Central Michigan has lost four of its last five outings. Ball State has dropped three straight, while scoring just three points in each of the last two contests. Saturday’s BSU homecoming game in Muncie pits two teams needing a win against each other.
A variety of things – past and present – suggest . . .
A variety of things – past and present – suggest . . .
. . . Saturday will be a close contest.
The all-time series is even at 24-24-1, and the last three meetings have all been decided by three points or less. Though struggling against a pair of good defenses over the last two weeks, Ball State is averaging 21.2 ppg on the season. Central Michigan, meanwhile, is producing points at a 21.4 ppg average.
Here’s more on the two teams:
BALL STATE CARDINALS (2-4, 0-2 MAC)
> RB James Gilbert registered 141 yards and two touchdowns in last year’s 24-21 Central Michigan victory.
> The last Ball State touchdown was Caleb Huntley’s 3-yard run in the fourth quarter of a 33-21 loss to Western Kentucky back on Sept. 23.
> Ball State reached the Akron red zone three times last week but could not reach the end zone.
> Fifteen freshman have seen action for the Cardinals through the first six games. Among them is freshman WR Justin Hall. He leads all freshmen in the nation with 42 receptions and is second in receiving yards per game (79.8 ypg). That figure ranks 41st nationally. Hall has led the Cardinals in receptions and receiving yards each of the last five weeks.
> Junior Riley Neal has been out with an injury. Senior QB Jack Milas completed 21 of 41 passes for 176 yards with three interceptions last week against Akron.
> Standout running back James Gilbert has been sideline with an injury. Freshman Caleb Huntley has stepped into the role, averaging 5.0 ypc on 78 attempts for 388 yards with three TDs.
> Through six games, senior DE Anthony Winbush is among the nation's leaders in sacks and tackles for loss. He ranks second in sacks (7.5) and is ninth in tackles for loss (10.5). As a team, the Cardinals rank second in the MAC with 17 sacks.
> The Cardinals have been in the minus column in turnovers in five of their first six games. Meanwhile, the defense has not forced a turnover in the last two outings.
The all-time series is even at 24-24-1, and the last three meetings have all been decided by three points or less. Though struggling against a pair of good defenses over the last two weeks, Ball State is averaging 21.2 ppg on the season. Central Michigan, meanwhile, is producing points at a 21.4 ppg average.
Here’s more on the two teams:
BALL STATE CARDINALS (2-4, 0-2 MAC)
> RB James Gilbert registered 141 yards and two touchdowns in last year’s 24-21 Central Michigan victory.
> The last Ball State touchdown was Caleb Huntley’s 3-yard run in the fourth quarter of a 33-21 loss to Western Kentucky back on Sept. 23.
> Ball State reached the Akron red zone three times last week but could not reach the end zone.
> Fifteen freshman have seen action for the Cardinals through the first six games. Among them is freshman WR Justin Hall. He leads all freshmen in the nation with 42 receptions and is second in receiving yards per game (79.8 ypg). That figure ranks 41st nationally. Hall has led the Cardinals in receptions and receiving yards each of the last five weeks.
> Junior Riley Neal has been out with an injury. Senior QB Jack Milas completed 21 of 41 passes for 176 yards with three interceptions last week against Akron.
> Standout running back James Gilbert has been sideline with an injury. Freshman Caleb Huntley has stepped into the role, averaging 5.0 ypc on 78 attempts for 388 yards with three TDs.
> Through six games, senior DE Anthony Winbush is among the nation's leaders in sacks and tackles for loss. He ranks second in sacks (7.5) and is ninth in tackles for loss (10.5). As a team, the Cardinals rank second in the MAC with 17 sacks.
> The Cardinals have been in the minus column in turnovers in five of their first six games. Meanwhile, the defense has not forced a turnover in the last two outings.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS (3-4, 1-2 MAC)
> CMU upset Ohio in Athens 26-23 two weeks ago. That broke a three-game losing streak that followed two season opening victories.
> Tight end Tyler Conklin’s return from injury keyed the win over Ohio as the senior standout caught 10 balls for 136 yards and a pair of TDs.
Conklin caught just three balls last week against Toledo, but they produced 48 yards and a touchdown.
> CMU ranks fourth in pass offense (262.3 ypg), but is 11th in rushing offense (119.6 ypg).
> Senior Mark Chapman leads the Chippewas receiving corps. His best 2017 day was eight catches for 168 yards and three scores in a 45-27 win over Kansas. However, he has failed to reach the end zone in any other game this year. He registered five catches for 71 yards against Toledo, picking up nearly half of that on a long of 33 yards.
Corey Willis, who missed several games earlier, registered two catches for 12 yards last week against Toledo.
> CMU has 12 touchdowns via pass and six on the ground.
> Quarterback Mark Chapman has completed 154 of 279 pass attempts (55.2%) with 12 TDs and 11 interceptions. He ranks second among MAC passers with 252.4 ypg and is eighth in passing efficiency. The 11 picks is a league high, while the 12 TDs is one off a MAC best 13 by Western Michigan QB Jon Wassink.
> Jonathan Ward leads the CMU run game. With 83 carries for 363 yards and a pair of scores. He has also caught 33 balls for 242 yards and TD.
> Central Michigan has allowed the fewest sacks (7) of any MAC team.
> CMU is ninth in total defense (417.9 ypg), 10th in rushing defense (212.6 ypg), sixth in pass defense (205.3 ypg) and third in pass defense efficiency.
> Senior Josh Cox is tied for the league lead in pass interceptions with four. Senior Joe Ostman is tied for first with three forced fumbles and owns six sacks. . Junior Alex Briones has recovered two fumbles.
> Briones and Malik Fountain each have a team-high 54 tackles.
> CMU upset Ohio in Athens 26-23 two weeks ago. That broke a three-game losing streak that followed two season opening victories.
> Tight end Tyler Conklin’s return from injury keyed the win over Ohio as the senior standout caught 10 balls for 136 yards and a pair of TDs.
Conklin caught just three balls last week against Toledo, but they produced 48 yards and a touchdown.
> CMU ranks fourth in pass offense (262.3 ypg), but is 11th in rushing offense (119.6 ypg).
> Senior Mark Chapman leads the Chippewas receiving corps. His best 2017 day was eight catches for 168 yards and three scores in a 45-27 win over Kansas. However, he has failed to reach the end zone in any other game this year. He registered five catches for 71 yards against Toledo, picking up nearly half of that on a long of 33 yards.
Corey Willis, who missed several games earlier, registered two catches for 12 yards last week against Toledo.
> CMU has 12 touchdowns via pass and six on the ground.
> Quarterback Mark Chapman has completed 154 of 279 pass attempts (55.2%) with 12 TDs and 11 interceptions. He ranks second among MAC passers with 252.4 ypg and is eighth in passing efficiency. The 11 picks is a league high, while the 12 TDs is one off a MAC best 13 by Western Michigan QB Jon Wassink.
> Jonathan Ward leads the CMU run game. With 83 carries for 363 yards and a pair of scores. He has also caught 33 balls for 242 yards and TD.
> Central Michigan has allowed the fewest sacks (7) of any MAC team.
> CMU is ninth in total defense (417.9 ypg), 10th in rushing defense (212.6 ypg), sixth in pass defense (205.3 ypg) and third in pass defense efficiency.
> Senior Josh Cox is tied for the league lead in pass interceptions with four. Senior Joe Ostman is tied for first with three forced fumbles and owns six sacks. . Junior Alex Briones has recovered two fumbles.
> Briones and Malik Fountain each have a team-high 54 tackles.
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