The Eastern Michigan Eagles and Sacramento State Hornets are starting the season with a MAC conference game. The game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
The Eagles are listed as 8.5-point home favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the total set at O/U 54.5 points. Below is my full preview, prediction and best bet for this Week 0 matchup.
Eastern Michigan vs. Sacramento State prediction, preview
Eastern Michigan Preview
This could be a big season for Eastern Michigan. The MAC is a conference that is winnable for a handful of teams, and Eastern Michigan is certainly one of those. Chris Creighton is headed into his 13th season at Eastern Michigan, the sixth-longest tenured coach in college football. After a solid 2025 season, Noah Kim is back for his second season as starting quarterback in Ypsilanti. Kim has an experienced offensive line in front of him and a great tight end, Joshua Long. The Eagles have a lot of solid pieces on both sides of the ball and should hit the ground running.
Sacramento State Preview
This is Sacramento State’s debut season at the FBS level. After being an assistant at San Jose State and Arizona, Alonzo Carter has taken over the program as it embarks on this next phase of Hornets football. That being said, this could be a tough first season at the FBS level. Sacramento State has stepped into the MAC, which is one of the easier conferences to compete in. However, the Hornets did not even have a very competitive roster in the FCS last season. Quarterback Carson Conklin is a transfer with minimal experience and could take some time to get going.
Eastern Michigan vs. Sacramento State Pick
My best bet is on Eastern Michigan to cover as 8.5-point favorites. The Eagles have an experienced group that is ready to compete in the MAC this season. Noah Kim is a solid quarterback, and he has some real weapons to work with. Chris Creighton is a veteran head coach and should have his team ready to go this week. Meanwhile, a road trip against a veteran team could be a tough first game for Sacramento State at this level. The Eagles should put together a solid overall performance and cover as favorites.
