Mid-American Conference team Central Michigan gave Oklahoma State some problems last year in Mount Pleasant. But I’m guessing the Chips aren’t likely to do that Saturday in Stillwater against the No. 21 Cowboys, who are three touchdown favorites on college football lines.
Here’s a Closer Look at the Central Michigan at Oklahoma State Week 2 Expert Pick, Lines & TV Info
When: Saturday, Sept. 10, Noon ET
Where: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, Okla.
TV: Fox Sports 1
Stream: Foxsports.com
Radio: Central Michigan / Oklahoma State
Opening NCAAF Lines: OSU -21
Why Bet on Central Michigan?
CMU opened with a 49-3 rout of FCS school Presbyterian. Jahray Hayes ran for three touchdowns. On the second play from scrimmage, Devon Spalding broke off a 69-yard touchdown run and the rout was on. Spalding finished with 135 yards rushing on just 15 carries. Presbyterian managed just 126 total yards and six first downs, while CMU amassed 492 yards — including 255 on the ground.
The Chippewas never trailed, but didn’t hit on all cylinders until the second half. CMU led 14-3 at halftime, then flexed its muscle in the second half in wearing down the Blue Hose, who finished 2-9 a year ago. Cooper Rush completed 16 of 26 pass attempts for 237 yards and a touchdown against two interceptions for CMU.
“I think when you’re running the ball like that, you’re going to wear people down,” Chips coach John Bonamego said. “I don’t think that in any way means that Presbyterian is not a good football team. That is just what happened. It takes more energy to play defense than offense, so when you can keep them on the field and keep the chains moving it does wear them down.”
Senior outside linebacker Nathan Ricketts led the Chippewa defense with six tackles, forced a fumble, which he recovered, and broke up a pass. Alex Briones, a sophomore who started at the other outside backer spot, made five stops, and safety Winslow Chapman had four tackles and his first career interception. Chapman, a senior, wore the No. 21 jersey, a game-day tradition started last season to honor the late Derrick Nash, a former Chippewa who succumbed to cancer prior to the 2015 season.
Why Bet on Oklahoma State?
The Pokes opened with a 61-7 rout of SE Louisiana. Barry J. Sanders had 76 all-purpose yards and scored a touchdown. Sanders, whose father, Barry, won the Heisman Trophy for Oklahoma State in 1988, is a graduate transfer who played for Stanford last season. The younger Sanders scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter. Mason Rudolph completed 18 of 26 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns for the Cowboys.
In a game where 14 different Oklahoma State players caught a pass, Jhajuan Seales led the team with 61 receiving yards and caught both of Mason Rudolph’s touchdown passes. His first score was a leaping, highlight-reel catch for 24 yards as he fell backwards into the end zone for OSU’s first passing touchdown of the season and the Cowboy’s longest completion of the day. The win improved the Cowboys to 22-4 in their last 26 non-conference games. They are 46-5 in their last 51 games against unranked opponents, dating back to 2010.
Last year, OSU beat CMU 24-13. The Chippewas took a 13-10 lead early in the third quarter before the Cowboys scored the game’s final 14 points to escape. The Cowboys were just the fifth Power Five conference school in the last 20 years to visit Kelly/Shorts Stadium. Rudolph threw for 266 yards and a TD for OSU. Rush threw for 225 yards and a pick for Central.
My Expert Pick
Oklahoma State on NCAAF lines.