Central Michigan Chippewas at Kent St Golden Flashes
Dix Stadium – Kent, Ohio
Friday, November 4, 2011, 8:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Opening Line: Central Michigan -1 1/2
Current Line: Kent St -1
Opening Total: 43 1/2
Current Total: 42 1/2
Opening Money Line: CMU -115 / Kent St -105
Current Money Line: Kent St -115 / CMU -105
Though an early November MAC game between two teams with a combined 5-12 record might not seem that exciting, there aren’t that many sporting events for the betting public to watch and enjoy. The NBA is in a lockout, and college basketball doesn’t start until next week, so that only leaves NHL hockey and college football on a Friday night.
The Central Michigan Chippewas and Kent St Golden Flashes meet for the 32nd time Friday night. Central Michigan has dominated the series 22-9, including 13 of the last 15. The two teams haven’t played since 2007 when the Chips won 41-32 on the road. Central Michigan is 3-6 (2-3 MAC West) under coach Dan Enos and Kent St is 2-6 (1-3 MAC East) under coach Darrell Hazell. The Chippewas have home wins over South Carolina St 21-6, and Northern Illinois 48-41, along with a road win at Akron last week 23-22. CMU has a pair of 3 game losing streaks with losses at Kentucky 27-13, Western Michigan 44-14, Michigan St 45-7, North Carolina St 38-24, and at Ball St 31-27, along with a home loss to Eastern Michigan 35-28. Kent St has home wins over South Alabama 33-25 and last week against Bowling Green 27-15. The Golden Flashes also have two 3 game losing streaks this season. Kent St has losses at Alabama 48-7, Kansas St 37-0, Ohio 17-10, and Northern Illinois 40-10, along with home losses to Louisiana-Lafayette 20-12, and Miami-Ohio 9-3.
Central Michigan was a 7 point favorite last week on the college football betting line at Akron. The Chippewas were up 20-0 in the third quarter, but were outscored from that point on 22-3. Akron missed 2 two point conversions including one on the last play of the game that would have won it for the Zips. CMU had 383 total yards including 192 rushing yards. Chippewa quarterback Ryan Radcliff threw for 191 yards and a touchdown pass. Running back Anthony Garland had 19 carries, 141 yards and a touchdown. Akron had 407 total yards including 138 rushing yards.
Central Michigan is averaging 389.3 total yards and 22.8 points a game. The Chippewas are average 264.3 passing yards and 125 rushing yards a game. CMU has 19 turnovers and has allowed 11 sacks. Central is 49/133 on third and fourth down conversions, and 18/22 scoring in the red zone with 9 touchdowns. The Chippewas are allowing 409.4 yards and 32.1 points a game on defense. CMU gives up 235 passing yards and 174.4 rushing yards a game. The Chips have forced 10 turnovers and 11 sacks. CMU opponents are 69/153 on third and fourth down conversions, and 34/41 scoring in the red zone with 25 touchdowns. The Chippewas have one defensive touchdown this season.
Radcliff is 185/322 passing (57.5%) for 2,375 yards, 17 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Running back Paris Cotton has 49 carries, 322 yards, and 2 touchdowns, and 10 catches, 162 yards, and 2 touchdown catches. Garland has 60 carries, 297 yards, and a touchdown. Zurlon Tipton has 62 carries 277 yards, and a touchdown, along with 10 catches for 107 yards. Tim Phillips has 54 carries, 214 yards, and a touchdown, along with 10 catches for 80 yards. Receiver Cody Wilson has 47 catches, 522 yards, and 3 touchdowns. He is questionable with an undisclosed injury. David Blackburn has 28 catches, 418 yards, and 5 touchdowns. Titus Davis, Jerry Harris and Courtney Williams also get significant targets, and could get even more if Wilson can’t go. Williams has 3 touchdown catches, and Davis & Harris each have 2. Kicker David Harman is 23/23 on extra points and 12/14 on field goals with a long of 45. The Chippewas have 8 players listed as questionable or out including 5 defensive players.
Last week, Kent St hosted Bowling Green. The Golden Flashes were 3.5 point underdogs. Kent St was up 10-6 at the end of the third quarter, and outscored the Falcons 17-9 in the fourth to win 27-15. Kent St overcame 7 penalties and 2 turnovers in the win. Bowling Green had 4 turnovers including a fumble return for a touchdown with 7 seconds left that sealed the game for Kent St. The Flashes had 319 total yards including 140 rushing yards. Kent St quarterback Spencer Keith threw for 179 yards and a touchdown. Bowling Green had 445 total yards including 400 passing yards.
Kent St has the worst offense in college football averaging 198.6 total yards and 12.8 points. The Flashes average 114.5 passing yards and 84.1 rushing yards. Kent St has 18 turnovers and has allowed 24 sacks. KSU is 37/146 on third and fourth down conversions, and 13/15 scoring in the red zone with 8 touchdowns. The Flashes give up 337 yards and 26.4 points on defense. Kent St allows 209.8 passing yards and 127.2 rushing yards. KSU has forced 22 turnovers and 15 sacks. Golden Flash opponents are 44/121 on third and fourth down conversions, and 28/34 scoring in the red zone with 16 touchdowns. KSU averages 7 penalties for 69 yards a game. The Flashes have allowed 3 defensive touchdowns, but have 2 of their own.
Keith is 103/213 passing with 853 yards, 4 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, along with 2 rushing touchdowns. Running back Trayion Durham has 110 carries, 321 yards, and a touchdown. Anthony Meray has 58 carries, 206 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Receiver Sam Kirkland has 25 catches and 223 yards. Justin Thompson has 20 catches 137 yards and 2 touchdowns. Chris Gilbert and Matthew Hurdle also get significant targets. Kicker Freddy Cortez is 10/11 on extra points, and 8/10 on field goals with a long of 44 yards.
Kent St is 2-6 against the spread this season and the total is 3-5 in those games. Central Michigan is 1-8 ATS this season and the total is 6-3 in those games. The Chippewas are 5-1 ATS in November games, 29-13-3 after a straight up win, 2-5-1 on Friday, 1-4 against teams with winning records, 3-14 overall, 1-5 in conference games, 1-6 after failing to cover, as an underdog, and on turf, 0-7 on the road, and 0-6 as a road underdog. The Golden Flashes are 2-5 ATS as a favorite, and at home, 3-8 on turf, 5-15-1 in November, 3-9 overall, 1-4-1 in home against teams with losing records, 1-4 as a home favorite, and 0-5 against teams with a losing records.
Both of these teams are not very good, and each has glaring weaknesses. Central Michigan struggles to stop teams on defense, and Kent St can’t move the ball on offense. I don’t really like either side in this game, but an under play might be good value as the offenses aren’t very good. I am not the only one perplexed by this game, as college football handicappers have moved the line from Central Michigan -1 1/2 to Kent St -1.
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