Eastern Kentucky at Eastern Michigan 9/2/22 - College Football Picks & Predictions

The Eastern Kentucky Colonels visit Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti, Michigan on Friday to play the Eastern Michigan Eagles. Last season Eastern Kentucky finished 7-4 overall and 4-2 in the ASUN-WAC. Returning for his fourth season under center for Eastern Kentucky will be dual-threat  quarterback Parker McKinney. The Colonels are predicted to finish 3rd in the conference.

The success of Eastern Kentucky's offense will depend a lot on left tackle Payton Collins who must give McKinney plenty of pass protection in order for the Colonels to be able to move up and down the field and score. Eastern Kentucky's defense is led by outstanding linebacker Matthew Jackson, who is the preseason defensive player of the year for the ASUN.

The Eastern Michigan Eagles finished last season 7-6 overall and 4-4 in the Mid-American Conference. Eastern Michigan's offense will be led by Austin Smith, who is the only holdover from last season's group of three quarterbacks, and Cam’Ron McCoy, who joins the Eagles from Cincinnati. In addition, former Troy quarterback Taylor Powell may end up being the starter before the midway point of the season.

Eastern Michigan's running game will be led by Samson Evans who scored 13 touchdowns last season and Darius Boone Jr who rushed for 451 yards and six TDS. The receiving corps will be the strength of the offense with Hassan Beydoun returning from a season in which he caught 97 passes for 1,015 yards and four touchdowns. Dylan Grumman also returns and last season had 64 receptions.