The final week of mid week MACtion, what a ride. What a journey it has been this year. We will cherish the highs and the lows, another great year in the books. Before we say goodbye, we have a strong matchup on Tuesday night between Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan. The Eagles will be celebrating their seniors on senior night, while the Broncos will be eyeing the MAC crown.
In this matchup, I do not care about the Broncos chasing the regular season title or the Eagles trying to play spoiler. I care about EMU quarterback Noah Kim showing up and showing out on senior night. The former Michigan State and Coastal Carolina quarterback will make his final start at home in Ypsilanti. His prop is set at 192.5, which feels low. However, the Broncos have been one of the best teams in the country at stopping the pass. They are allowing 152 yards per game, which ranks fourth in the nation.
Unproven Defense
I believe Western Michigan has benefitted from not being tested through the air this season. They have faced all of the rush heavy teams in the MAC while avoiding teams like Akron and Buffalo, two programs that throw the ball over 30 times per game. The Broncos are seeing under 25 pass attempts per game. On the road Tuesday night, they will see around 33 attempts from the Eagles.
Sling that Pill!
Kim this season has been slinging the pill all over the field, averaging around 214 yards per game in the MAC. The Eagles are currently seven-point dogs entering Tuesday, and they should be trailing in this matchup. In conference losses, Kim has cleared this number in two of four games. Overall, he has surpassed this number in four of seven conference games this season.
I think this is the perfect spot for Kim and his offense to shine through the air against a defense that has truly only been tested once through the air this season. Only two teams have attempted 30 passes against the Broncos in conference. Those teams were Toledo and Miami of Ohio. The Redhawks threw for 260 yards, while the Rockets only managed 89 yards. Both programs are more run heavy, with around 52% of their plays on the ground. This will be the first MAC team that leans more with the pass, and I think Kim excels on senior night.
EMU finally brings a real passing test, and I trust Noah Kim to rise to the moment. The volume will be there, the script should lean his way, and senior night energy matters. Western Michigan has not faced this look all season, and Kim is built to take advantage
Best Bet: Noah Kim Over 192.5 Pass Yards (-115) odds via BetOnline
