It’s The Chippewas Against the Broncos Tonight In Kalamazoo!
The state's second-biggest rivalry is tonight (Wednesday night) at Kalamazoo's Waldo Stadium as the 4-4 Central Michigan Chippewas visit the arch-rival 5-3 Western Michigan Broncos.
Kickoff is set for 7:00pm and the game will be televised on ESPNU. Western is a 10 point favorite and needs only one more win to get bowl-eligible.
The two teams play for the Victory Cannon (seen above), and even though this rivalry isn't as popular statewide as the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry, it is just as intense. Western leads the overall series 51-38-2 and has won the last three times they've met (including last season 52-44).
Both teams are very similar to one another. They average 29 points a game. and give up around 27 points per contest.
CMU is led by freshman quarterback Daniel Richardson, who has thrown for over 1,500 yards and 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions. They also have another freshman, running back Lew Nichols, III, with almost 1,000 yards rushing and five TD's.
WMU is led by sophomore quarterback Kaleb Eleby, who's thrown for almost 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns with only two interceptions. Sophomore receiver Skyy Moore is the Broncos leading receiver with 57 receptions for 762 yards and five touchdowns.
Neither team is playing for the Mid-American Conference West division title as both teams are 2-2 in league play and two games behind Northern Illinois in the MAC West. But that is almost irrelevant as this is one of those "throw the records out the window" games.
And with both teams close to bowl eligibility (see the overall records above), this is a key game if they want to play in a postseason bowl game this winter.
Fire Up Chips!!! And Let's Go Broncos tonight!!!!