Central Michigan at Ball State
Central Michigan at Ball State (+16.5)
The Mid American Conference continues to bask under the ESPN lights Wednesday night when Central Michigan (8-2, 6-0) travels to Muncie to meet Ball State (1-9, 1-5) in an West Division battle at Scheumann Stadium. The game is televised on ESPNU.
The Chippewas opened as a 17-point favorite and the line has since moved to ?17.5.
Tonight?s forecast
There is a 70-percent chance of rain, with temperatures in the mid-40s. Winds out of the east at 10 mph.
On the Ball
Under first year coach Stan Parrish, the one-win Cardinals have done a complete 180 degree U-turn from last season?s 12-win team. Ball State?s only victory came against winless Eastern Michigan on Oct. 24, a game in which BSU rushed the ball for 463 yards.
That was the first start for QB Tanner Justice, the backup who replaced injured Kelly Page. Justice, who passed for one-yard in his debut against EMU, had his best game against Northern Illinois last week, completing 11-of-19 passes for a career-best 134 yards. Justice threw for 79 yards in his first two starts.
"I've seen him improve," Cardinals coach Stan Parrish said. "He does what you tell him to do. He manages our team, and that's all we can ask right now."
RB MiQuale Lewis leads the team in rushing with 792 yards on 152 attempts, good for an average of 5.2 yards per carry. Lewis had a monster game against Eastern Michigan, rushing for 301 yards on 26 carries. The 5-6 senior tailback has gained 113 yards on the ground in his last two contests.
WR Briggs Orsbon leads the receiving corps with 46 receptions. After back-to-back 10-catch efforts against Temple and Bowling Green, Orsbon has been held in check the past three games with nine total receptions.
Mistakes have killed the Cardinals, who committed nine penalties in each of the past two games.
Chips away
What a difference a year makes. Central Michigan is 6-0 in conference play for the second year in a row. Last year the Chippewas dropped their final two conference games ? to Ball State and Eastern Michigan.
After a brief hangover from its loss at Boston College, the Chippewas scored 49 consecutive points en route a 56-28 blowout win over Toledo last week.
CMU fell behind for the first time this season against a MAC team, but roared back with seven straight touchdowns as they moved closer to another West Division title. Twenty-eight of the points came off turnovers.
Quarterback Dan LeFevour, who has completed 70 percent of his passes this season, completed 16 consecutive passes against the Rockets and tossed two touchdown passes to move into 16th place in NCAA history with 92. The future NFL QB also scored four rushing touchdowns to become CMU's all-time rushing touchdowns leader with 45 in his illustrious career.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown, who leads the team with 69 receptions for 734 yards and eight TDs, showed no ill-effects from an injury suffered at Boston College. Brown caught 13 passes for 129 yards.
Central Michigan head coach Butch Jones looks forward to tonight?s contest.
?Any chance you get to play on center stage on national television, the only game on, you're selling your product. That's why it was critical that the product be seen by everyone? Any chance you get to sell your program is critical.?
Ugly stat of the week
Ball State coach Parrish is 3-40-1 SU as a head coach at the Division-1 FBS level. Inside those numbers Parrish is 6-12 ATS in lined home games, including 1-11 ATS versus .500 or less opposition and 5-1 ATS versus opponents with a winning record.
From the archives
Home teams on Wednesdays are 26-13-1 ATS during the regular season, including 3-0 this season and 10-2 the last two years.
Central Michigan is 4-1 ATS in its last five visits to Muncie.
Central Michigan at Ball State (+16.5)
The Mid American Conference continues to bask under the ESPN lights Wednesday night when Central Michigan (8-2, 6-0) travels to Muncie to meet Ball State (1-9, 1-5) in an West Division battle at Scheumann Stadium. The game is televised on ESPNU.
The Chippewas opened as a 17-point favorite and the line has since moved to ?17.5.
Tonight?s forecast
There is a 70-percent chance of rain, with temperatures in the mid-40s. Winds out of the east at 10 mph.
On the Ball
Under first year coach Stan Parrish, the one-win Cardinals have done a complete 180 degree U-turn from last season?s 12-win team. Ball State?s only victory came against winless Eastern Michigan on Oct. 24, a game in which BSU rushed the ball for 463 yards.
That was the first start for QB Tanner Justice, the backup who replaced injured Kelly Page. Justice, who passed for one-yard in his debut against EMU, had his best game against Northern Illinois last week, completing 11-of-19 passes for a career-best 134 yards. Justice threw for 79 yards in his first two starts.
"I've seen him improve," Cardinals coach Stan Parrish said. "He does what you tell him to do. He manages our team, and that's all we can ask right now."
RB MiQuale Lewis leads the team in rushing with 792 yards on 152 attempts, good for an average of 5.2 yards per carry. Lewis had a monster game against Eastern Michigan, rushing for 301 yards on 26 carries. The 5-6 senior tailback has gained 113 yards on the ground in his last two contests.
WR Briggs Orsbon leads the receiving corps with 46 receptions. After back-to-back 10-catch efforts against Temple and Bowling Green, Orsbon has been held in check the past three games with nine total receptions.
Mistakes have killed the Cardinals, who committed nine penalties in each of the past two games.
Chips away
What a difference a year makes. Central Michigan is 6-0 in conference play for the second year in a row. Last year the Chippewas dropped their final two conference games ? to Ball State and Eastern Michigan.
After a brief hangover from its loss at Boston College, the Chippewas scored 49 consecutive points en route a 56-28 blowout win over Toledo last week.
CMU fell behind for the first time this season against a MAC team, but roared back with seven straight touchdowns as they moved closer to another West Division title. Twenty-eight of the points came off turnovers.
Quarterback Dan LeFevour, who has completed 70 percent of his passes this season, completed 16 consecutive passes against the Rockets and tossed two touchdown passes to move into 16th place in NCAA history with 92. The future NFL QB also scored four rushing touchdowns to become CMU's all-time rushing touchdowns leader with 45 in his illustrious career.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown, who leads the team with 69 receptions for 734 yards and eight TDs, showed no ill-effects from an injury suffered at Boston College. Brown caught 13 passes for 129 yards.
Central Michigan head coach Butch Jones looks forward to tonight?s contest.
?Any chance you get to play on center stage on national television, the only game on, you're selling your product. That's why it was critical that the product be seen by everyone? Any chance you get to sell your program is critical.?
Ugly stat of the week
Ball State coach Parrish is 3-40-1 SU as a head coach at the Division-1 FBS level. Inside those numbers Parrish is 6-12 ATS in lined home games, including 1-11 ATS versus .500 or less opposition and 5-1 ATS versus opponents with a winning record.
From the archives
Home teams on Wednesdays are 26-13-1 ATS during the regular season, including 3-0 this season and 10-2 the last two years.
Central Michigan is 4-1 ATS in its last five visits to Muncie.
