The only unbeaten team in the Mid-American Conference hosts one of two winless schools in the conference on Saturday when Western Michigan welcomes Kent State to Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan in what could evolve into a blowout. The Broncos have gone 36-20-1 lifetime in this series and have beaten the Golden Flashes the last three meetings. The two teams haven’t met since 2021, so can Kent State possibly hang within the point spread? Logic says this one is a blowout for several reasons, so let’s tell you why and offer up a pick and a final score prediction.
Kent State vs Western Michigan: Broncos to Stampede Golden Flashes
Kent State vs Western Michigan 10/26/24 Game Info |
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| When: | Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 3:30 ET/12:30 PT |
| Where: | Waldo Stadium |
Western Michigan (4-3, 3-0 Conference) welcomes Kent State (0-7, 0-3 Conference) to Waldo Stadium (FieldTurf) in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Saturday afternoon for a Mid-American Conference game between the league’s only unbeaten team and a team still seeking its first win this season (ESPN+, 3:30 ET/12:30 PT). Oddsmakers currently have the host Broncos as sold 17-point favorites with the Total at 59½ points. These two schools last met in 2021 when WMU blasted KSU, 64-31 (WMU -6½) in a game that flew over the 67½ total. As a matter of fact, the last three meetings between these two have gone over the total. In that last meeting at Kalamazoo, the Broncos had 648 Total yards of offense in a game that saw the home team outscore the Golden Flashes 41-14 in the second half. With QB Hayden Wolff (6’5”), RB Jaden Nixon (6.4 ypr), WR Anthony Sambucci (319 yards, 12.8 ypc) and TE Blake Bosma (270 yards, 5 TDs), WMU has the key skill position players to dominate here and Nixon and Bosma both had 3TDs last weekend in the Broncos 48-41 against Buffalo.
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- Western Michigan is 2-0 ATS the last two meetings (112 PF-51 PA)
- Broncos have won three straight SU, averaging 42.3 ppg and are the only unbeaten team in the Mid-American Conference
- WMU QB Hayden Wolff has 12 passing TDs and just 2 interceptions
- Western Michigan averages 6.2 yards per play, have 27 TDs
- Broncos RB Jaden Nixon has rushed for 617 yards and 9 TDs
- WMU is tied for #14 in FBS with a 0.8 Turnover Differential per game
Kent State is Straight Fade Material
Kent State was one of the worst NCAA Football teams ATS in 2023 (3-8-1) and started this season off losing its first six games, thanks in great part to the worst defense in the FBS. Against Penn State earlier this year in a 56-0 loss, the Golden Flashes allowed 718 yards of Total Offense, just a week after Tennessee thrashed them 71-0. Getting outscored 127-0 two straight Saturdays is embarrassing, even if you are getting the big payday for playing the Power 4 conference heavyweights. QB Tommy Ulatowski (826 yards, 8 TD, 4 INT) heads in with a paltry 14.4 QBR, RB Ky Thomas did rush for 121 yards in last week’s 27-6 loss at Bowling Green (BG -24), but only has one TD on the season, so WR Chrishon McCrary (28 receptions, 543 yards, 7 TD, 19.4 ypc) will have to the be the guy WMU focuses on as the 5-10, 163-pound sophomore is KSU’s best player.
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- Kent State has lost 12 straight games SU
- Golden Flashes are 3-9-0 in their last 12 games ATS
- KSU has the worst defense in the FBS (#133 of 133 teams) and have allowed the most Total Yards (3,766) and Yards Per Game (538.0)
- Golden Flashes allow 6.9 Yards Per Play
- Kent State has a Turnover Differential of -1.2 per game
- Golden Flashes last win came on Sept. 16, 2023 vs Central Connecticut
Free NCAAF Prediction for 10/26/2024
All the statistics point to this being a blowout, and probably a high-scoring game, and with the weather forecast in Kalamazoo on Saturday calling for Mostly Sunny skies and 60° temperatures and the game being played on FieldTurf, expect the home team to be able to do what they want against the most porous defense in the FBS. Western Michigan averages 26.8 ppg (#65) while Kent State squeezes out 16.3 ppg (#121). On defense, the Broncos allow 35.6 ppg (#122, 32 TD) while the Golden Flashes give up 45.9 ppg (#133 of 133 teams, 40 TD), so expect KSU to get some points here, something Over bettors may be interested in hearing. Despite WMU being so weak defensively, they are still unbeaten, are at home, have a huge edge in the skill spots, won by 33 the last meeting ending with 648 Total Yards and put up 48 against Buffalo last week. Scoring 40 here against this defense seems like the minimum with closer to 50 (7 TDs) more likely and with the line only at 17, it seems backing the bucking Broncos is the logical approach.