Eastern Michigan Eagles:
Chris Creighton and Eastern Michigan have gone to three consecutive bowl games but were blown out 59-10 against South Alabama last year in the Ventures Bowl. Just nine starters return for the Eagles; however, the quarterback play could potentially be elevated with Buffalo transfer Cole Snyder who started 25 games for the Bulls and threw for over 5100 yards combined the last two seasons. This team has had a penchant for starting a bit slow but finishing the season strong as they won two in a row to finish 2023 and three in a row in the 2022 regular season.
Offense
Snyder threw 31 touchdown passes (17 INT) during his two seasons in Buffalo and can only be an upgrade for a team that only threw for nine touchdowns last season.
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The Eagles do lose their top three running backs but add Delbert Mimms III from NC State where he rushed for eight touchdowns last season. JB Mitchell (35 catches, 398 yards) should be Snyder’s main target at receiver. TE Jonathan Odom also transfers in from Florida and will pair with fellow TE Jere Getzinger who emerged late last season.
The offensive line has three starters back, but the group will have to improve as it allowed 32 sacks last season and only opened holes for a 3.4 YPC average in the running game.
Defense
The Eagles defense gets a big boost this season in the middle with LB JT Killen coming in from Coastal Carolina, where he made 65 tackles last season and arrives with 55 games of experience. Zach Mowchan was lost for the season after three games and is back healthy.
On the defensive line, nose tackle Peyton Price (47 tackles, 4 sacks, 7 QB hurries) and Justin Jefferson (46 tackles, 11 QB hurries, 7.5 TFLs) return 11 QB hurries. Carter Evans missed all last year but should return to the starting DL spot.
In the secondary, Joshua Scott (30 tackles, 3 INT) returns after missing all last season, as will Daiquan White, who had a stellar true freshman season in which he led the team with 12 PBUs.
Outlook
The Eagles have a trip to Washington and host Sun Belt contender Jacksonville State in the non-conference portion of the schedule. The back end of the league schedule also has three of the last five games against teams off bye weeks, so it is a bit of a tougher slate, but Eastern Michigan should be able to improve an offense that averaged just 19.5 PPG with the addition of Snyder at quarterback, plus should be deeper defensively with the return of three injured starters.
Pick: Over 4.5 Wins
