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Central Michigan has become eligible for a bowl game and is now preparing for a highly anticipated matchup against Ball State.
The Chippewas may be considered underdogs in the Mid-American Conference race, but they are currently benefiting from a surge of momentum.
Will the momentum persist as they face off against the Cardinals in Muncie on Wednesday night?
Central Michigan at Ball State: MACtion Football Odds
Oddsmakers like Ball State over Central Michigan at home
This week, Central Michigan is considered a slight road underdog against Ball State.
At most Michigan sportsbooks, the Cardinals are favored to win by 2.5 points as the home team against the Chippewas.
CMU has a moneyline ranging from +110 to +120, whereas Ball State’s moneyline ranges from -130 to -150.
As of Monday morning, the range for the over/under total points was between 62 and 63.5.
Over the course of the season, Central Michigan has been quite successful in covering the spread, with a record of 5-5. In their last four games, they have managed to cover in three of them. Additionally, the trend of the over hitting has continued in their recent games, as it has occurred in the past three matchups. However, when considering the entire season, the over and under have both hit in five games each out of their total of ten games played.
In the previous three games, Ball State has not been successful in covering, resulting in a 3-7 against the spread (ATS) record for this season. The under has been the favorable choice when it comes to Ball State games, as it has occurred a total of seven times, including the last three.
Incredibly, these two individuals have crossed paths a total of 53 instances throughout their shared history. What is truly astonishing is that their overall record stands at an equal 26 victories, 26 defeats, and 1 draw each.
How to watch: Central Michigan Chippewas at Ball State Cardinals
- Central Michigan (6-4, 4-2 MAC) is playing against Ball State (5-5, 3-3).
- The specified date and time is Wednesday, November 17th, at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
- The location is Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Indiana.
- ESPNU is a television channel.
- ESPN+ offers live streaming services online.
- The CMU Sports Properties Radio Network
Chippewas overcoming poor starts
Despite not starting fast in recent outings, CMU has still managed to secure victories.
Two weeks ago, they found themselves trailing 14-0 against Western Michigan, yet they managed to stage a remarkable comeback and secured a 42-30 victory.
Central once again found themselves trailing 14-0 against Kent State last week, but they swiftly turned the game around and emerged victorious with a commanding 54-30 win.
After securing the win, head coach Jim McElwain has led the Chippewas to become bowl-eligible for the second time in a span of three seasons. Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 last year, CMU managed to achieve a 3-3 record, following their impressive 8-6 performance in McElwain’s inaugural season.
Central Michigan had another impressive offensive performance in their victory against the Golden Flashes, accumulating a total of 505 yards. The team displayed a well-rounded effort, with 284 yards gained through passing and 221 yards gained through rushing.
CMU has recently achieved a top 30 ranking in both total offense, averaging 449 yards per game, and passing yards, with an average of 282.9 yards per game.
Daniel Richardson had an impressive performance, completing 21 of 27 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns. He showcased great efficiency by distributing the ball evenly, with no receiver from CMU accumulating more than 61 yards.
Lew Nichols III showcased his workhorse abilities during the game, rushing the ball an impressive 43 times for 215 yards and scoring four touchdowns. With this outstanding performance, Nichols III has now accumulated a total of 1,297 yards and 11 touchdowns for the season, ranking him second nationally before the weekend’s games.
CMU’s pass defense remains a weak point as they continue to struggle in that area. Kent State managed to accumulate 322 passing yards against the Chippewas. Throughout the season, CMU ranks 118th in the country for pass defense, conceding an average of 276.2 yards per game.
Ball State blows lead to NIU
Just like CMU, Ball State suffered a heartbreaking defeat last week, blowing a lead against Northern Illinois and losing by a single point.
Chippewas lost 39-38 to NIU after squandering a 35-18 second half advantage. Similarly, Ball State’s 26-17 lead in the third quarter slipped away, resulting in a heartbreaking 30-29 defeat due to a last-second 32-yard field goal.
NIU proved to be a formidable opponent for Ball State, as they managed to rack up 475 yards in total, with an impressive 211 of those yards gained through rushing.
Throughout the year, the Cardinals have faced persistent defensive challenges, surrendering a total of 408.9 yards per game and 248.4 passing yards per game.
Ball State’s offense has also been lackluster, as they only manage to score an average of 25.6 points and gain 347.7 yards per game.
Ball State had a dominant performance on the ground against the Huskies, accumulating a total of 246 rushing yards. Leading the charge was Carson Steele with an impressive 109 yards, followed closely by Justin Hall who contributed 79 yards and two touchdowns.
Drew Plitt, the quarterback, did not have a strong performance against NIU. He completed only 11 out of 26 passes, accumulating a total of 126 yards and scoring one touchdown. Throughout the season, Plitt has managed to throw for 1,902 yards and score 15 touchdowns.
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