by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Nov 08, 2021
Game time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Mount Pleasant, MI
Where to watch: ESPNU
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Central Michigan -2.5
BetMGM: Central Michigan -2.5
Caesars: Central Michigan -2.5
Season record
Kent State: 5-4 (4-1 MAC)
Central Michigan: 5-4 (3-2 MAC)
Al McMordie put forth a great week on the college gridiron with a 10-4-0 record and is 38-20-1 over the last month. Catch Al’s and other plays available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.
Kent State - Central Michigan preview and analysis
Last week
Kent State: won 52-47 vs. Northern Illinois
Central Michigan: won 42-30 at Western Michigan
Suddenly, in a (wait for it) flash, the Kent State Golden Flashes are making a charge for not only a bowl game, but a conference championship.
With four wins in five games in MAC play, Kent State is suddenly atop the MAC East division and could be making a play for postseason play in December.
But the Flashes have a bit of road left to go, and they’ll take on the Central Michigan Chippewas on Wednesday in what’s going to be a big game for both programs.
Kent State picked up its signature win of the season last week in a 52-47 shootout victory against the Northern Illinois Huskies. Dustin Crum threw for 322 yards and two touchdowns to stave off NIU quarterback Rocky Lombardi (532 yards, three touchdowns).
The Flashes were 3.5-point favorites against the top team in the conference and had an 18-point lead going into the fourth quarter, only for the Huskies to rally and cut it to five points but they never got the ball again.
Kent State’s defense has been a walking, leaking corkboard giving up almost 35 points per game, but the offense has been incredible to this point. Kent State averages 476 yards per game, 235.7 of them on the ground led by tailback Marquez Cooper. Crum has been just as lethal on the ground with 440 yards and eight touchdowns.
This has all the makings for another shootout against Central Michigan, coming off a 12-point victory at the Western Michigan Broncos in Kalamazoo. Central Michigan head coach Jim McElwain got 163 yards and two touchdowns on the ground from lead running back Lew Nichols III, and quarterback Daniel Richardson threw for 230 yards and a touchdown in the win.
The day belonged to Kalil Pimpleton scoring three touchdowns in a five-minute span; two on punt returns and one receiving to cap off a 104-yard day for the CMU leading receiver. Shoutout to Waldo Stadium, where this game is taking place.
Prediction
Momentum in the MAC doesn’t normally exist, considering the talent level of these teams are so even, including these two. It’s going to be a fun game with dual-threat quarterbacks, and I’ll give the edge to Crum just based on his recent play. Kent State by 10
Betting trends
Kent State is 0-4 this season, 7-7 in its last 14, ATS as an underdog.
Kent State is 2-0 this season ATS following three straight conference games.
Central Michigan is 1-4 ATS as a favorite this season.
Central Michigan is 8-1 ATS in its last nine when the total exceeded 60 or more.
Statistical leaders
Kent State:
Passing: Dustin Crum -- 2,092 yards, 11 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Marquez Coopers -- 731 yards, 7 TD
Receiving: Dante Cephas -- 807 yards, 6 TD
Defense: Elvis Hines -- 3 INT
Central Michigan:
Passing: Daniel Richardson -- 1,743 yards, 15 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Lew Nichols III -- 1,082 yards, 7 TD
Receiving: Kalil Pimpleton -- 691 yards, 3 TD
Defense: Troy Hairston II -- 5.5 sacks
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
