Over The Pylon

It’s rare to have a season-defining game this early in the year, but on Saturday, the Cardinals have just that. Sitting at 1-5 on the season and in the middle of a five-game losing streak, a win on Saturday changes the tide and proves that Ws are in fact possible. It would be a tremendous confidence boost for Jack Milas to get his first win, and the defensive effort needed for a victory would hopefully springboard into future defensive performances.

The flip-side of that coin is a loss would set a tone that is just as defining for the back half of the season. A loss puts the Cards at 1-6 and would guarantee a sub-.500 season barring some significant miracles. Of the seven games remaining, a case could be made this is the 3rd-most winnable, behind UMass and Eastern Michigan. So yes, this game is important. It’s time to Better Know: Central Michigan.

Team: Central Michigan Chippewas
Record: 4-3 (2-1 MAC)
Ranking: Unranked
Head Coach: Dan Enos
Series: BSU leads 24-21-1
Last Meeting: BSU W 44-24 in Muncie in 2013

Central Michigan Head Coach Dan Enos…
… is in his 5th season at the CMU helm.
… has an overall record of 23-33 with a MAC record of 15-20.
… is a former Michigan State quarterback, having the 3rd best pass completion percentage for his career and the 8th highest total yards.

When it comes to CMU versus Ball State…
… this will be the 47th meeting of the Cards and Chips, with BSU having won five of the last six meetings between the two.
… the Chips hold the advantage in games played in Mt. Pleasant, holding a 12-9 series advantage.
… kickoff on Saturday is at 3:30 and is watchable via ESPN3.

The Central Michigan Chippewas…
… certainly have a steady recruiting base within their own borders. 74 players on their roster hail from the state of Michigan along with 6 of their coaches, 3 of whom played at CMU.
… are coming off a road win in Dekalb over the Northern Illinois Huskies.
… have a stellar running back in Thomas Rawls. The senior is averaging 168.0 rush yards per game.
… recorded their losses at home against Syracuse, at Kansas, and at Toledo. Their wins came at home to Chattanooga, at home to Ohio, and on the road against Purdue and NIU.

Filed under: BallStateFootball, Better Know |