Eastern Michigan at Massachusetts
AMHERST, Mass. (Interstat) — Eastern Michigan will visit Massachusetts on Saturday in an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision game at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium. The Eagles (2-3) look to build on a win, while the Minutemen (4-0) aim to remain unbeaten.
Eastern Michigan enters after a 29-3 home victory over Lindenwood. Quarterback Noah Kim completed 23 of 38 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns in that win. Amareon Blue ran 14 times for 58 yards and added a 21-yard kickoff return and a touchdown. Joey Mattord had nine carries for 48 yards and two receptions for 10 yards.
Kim is the player to watch for the Eagles. In his previous recent outing, he went 16 of 28 for 140 yards and one touchdown at Wisconsin. Against Lindenwood, he threw for 257 yards and two scores.
Massachusetts comes in after a 35-6 win at Sacramento State. William Watson III completed 11 of 16 passes for 101 yards and threw two touchdowns, while running seven times for 72 yards and another score. Curtis Kimmons IV rushed 11 times for 61 yards, and Elijah Faulkner added six carries for 32 yards.
Watson is the player to watch for the Minutemen. Earlier, against Stonehill, he completed 15 of 25 passes for 160 yards with one touchdown and added nine rushes for 2 yards and another score. He accounted for multiple touchdowns in each of his recent games.
Eastern Michigan’s other results this season include losses at Wisconsin and Michigan State, a home setback to San Jose State and a home win over Sacramento State. The Eagles fell 54-10 at Wisconsin, 35-7 at Michigan State, lost 27-21 to San Jose State and beat Sacramento State 28-17. Massachusetts has also defeated Stonehill, Sacred Heart and Rutgers. The Minutemen beat Stonehill 36-14, Sacred Heart 37-10 and Rutgers 37-21.
The Minutemen will try to protect their perfect record against an Eastern Michigan team seeking a road win. Massachusetts has scored at least 35 points in three of its four victories. Eastern Michigan has totaled 28 points or more in two of its five games. Noah Kim and William Watson III headline the matchup.
Eastern Michigan’s next games include Akron, Toledo, Ohio, Central Michigan, Western Michigan and Kent State. Massachusetts’ upcoming slate includes Miami (Ohio), Buffalo, Connecticut, Ball State, Toledo, Akron and Bowling Green.
Interstat’s game simulator projects Eastern Michigan 34, Massachusetts 33. Eastern Michigan has been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +6. The over/under is 48.5.