Central Michigan and Wyoming both finished inside the top 25 nationally in passing yards allowed; the Cowboys ranked fifth overall at a scant 160.7 yards surrendered per contest, while the Chippewas’ 188.2 yards per game surrendered was good for 23rd in the country.

Chippewas vs. Cowboys Spread and Betting Analysis

The Cowboys are a slight favourite in this one, and certainly have recent history on their side; they covered the spread in seven of their final nine games this season, and are 8-3 ATS in their previous 11 against teams with winning records. But the Chippewas have been no slouches themselves, having covered in five consecutive games overall. More than three quarters of Sports Interaction participants are taking Central Michigan and the points.

From a totals standpoint, an overwhelming majority of SI betters are leaning toward the under on the 45.5-point total – and with both teams’ pass defences among the country’s elite, it’s easy to see why. Yet, while 12 of Wyoming’s previous 14 games have gone below the total, Central Michigan is actually trending toward the over, having exceeded the total in each of its past five games while going 4-0 O/U in its last four following both SU and ATS victories.

Central Michigan Chippewas

Central Michigan comes into Saturday having led all of Division I in total turnovers gained with 31 (12 fumble recoveries, 19 interceptions). But with the Cowboys finishing just one turnover behind them, the Chippewas will need to take better care of the ball, having turned it over 23 times themselves. The Central Michigan offence will likely run through Jonathan Ward, who ran for 988 yards and nine touchdowns – seven coming in his final five games of the season.

Wyoming Cowboys

With both teams boasting top-flight pass defences and incredible ball-hawking prowess, where do the Cowboys have an edge? Look no further than red-zone scoring, where Wyoming turned a whopping 29 of their 30 visits into points (20 touchdowns, nine field goals); that 96.7-percent success rate ranks third in the country, behind only FIU and Florida. By comparison, Central Michigan converted just 71.9 percent of its red-zone opportunities into points.

Chippewas vs. Cowboys Prediction