MAC football on Saturday afternoon and we will see the Central Michigan Chippewas travel to Kalamazoo, Michigan to take on the Western Michigan Broncos. The game has a start time of 12:00 pm (Eastern) and be will televised on ESPN Regional. Vegas odds have Central Michigan listed as 2.5 point favorites, while the total sits at 52.
Analysis: The Chippewas fell to 3-6 overall and 2-3 in the MAC standings last Wednesday when they suffered a 44-24 setback to Ball State in Muncie. QB Cooper Rush has been very productive in terms of moving the ball as he has amassed 1,859 yards in eight games, but he has completed only 55.2% of his throws for 12 TDs and has been picked off a MAC worst 11 times. Although Saylor Lavallii (774 yards, five TDs, 4.7 ypc) has had a few strong outings, CMU is only producing an average of 123.7 yards on the ground. The Chippewas are ranked 11th among MAC schools in scoring defense with an allowance of 34.6 points per game although they are two spots better in total defense (448.2 ypg). Including Western Michigan, the Chippewas' final three opponents have a combined overall record of 4-25 entering Saturday's action, so they still have a shot at a bowl berth.
Western Michigan is having a horrible season under new coach PJ Fleck as they enter this game with a 1-9 mark overall and a 1-5 mark in the MAC. WMU is also 0-4 at, which includes a loss to FCS foe Nicholls State and they have been outscored by 24 ppg in their 3 MAC home games. Fleck's squad has averaged only 335.9 ypg to rank 11th in the MAC in total offense and the struggles have come primarily due to a lack of efficiency on the ground. Dareyon Chance and Brian Fields have combined for 1,073 yards, with the Fields accounting for five of WMU's six rushing TDs. Zach Terrell has not been that great behind center, completing just 55.8% of his passes for 1316 yards, with 8 Tds and 7 INTs. Defensively, WMU is ranked second to last among MAC schools in scoring defense (36.6 ppg), despite its eighth place standing in total defense at 427.8 ypg.
Pick: Gonna go with the Chips in this one. They still have a shot at playing in a bowl game this year, if they can win out and they certainly have the schedule to do so. WMU has thrown in the towel, while CMU needs this one. I say that get it by at least a TD.
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