Central-Western rivalry on the national stage tonight

[IE]

Central Michigan plays at Western Michigan tonight in a nationally televised game on ESPN2. Western Michigan enters as a huge disappointment after being the pre-season choice to win the MAC. Central Michigan on the other hand, is looking to repeat as MAC Champions and can clinch the MAC West with a victory in Kalamazoo tonight.

November 6, 2007 "I don't think any of the hype has changed," Jones said. "It's Western-Central. It's one of the best rivalries in all of college football.

"It's a chance to show the country what this rivalry is all about. There's only one game on, and that's Central-Western. You play a game on Saturday and people have options. Playing on a Tuesday, there are no options. We're the only game on."

The Mid-American Conference wants to have its biggest games on a national stage, even if it means playing on Tuesday.

Central and Western played in bowls last season, and many thought before this season that this game would determine which team would win the MAC's West Division.

The Chippewas (5-4, 5-0) are the only MAC team undefeated in conference play, and they can clinch the West Division with a victory tonight.

With a 3-0 record in the West Division, CMU controls its own destiny with just two divisional games remaining at Western and at home against Eastern. The Chippewas end the season with a game at MAC East Division foe Akron.

''We're in a real good spot in the standings,'' Jones said. ''We just have to make sure we're prepared for each game and take care of business.''

Western features the leading receiver in the conference in Jamarko Simmons, who is first in the conference in receptions with 75 and receiving yards with 865. CMU, however, counters with sophomore quarterback Dan LeFevour, who is sixth in the country in total offense. LeFevour leads the Chippewas in rushing with 546 yards.

''We do some things by design for our quarterback to run,'' Jones said. ''It adds another dimension to our offense. Our tailbacks have all been banged up this year.

''We're still banged up. Getting the extra time is big for us to get healthy. We don't have a bye week, so this is kind of our bye week.''

After Tuesday's game, CMU does not play against until Friday, Nov. 16, with a home finale against Eastern Michigan.

''Every game is important, but this is a big one,'' Jones said. ''Western is a Michigan rival and in our division. Plus, one more win and we're bowl eligible.''

 

[IE]

CMU @ WMU - GAME NOTES:
The 79th meeting in this rivalry will have a direct bearing on the top spot in the West Division ... CMU is 11-1 in its last 12 regular season MAC games and is coming off a 41-32 win at Kent State (Oct. 20) ... the Broncos also last played Oct. 20, a 19-2 loss at Eastern Michigan, WMU?s second consecutive defeat ... each team has a former MAC Freshman of the Year in QBs Dan LeFevour (2006) at CMU and Tim Hiller (2005) at WMU ... LeFevour ranks second and Hiller

fifth respectively, in pass efficiency among MAC QBs ... the CMU offense has scored 40-plus points in four games this season and is averaging 32.2 ppg, however defensively the Chippewas are allowing 38.3 ppg overall and 27.8 ppg in MAC contests ... despite not producing any points from the offense last week, WMU is averaging 27.6 ppg in 2007 while the defense is allowing 32.3 ppg ... Bronco WR Jamarko Simmons leads the MAC in receptions (75) and receiving yards (865) ...CMU?s Antonio Brown is second in receptions (66) and Bryan Anderson seventh (56) ... both will be challenged by Bronco DB Londen Fryar, who has a league-leading, and second-leading nationally, 13 pass break ups.

 

[IE]

It should a fun -- and cold -- night. About 10,000 tickets had been sold as of Monday (students not factored in), so if you're hoping to go, well, there are seats -- and maybe sections -- still available. Huddle close, high-five with mittens and enjoy the cocoa.

 

[IE]

5 elements of impact
Tuesday, November 06, 2007

-- Analysis by Graham Couch

1. The showcase-game blues. Western Michigan University has played three games in Bill Cubit's tenure that would qualify as showcase events, and the Broncos are 0-3 with one good showing. At the end of the 2005 season, 7-3 WMU rolled into DeKalb, Ill., dreaming of a bowl bid and, on national television, was sent home on the wrong end of a 42-7 thrashing. Last season, the Broncos hoped grab hold of the division at Central Michigan. No national TV in this case -- thanks to the league office's folly -- but plenty of rain, sleet and Chippewas points in a 31-7 defeat. Later last season, WMU was exciting but still fell to Cincinnati, 27-24, in front of a national audience in the International Bowl. And so here is attempt No. 4: Nothing but pride on the line for this season, but the Broncos' biggest rival is in the house, as is ESPN2 for the first time at Waldo Stadium (which is important for recruiting). A record of 4-6 with a harmful defeat of CMU in front of the entire Tuesday night football nation would feel a heckuva lot better going forward than the alternative.

2. Confidence on offense. By the time WMU left the field last week in Ypsilanti, its offense had gone from being a potential juggernaut battling a case of the hiccups to a surprisingly lowly crew suffering from full-blown case of pneumonia. Six turnovers, zero offensive points, against Eastern Michigan? The Eagles are improved, especially defensively, but Akron's `D' was probably just as sound and WMU put up 38 points against the Zips -- not to mention 24 points against both West Virginia and Missouri. If the Broncos are to have any shot at defeating their rivals, winning at Iowa and winding up 6-6, their offense has to find itself again. If it doesn't happen against the Chippewas in a game where every Bronco is playing for his ``homeboys,'' as Londen Fryar put it, watching on the tube, it probably won't this season. Iowa, despite its offensive struggles, is staunch defensively. And if WMU is 3-8 coming home for a frozen post-Thanksgiving date with Temple ... well, it would be a bit late.

3. The weather. By game time, the forecast calls for a mix of snow, rain and 20-mph winds with temperatures in the mid-30s. This is what you get when you play night football in November. Last season's showdown was all but ruined -- at least for the Broncos -- by horrible weather, though it's hard to imagine anything that miserable tonight. That press box is going to feel nice and cozy.

4. Disrupting LeFevour. CMU's quarterback and 2006 MAC Freshman of the Year has successfully avoided a sophomore slump. He leads the Mid-American Conference in all-purpose yardage, trailing only six running backs with 546 yards rushing (before Saturday). LeFevour is completing better than 67 percent of his passes, and has thrown 18 touchdowns and just seven picks. One of the main reasons for this: The Chippewas have allowed a league-low nine sacks (WMU has taken 25). The Broncos' pass rush has improved over the last few weeks, led by Greg Marshall, who entered the weekend tied for third in the MAC with five sacks. Whether or not WMU can get to LeFevour might have a ton to say about the outcome.

5. WMU's quarterback. Whether it's Tim Hiller (who gets the start) or Thomas Peregrin, the Broncos' signal caller must move the chains and keep from turning the ball over. This is something LeFevour and the Chippewas do well, as they entered the weekend leading the league in first downs and were third in turnover margin at plus-six. WMU is second to last at minus-nine turnovers and holds the same spot when it comes to penalties, averaging 69 yards per game. The Broncos will not win this game if these truths of this season continue. Hiller and Peregrin aren't the reason Brandon West fumbled twice last week. But many of the turnovers and penalties this season fall on WMU's quarterbacks, mostly Hiller.

 

[T-Banana]

Sportsbook.com has the line up to Central -3.5 & o/u 59.5.

This is a mind f@cker like I thought that Dallas/ Phili games was with the favorite giving about the same amount of points.

I like Centrals QB, so I'm going with a small play on them. GL