoring drive for the Eagles’ third score of the game.
Texas State looking to stop a skid
While Eastern is on the upswing from its latest outing, Texas State is not. The program is reeling after the Incarnate Word . It was the first FCS loss since the Bobcats joined the FBS conference.
In the loss, Texas State quarterback Brady McBride was 25 of 41 for 278 yards and two touchdowns. He threw no interceptions, though both teams lost two fumbles each and combined for 12 total fumbles, five of which came from Texas State.
Junior wide receiver Marcell Barbee finished with five catches for 54 yards and caught both of McBride’s touchdowns.
Texas State played the Week 3 game missing 24 of its players because of COVID-19 protocols, but are expecting 10 to come back for Eastern.
Texas State still battling COVID-19 protocols
Eastern Michigan should be riding high after adding a 14th game to UMass’s losing streak, and they’ll be back on their home turf for this initial matchup.
Texas State no doubt will fight hard to bounce back after last week’s loss, but will still be down 14 players because of the coronavirus protocols. According to the Austin American-Statesman, six of the 10 returning Bobcats will fly out on a 5:30 a.m. commercial flight from Austin to land by 9:30 a.m. in Detroit for the 2 p.m. kickoff Saturday.
