Central Michigan Chippewas 2016 NCAA Football Preview
CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS
MACtion – West Division
2015 Record – 7-6
ATS – 9-4
2016 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating Rank
West Division #3
Conference #3
2015 Recap
The Chips have been a very successful program over the past decade. They have had only two losing seasons over that time span with bowl appearances in three of the last four seasons. Central Michigan finished in a four-way (!) tie for first in the division and lost the tiebreaker. They finished up losing a tough one in the Quick Lane Bowl 21-14 to the Golden Gophers.
2016 Preview
OFFENSE
QB Cooper Rush returns for his senior season and one more shot at leading the Chips to the MAC Title game. Rush was very good last season with maybe the only black mark being a few too many interceptions (25 TD, 11 Int). The WR unit looks solid once again especially with leading receiver Jesse Kroll back for his final year.
Oh, that running game. The Chips were dead last (!) in the MAC in rushing offense last season, and no matter how good Cooper Rush plays this season, they are not winning the division with an offense that struggles to run the football. Central Michigan has to work in two new starters on the offensive line and the leading returning rusher from the 2015 squad only had 324 yards (Jahray Hayes) in 2015. It is hard to be too optimistic about the running game but we will give it some time and re-evaluate.
DEFENSE
Last season’s 2nd ranked MAC defense (332 yards per game) returns 8 starters and looks to be a decent unit once again. The defensive line should be good, the LB corps is one of the best in the MAC and the secondary returns 3/4 starters from last year’s squad. Our only worry is getting to the opposing QB as they have not had more than 21 sacks since the 2009 campaign.
SPECIAL TEAMS
This unit was pretty mediocre all around last year other than PK Brian Eavey who made 16/21 FGs from inside 50 yards. This is another area that needs to improve if the Chips want to do “special” things this year.
MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 5.0
MEGALOCKS says:
The schedule features two tough out-of-conference road games in September (Oklahoma St, Virginia) before things get real on October 1st with a huge match-up at home vs Western Michigan.
Overall, we give the CHIPPEWAS a 5.0 ATS Value Rating (Average) this season. The Chips had a very tidy 9-4 record against the number last season. That is going to be very difficult to replicate despite having a very good QB and scrappy defense. We have doubts about the running game. Pick your spots and focus on the match-ups when the Chips are catching points.
Want more Central Michigan football ?
Website
http://www.cmuchippewas.com/sports/m-footbl/cmu-m-footbl-body.html
Forum
http://www.scout.com/college/central-michigan/forums/2793-kelly-shorts-stadium
News
http://www.mlive.com/chippewas/
http://bleacherreport.com/central-michigan-football
http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/central-michigan-chippewas
http://www.themorningsun.com/cmu-chippewas
https://twitter.com/CMU_Football @CMU_Football
https://twitter.com/natejschneider @natejschneider Nate Schneider