Ah, directional Michigan matchups are just one of the many great quirks of betting college football MACtion, and we get our first of the season as the Western Michigan Broncos head to Central Michigan to take on the Chippewas.
This year’s battle for the Victory Cannon could go a long way to determining the winner of the MAC’s West division, as both teams enter this matchup at 2-0. The Chippewas are 2.5-point favorites but the Broncos are riding high after an improbable comeback win last week.
Let’s take a look at our best college football predictions for Western Michigan vs Central Michigan, with kickoff scheduled for Wednesday, November 18 at 7:00 ET.
Western Michigan Broncos at Central Michigan Chippewas Betting Preview
Weather
It should be a chilly, but mostly clear night in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The forecast is calling for partly cloudy skies with temperatures hovering just above the freezing mark. There is also expected to be an 11 mile per hour wind gusting towards the northern end zone. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our NCAA football weather info.
Key Injuries
Western Michigan: No injuries to report.
Central Michigan: David Moore QB (Questionable), Laquan Johnson DL (Out).
Find our latest NCAA football injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
Central Michigan has been a good team to back at home, with the Chippewas going 7-1 ATS in their last eight games played at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Find more NCAA betting trends for Western Michigan vs. Central Michigan.
Against the Spread (ATS) Pick
Let’s set the stage. Western Michigan was trailing Toledo 38-28 with less than a minute to go. A Kaleb Eleby touchdown with 45 seconds to go made it 38-34. The Broncos then missed the PAT, but then recovered an onside kick, marched down the field and scored the go-ahead touchdown on the old Dan Marino fake spike play, to win the game 41-38.
Toledo bettors everywhere were beside themselves (myself included), but it moved the Broncos to 2-0 heading into this week’s big rivalry game.
In reality, it’s hard to know what to make of this Western Michigan team. The Broncos opened the season with a methodical thumping of Akron, and were outgained in both the pass and run game against Toledo.
Eleby has done well for the Broncos under center, completing 70 percent of his passes for 546 yards with six touchdowns and more importantly no interceptions. While Western Michigan has also been rumbling for 5.5 yards per carry. But things might get a little tougher this week as they face a Central Michigan team that ranks eighth so far in total yards allowed per game and is giving up 18.5 points per contest.
On offense, the Chippewas have one of the best running games in the country at over 200 yards per game and are led by Kobe Lewis and Lew Nichols. While QB Daniel Richardson has provided balance in wins over Ohio and Northern Illinois. They’ll try and attack a Western Michigan defense that gave up over 500 yards of offense to Toledo, including 162 yards on the ground.
On a cold night, Central Michigan should find success against its rival from out West, leaning on its running game and better defense. Lay the points with the short home favorite as the Chippewas reclaim the Victory Cannon.
PREDICTION: Central Michigan -2.5 (-110)
Over/Under Pick
With these directional Michigan teams combining to score an average of 84.5 points per game this season, at first glance, the total of 61.5 might seem a little low. And guess what? It is.
If there has been a relatively weak point in the Central Michigan defense, it's been its pass defense, and Eleby has been lighting it up so far this season. Western Michigan is coming off giving up 38 points to a Rockets offense that is quite comparable to the Chippewas’.
Now, don’t expect these teams to put up 85 points in this game - Central Michigan has a strong defense overall - but both teams have offenses more than capable of going Over this number, as this game has a real 35-28 feel about it.
PREDICTION: Over 61.5 (-110)
First Quarter Total Pick
MACtion sure has lived up to its moniker early on, particularly early in games. Five teams from the MAC are currently in the Top 14 teams in the country when it comes to first-quarter scoring, with Western Michigan coming in at No. 2, notching 15 first-quarter points per game. Central Michigan is 14th at 11.5 first-quarter points per game. While you can expect the Chippewas to put up a little more resistance than the Broncos are used to, we still like this Michigan directional program battle to start with a bang.
PREDICTION: Over 13.5 First Quarter Total (-106)
Western Michigan vs Central Michigan Betting Card
- Central Michigan -2.5 (-110)
- Over 61.5 (-110)
- Over 13.5 First Quarter Total (-106)
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