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The Western Michigan Broncos keep finding ways to win games. Although they lost to Akron two weeks ago, this team is on the cusp of bowl eligibility in their first year without the fiery PJ Fleck. They will be facing another MAC West team looking to go to a bowl game Wednesday night when they take on another directional school in the Central Michigan Chippewas. The Chips have been an enigmatic squad this season with some big wins and some head scratching losses.
This matchup in Week 10 of the regular season will take place on Wednesday, November 1, 2017, at 8 p.m. ET at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
College Football Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
Central Michigan +7
Western Michigan -7
Odds Analysis
Western Michigan has won three straight games in this series with two of the three wins coming by double digits. When these teams met last year, it was a totally lopsided affair as Western Michigan pasted Central Michigan 49-10.
The Chips haven’t been great against the number this season. They are sitting at just 3-5 ATS this year and are 4-4 SU. However, they have been great for bettors in one area. Their defense has helped keep games low scoring and five of their last six have finished under the total.
Western Michigan is just 3-5 ATS this season too, and has been favored in every game against a non-Power Five team. The Broncos have had to pull out two of their last three in overtime, winning a seven OT thriller against Buffalo at the start of October and pulling off a narrow win over Eastern Michigan last week in overtime.
Matchup to Watch
The Broncos are going to keep the ball on the ground as much as possible in this one. Western Michigan is averaging 4.9 yards per carry and has one of the best ground games in the MAC. Jarvion Franklin and Jamauri Bogan have been a great inside-outside combination with Franklin doing the work between the tackles and Bogan breaking off big gains against tired defenses.
Central Michigan is going to have a tough time stopping this duo. The Chippewas are 98th in the country against the run this year, allowing 192.1 yards per game. That’s not all the result of teams just slowly hammering the ball against them either, as they are allowing 4.6 yards per carry. If they have any chance of pulling off the upset, they need to limit the run.
Player to Watch
Shane Morris has had an up and down senior season. The hyped recruit was never able to entrench himself as the starter at Michigan and headed to Mount Pleasant after seeing less and less time each season under Jim Harbaugh.
Morris has had two fantastic performances this season. He was huge against both Kansas and Ball State, leading them to victories in routs. Morris was also very good in Central Michigan’s upset win over Ohio, moving the ball with consistency against the tough Bobcats defense.
He has had some issues though. In his other five games, he has failed to complete more than 51 percent of his passes and he has thrown 10 interceptions in those outings. It’s no surprise that the team is 1-4 in those games with the lone win coming in triple overtime against a bad FCS team.
Free ATS Pick
Morris has shown off his promise in spurts this season, but has been a non-factor too many times to rely on him. Western Michigan will keep the ball on the ground and win the time of possession battle against a Central Michigan defense that won’t be able to stop it. Look for the Broncos to pick up a big win here.
College Football Odds: Western Michigan 37, Central Michigan 20
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