Two schools that like to run the football, Head Coach Jim McElwain and the Central Michigan Chippewas (-12) are set to take on their in-conference rival Bowling Green Falcons at Doyt L. Perry Stadium. ESPN 3 will broadcast the action and the afternoon game is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Bowling Green Falcons vs. Central Michigan Chippewas
In this Saturday Mid-American game, Central Michigan is tabbed as the big favorite and is currently giving up 12 points. If they are wanting to take the moneyline, bettors would currently have to put up $500 in order to win $100 back on the Chippewas (-500). The Falcons are getting +350 moneyline odds. If one side finds paydirt early it’ll result in a worthwhile live betting opportunity. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 54. With the spread sitting at Bowling Green +12, oddsmakers are speculating that this could be a 21-33 win for the Chippewas.
Sharp bettors have been hammering both the Chippewas and the under. This game’s opening line was initially set at 9.5 while the O/U was originally 55.5.
The profitable Chippewas are 5-1-1 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 3.5 units this season. The team’s posted an Over-Under record of 5-2.
The Falcons have lost 2.0 units this year. The team is 2-4 ATS and has an O/U record of 1-5.
The Chippewas have gone 4-3 straight up (SU), including 2-1 SU against conference opponents. The Falcons are 2-4 SU overall and 1-1 SU in conference play.
The Chippewas are coming off a resounding 42-28 victory over New Mexico State last weekTheir defense allowed the Aggies to rush for 121 yards on 27 attempts, along with one rushing TD. Jason Huntley had a productive day for the Aggies in that one with 67 rushing yards and a score on 10 attempts, along with 32 yards on four catches. On the offense, Quinten Dormady completed 14 passes for only 134 yards and two touchdowns. Kobe Lewis (161 yards on 23 rush attempts, two TDs) and Jonathan Ward (131 yards on 18 carries, one TD) led the ground attack in the win while Kalil Pimpleton (six receptions, 59 yards, one TD) and Ward (four catches, 36 yards) handled the receiving duties.
Bowling Green just earned a 20-7 win over Toledo. The defensive unit allowed the Rockets to rush for 132 yards on 39 attempts. Bryant Koback was a bright spot in the defeat for Toledo, recording 60 rushing yards on 14 attempts, along with 41 yards on four catches. For Bowling Green, Grant Loy completed 14-of-21 passes for 185 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Loy (137 yards on 19 rush attempts, one TD) and Davon Jones (64 yards on 17 carries) handled the ground game in the win as Bryson Denley (six receptions, 100 yards, one TD) and Jones (two catches, four yards) led the pass-catching corps.
Central Michigan’s run the ball on 52.2 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Bowling Green has a rush percentage of 58.4 percent. The Chippewas have rushed for 178 yards/game (including 201.3 per game versus Mid-American opponents) and have 14 scores via handoffs this year. The Falcons are logging 169.7 rushing yards per game (197 in conference) and have six total rush TDs.
Judging by the numbers so far, it seems like the Chippewas may hold an advantage when it comes to efficiency in the ground game. Their running backs has generated 4.8 yards per carry while the defense is allowing a YPC of 3.2 to opponents. The Falcons have registered 4.0 yards per carry and allowed 5.1 YPC to opponents.
The Chippewas offense has averaged 233.1 yards in the air overall (317.7 per game versus conference opposition) and has 10 passing scores so far. The Falcons have put up 174.2 pass yards per outing (196 against MAC competition) and have six total pass TDs.
Central Michigan has let opponents run for an average of 102 yards and throw for 265.7 yards per game. The Bowling Green defense has allowed 251.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 208.0 yards per game on the ground. The Chippewas are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 6.90 to opponents, while the Falcons have given up a staggering 9.34 ANY/A.
Offensively, Moore has put up 1,143 passing yards on the year. He’s completed 57 percent of his 164 attempts with five passing scores and four interceptions. Moore’s got a 5.84 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 11.42 over the past two games.
For the home team, Grant Loy has completed 25-of-39 passes for 271 yards, three TDs and one INT. Loy’s ANY/A sits at 6.88 for the season and 3.94 over his last two outings.
When these two teams met last year, Bowling Green emerged victorious by a score of 24-13.
Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Bowling Green Falcons Free Pick
SU Winner: Central Michigan, ATS Winner: Central Michigan, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- The Central Michigan defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 20 times this year. Bowling Green has produced 17 sacks.
- Bowling Green has lost one fumble in 2019 while Central Michigan has lost nine.
- The Chippewas offense has recorded four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Falcons have accounted for three such plays.
- The Central Michigan defense has allowed three pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Bowling Green has given up five such plays.
- The Central Michigan offense has created seven rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Bowling Green has created five such runs.
- The Chippewas defense has allowed six rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Falcons have given up 13 such runs.
- The Over/Under for Bowling Green’s previous matchup was 65. The under cashed in the team’s 20-7 triumph over Toledo.
- In its last three contests, Bowling Green is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Over its last three games, Central Michigan is 2-0-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Central Michigan’s last game going into it was 56.5. The over cashed in the team’s 42-28 win over New Mexico State.
- Central Michigan has produced 5.8 yards per carry across its last three outings and 6.5 over its last two.
- Bowling Green has averaged 4.1 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 4.3 over its past two.
