Central Michigan, Miami, Northern Illinois look for statement wins
Teams are still fighting for legitimacy, and to right their wrongs.
This week we have one question and one question only. Which teams could come away with statement-making wins this weekend?
Alex: It hurts me to say this, but Central Michigan has a good chance to make a statement this weekend.
On the surface, a win on Saturday would be CMU’s second road win over a Power 5 school after forgetting how to tie its own shoes against Rhode Island, and a 3–0 record.
It would also raise the expectations for this program this year tremendously. Right now, Syracuse is in a tough spot after last week’s home loss to Middle Tennessee State.
With LSU on Syracuse’s schedule next week, you have to assume Dino Babers isn’t going to reveal too much of his playbook. You also know that Babers is going to throw the ball a lot, even though the passing offense isn’t as clean as one might expect. So far this season, Syracuse is third-most in the Atlantic Coast Converence with 48 pass attempts per game, but tied for 10th (fifth from worst) in yards per pass attempt (6.4).
The CMU pass defense is good, but still very vulnerable. It has intercepted eight passes and allowed six yards per pass attempt (third best in the Mid-American Conference), but it has also allowed a conference-worst 303.5 passing yards per game.
Justin: Team that has a serious chance to make a statement this weekend is Miami.
Ohio’s already fallen out of everyone’s good graces after being slaughtered by Purdue, and the RedHawks can make up for their odd performance at Marshall by beating Cincinnati and becoming the heir apparent to the MAC East. I mean, at least for now.
If Chuck Martin’s team wants to prove his unit is closer to the team that rattled off six straight wins last year and not the one that suffered six straight losses to start it, then a good showing against a beatable Bearcats team in a rivalry game is a good place to start.
Fitz: Team that I think can make a statement is Northern Illinois.
While the Huskies didn’t look too great down the stretch in a Week 1 loss to Boston College, they have a chance to redeem themselves against a Nebraska (1–1) team that hasn’t been too convincing in games against Arkansas State and Oregon.
Daniel Santacanterina can solidify the starting quarterback spot with a solid performance. If NIU can upset the Huskers, it’ll quickly shed all questions about whether it can contend for the MAC West title.
