The Central Michigan Chippewas are taking on the Bowling Green Falcons in a showdown where one losing streak will stretch to one games. ESPN+ is scheduled to televise the action and this conference matchup kicks off at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Bowling Green Falcons vs. Central Michigan Chippewas Betting Preview
Bowling Green is getting picked as the underdog and is currently getting 7 points in this MAC game. If they are wanting to play the moneyline, bettors would currently need to put down $300 in order to win $100 back on the Chippewas (-300). The Falcons are getting +220 moneyline odds. If one side can get out in front early it’ll create a solid betting opportunity in-game. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 52 points.
Sharp bettors have been siding with the Falcons, as the line opened at -10. The game’s O/U has yet to move after being initially set at 52.
The Falcons are 2-7 against the spread (ATS) and are down 4.0 units so far in 2018. The team has posted an O/U record of 5-3. The Chippewas have been a disappointment to moneyline bettors this season, losing 7.8 units. They’re 5-5 ATS and own an O/U record of 3-7.
The Falcons have gone 1-8 straight up (SU), including 0-5 SU against MAC opponents. The Chippewas are 1-9 SU overall and 0-6 SU in conference play.
These two conference foes did not get a chance to play one another in 2017.
Each team enters this matchup on a six-game losing skid. The Falcons are most-recently reeling from a 35-28 defeat to Kent State last week where Jarret Doege completed just 20-of-37 passes for 207 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Rico Frye (just 36 rushing yards on 17 attempts) led the ground attack while Scott Miller (six receptions, 75 yards) and Hargrove (four catches, 41 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Central Michigan just lost 17-7 to Eastern Michigan. The defensive unit allowed the Eagles to rush for 137 yards on 43 attempts, along with one rushing TD. Shaq Vann put up a productive outing in the win, posting 114 rushing yards and a score on 13 attempts for Eastern Michigan. As a group, the Chippewas collectively completed 12-of-32 passes for 61 yards and two interceptions. Tony Poljan went 10-for-27 for 39 yards and one interception while Austin Hergott was two-of-five for 22 yards and one interception. Romello Ross (57 rushing yards on 17 attempts) spearheaded the running attack as Devon Spalding (six receptions, 36 yards) and JaCorey Sullivan (three catches, 18 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Bowling Green has run the ball on 47.7 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Central Michigan has an overall rush percentage of 56.4 percent. The Falcons have rushed for 105 yards per game (including 120 per game against Mid-American opponents) and have seven touchdowns on the ground this year. The Chippewas are averaging 133 rushing yards per game (158 in conference) and have seven total rush TDs.
The Falcons offense has averaged 266 yards in the air overall (283 per game versus conference opposition) and has 24 passing TDs so far. The Chippewas have recorded 139 pass yards per contest (134.8 in the MAC) and have eight total pass scores.
Bowling Green has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 321 yards and pass for 180 yards per game. The Central Michigan D has given up 148.6 yards per game to opposing passers and 198.5 yards per game on the ground. The Chippewas are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.18 to opposing QBs, while the Falcons have allowed a staggering 8.83 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Doege has amassed 2,071 yards this year, and has connected on 183-of-298 attempts with 21 passing scores and eight interceptions. Doege has a 6.16 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 5.92 over the last two outings.
As a group, Scott Miller, Quintin Morris and Rico Frye have collectively accounted for 413 yards from scrimmage over the last two outings.
In the home locker room, Tony Poljan has connected on 57-of-110 passes for 456 yards, two TDs and five INTs. Poljan’s ANY/A stands at a terrible 1.66 for the season and 1.32 over his last two outings.
We expect the Chippewas to control tempo by pounding the defense with their running backs. Devon Spalding (133 receiving yards this season) has stepped up lately, but Romello Ross (251 rush yards, two rush TDs) and Kumehnnu Gwilly (213 rush yards, one rush TD) have been key factors in the Central Michigan offense.
NCAA Tip: Bowling Green Falcons at Central Michigan Chippewas
SU Winner – Central Michigan, ATS Winner – Central Michigan, O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Central Michigan defensive unit has tallied more than twice the sack total of Bowling Green this year (22 versus 10).
Central Michigan has lost eight fumbles in 2018 while Bowling Green has lost seven.
The Falcons offense has tallied nine pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Chippewas have put up zero such plays.
The Bowling Green defense has allowed 10 pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Central Michigan has given up two such plays.
The Bowling Green offense has created nine rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Central Michigan has created five such runs.
The Falcons defense has allowed 26 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Chippewas have given up 22 such runs.
As a team, Bowling Green has produced 3.7 yards per carry across its last three games and 2.9 over its last two.
Central Michigan has averaged 2.8 yards per carry over its last three outings and 2.6 over its last two.
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