The Western Michigan Broncos (-4.5) aren’t traveling far to take on the Central Michigan Chippewas at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. This conference game is scheduled to get underway at 3:00 p.m. ET and ESPN+ will broadcast the action.
Western Michigan Broncos at Central Michigan Chippewas Betting Preview
Central Michigan is the home underdog in this MAC matchup and is currently getting 4.5 points. If they want to play the moneyline, bettors would currently have to put down $200 in order to win $100 back on the Broncos (-200). The Chippewas are getting +170 moneyline odds. If one program can get out in front early on it will produce a worthy in-game betting opportunity. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 58 points.
The sharp action has been siding with the Chippewas, as the line opened at 5.5. The game’s total hasn’t moved after being initially set at 58.
The Broncos have recorded 3.0 units so far and are 2-5 against the spread (ATS). The team has recorded an O/U mark of 3-3. The Chippewas are down 4.8 units this season. The team is 4-3 ATS and owns an O/U record of 3-4.
The Broncos have gone 5-2 straight up (SU), including 3-0 SU against conference opponents. The Chippewas are 1-6 SU overall and 0-3 SU in conference play.
These two schools met last year with the final result being a 35-28 victory for Central Michigan.
Central Michigan enters this contest on a zero-game winning streak while Western Michigan has lost zero in a row. The Broncos continue to ride high after a 42-35 victory over Bowling Green last week in which Jon Wassink completed 22 passes for 286 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. LeVante Bellamy (145 rushing yards on 24 attempts) and Jamauri Bogan (75 yards on 15 carries, four TDs) mounted the ground attack while Giovanni Ricci (seven receptions, 64 yards) and Jayden Reed (four catches, 67 yards) manned the receiving duties in the win.
Central Michigan narrowly fell 24-23 to Ball State. Tommy Lazzaro completed 11-of-22 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown. Lazzaro (110 rushing yards on 25 attempts, one TD) and Romello Ross (111 yards on 14 carries) mounted the running game as Devon Spalding (two receptions, 45 yards) and Tony Poljan (two catches, 37 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Each team has a similar run-pass ratio on the season. Western Michigan’s run the ball on 55.0 percent of its offensive possessions while Central Michigan has an overall rush percentage of 56.7. Having said that, the Broncos have run for 208 yards per game (including 186 per game versus Mid-American opponents) and have 16 scores on the ground this year. The Chippewas haven’t been quite as productive. They’re totaling 139 rush yards per game (198 in conference) and have five total rushing TDs.
The Broncos offense has logged 278 yards per game through the air overall (320 per game versus conference opposition) and has 16 passing scores so far. The Chippewas have put up 148 pass yards per game (152.3 in the MAC) and have eight total pass TDs.
Defensively, Western Michigan has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 172 yards and throw for 223 yards per game. The Central Michigan D has allowed 153.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 198.4 yards per game on the ground. The Chippewas are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 3.83 to opposing QBs, while the Broncos have given up an 8.30 ANY/A.
Offensively, Wassink is up to 1,709 passing yards this season. He’s connected on 62 percent of his 204 attempts with 15 scores through the air and five interceptions. Wassink has an 8.51 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 6.97 over the last two games.
Tommy Lazzaro has completed 50-of-94 passes for 490 yards, four TDs and four INTs for Central Michigan. His ANY/A sits at a minuscule 3.29 for the year and 1.73 over his past two games.
RELATED: Week 8 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Prediction: Western Michigan Broncos vs. Central Michigan Chippewas
SU Winner – Western Michigan, ATS Winner – Western Michigan, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Trends
The Central Michigan defensive unit has produced 18 sacks on the year while Western Michigan has 14.
The Central Michigan offense has lost four fumbles in 2018 while the Western Michigan offense has lost three.
The Broncos offense has created seven pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Chippewas have accounted for zero such plays.
The Western Michigan defense has allowed six pass plays of 40+ yards, while Central Michigan has given up zero such plays.
The Western Michigan offense has created 10 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Central Michigan has created three such runs.
The Broncos defense has allowed 11 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Chippewas have given up 12 such runs.
The Over/Under for Central Michigan’s last outing was set at 55. The under cashed in the team’s 24-23 defeat to Ball State.
Over its last three matchups, Central Michigan is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Over its last three matchups, Western Michigan is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Western Michigan’s last game going into it was 68.5. The over cashed in the team’s 42-35 victory over Bowling Green.
Western Michigan has averaged 4.2 yards per rush attempt across its last three outings and 4.6 over its last two.
Central Michigan has averaged 4.6 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 5.0 over its past two.
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