Central Michigan football 2022 schedule, win total odds and predictions

CMU at WMU football

CMU’s Dance Team parades their touchdown flags at the game between WMU and CMU at Waldo Stadium on Wednesday, November 3, 2021. (Photo by Carlin Stiehl | MLive.com)Carlin Stiehl | MLive.com

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Today marks our fourth edition of Win Total Wednesday, and you can check out our expert preview for Michigan State, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan by clicking each link. Our experts targeted Central Michigan as their next team, and after they finished with a 10-3 regular season record, they took down Washington State 24-21 in the Sun Bowl. Although they started the season slowly, they finished strong, and head coach Jim McElwain knows his team has enough talent to repeat last year’s performance, so let’s dive into the odds surrounding the Chippewas in 2022.

Betting MarketBest bet for Central Michigan 2022
Win Total (over/under) PredictionOver 6.5 regular season wins (-160)

Our experts’ best bet for Central Michigan’s win total is on FanDuel, and you can wager up to $1,000 at FanDuel Sportsbook risk free. Click this link to enroll in FanDuel’s No Sweat First Bet promotion so you can fade or follow our picks.

Central Michigan football win total and betting odds

Central Michigan got out to a slow start in 2021 and lost two of its first three games. However, they rebounded down the stretch and won seven of their last nine contests to finish the regular season with an 8-4 record. This year, their regular season win total is 6.5 at FanDuel Sportsbook, and the over has -160 odds, while the under’s price is +135. A $160 bet on the over returns $100 of winnings if they tally 7 or more victories, while a $100 wager on the under profits $135 if they win 6 contests or less.

Our experts predict Central Michigan can blow away their win total in 2022, so let’s explain their reasoning.

Central Michigan football 2022 schedule

Central Michigan has a difficult start to their 2022 campaign, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they start the season 2-2 before opening up conference play against Toledo on October 1. The entire regular season schedule for the Chippewas is here:

  • Sept. 1 - at Oklahoma State
  • Sept. 10 - vs. South Alabama
  • Sat., Sept. 17 - vs. Bucknell
  • Sat., Sept. 24 - at Penn State
  • Sat., Oct. 1 - at Toledo
  • Sat., Oct. 8 - vs. Ball State
  • Sat., Oct. 15 - at Akron
  • Sat., Oct. 22 - vs. Bowling Green
  • Wed., Nov. 2 - at Northern Illinois
  • Wed., Nov. 9 - vs. Buffalo
  • Wed., Nov. 16 - vs. Western Michigan
  • Fri., Nov. 25 - at Eastern Michigan

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Out-of-conference games at Oklahoma State and Penn State will likely end in a loss for Central Michigan, but they should be able to take down South Alabama and Bucknell in front of their home fans. We discussed how Central Michigan is our pick to defeat both Western and Eastern Michigan in the final two games of the season, but the middle stretch will determine whether or not they can collect 7 wins.

Central Michigan football win total over/under prediction: Over 6.5 regular season wins (-160 at FanDuel Sportsbook)

Central Michigan had a difficult start to last season but closed the year strong with their Sun Bowl victory over Washington State. Head coach Jim McElwain will have high hopes for an offense that brings back leading rusher RB Lew Nichols III (1,848 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns) and starting QB Daniel Richardson. Richardson threw for 2,424 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2021, and we predict he will improve these numbers in 2022. Although the Chippewas lost WRs Kalil Pimpleton and JaCorey Sullivan in addition to two offensive linemen, Richardson should be able to utilize CMU’s returning skill players. WR Dallas Dixon and TE Joel Wilson combined for over 1,000 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in 2021, and both players could emerge as leaders in this year’s passing attack.

On the defensive side, losing LB Troy Brown (Ole Miss), LB George Douglas (SMU), safety Devonni Reed (South Carolina) and leading tackler Greg Kreski (80) will hurt, but McElwain knows this will be his biggest project. Luckily, the secondary should be decent as both corners are returning, but the linebacking corps will be a work in progress. There isn’t much experience, but sophomores Kyle Moretti and Justin Whiteside should lead the charge after showing their potential last year.

The biggest flaw to Central Michigan is their defense, but they have enough weapons on the offense to make up for early season growing pains. It’s likely they’ll go 2-2 to start the season with or without a competent defense, so a major key will be having that unit ready to roll by October. Playing at Toledo will be a difficult matchup, but the Chippewas have enough talent to take down Ball State, Akron, Bowling Green and Buffalo. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they grabbed a win at Northern Illinois as they have an extra week of preparation, and games against Western and Eastern Michigan should finish with a win for Central Michigan. Therefore, we predict the Chippewas are closer to an eight or nine-win squad, and our best bet is on the over 6.5 wins.

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