The Eastern Michigan Eagles (8-4) and San Jose State Spartans (7-4) meet in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Tuesday at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Eastern Michigan vs. San Jose State odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Eagles streak in on a 3-game win streak, and it is 4-1 in the past 5 games while going 4-0-1 against the spread (ATS) overall.
Eastern Michigan enters just 1-5 all-time in its bowl history, winning the 1987 California Bowl. That historic afternoon, the opponent for the Eagles was San Jose State.
The Spartans have won 4 of the past 5 bowl games since that setback to EMU, but they lost in the Arizona Bowl against Ball State in their most recent postseason appearance in Dec. 2020. San Jose State is 3-3 all-time in bowl games against MAC opponents.
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Eastern Michigan vs. San Jose State odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 8:16 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Eastern Michigan +155 (bet $100 to win $155) | San Jose State -180 (bet $180 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Eastern Michigan +3.5 (-109) | San Jose State -3.5 (-111)
- Over/Under (O/U): 54 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Eastern Michigan vs. San Jose State picks and predictions
Prediction
Eastern Michigan 30, San Jose State 26
Moneyline
EASTERN MICHIGAN (+155) might not have a great bowl history, but that doesn’t matter.
The Eagles come in on a roll with 3 straight wins, and victories in 6 of the past 8 games overall.
San Jose State topped Hawaii in its finale but has had difficulty away from the Bay Area. The Spartans have lost and failed to cover in each of their last 3 games away from home while going 1-4 SU in 5 road games this season.
Against the spread
EASTERN MICHIGAN +3.5 (-109) is an attractive play if you can’t bring yourself to take it straight up, and it is especially attractive at three and a hook.
Again, EMU is on a roll, going 5-1-1 ATS in the past 7 games overall dating back to Oct. 8. San Jose State has failed to cover each of the past 6 games overall, last covering on Oct. 7 in a home game against UNLV.
Over/Under
OVER 54 (-110) is the lean here, ever so slightly.
The Over is 5-2 in the past 7 non-conference games for the Eagles while going 4-0 in their last 4 games in Dec. The Over is 3-1-1 in the past 5 games overall for San Jose State, too.
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