A bragging rights battle

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Sports editor David Harris breaks down today’s game.

Quarterbacks

CMU’s Dan LeFevour will get his first taste of the Central/Western
rivalry. But LeFevour has answered every challenge thus far, and
there’s no reason he won’t do it again.

Western’s Ryan Cubit has thrown 13 touchdown passes and seven
interceptions. He completes 65 percent of his passes and averages 207
yards per game. He won’t hurt Central with his feet.

Advantage: CMU. LeFevour is at home and always has come through in
clutch situations.

Running backs

Western running back Mark Bonds is just 67 yards away from eclipsing
the 1,000-yard barrier for the season. He averages 103.7 yards per
game. He easily sheds tacklers and doesn’t have a problem outrunning
them.

CMU’s Ontario Sneed is coming off of two consecutive 100-yard games.
He also is a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield. He is
beginning to show flashes of his freshman season.

Advantage: WMU. Sneed has run against two subpar defenses in the
past two games.

CMU offensive line vs. WMU front seven

CMU will be hard-pressed to establish a running game. It must
protect LeFevour and give him time to pass. CMU can’t afford a
flustered freshman quarterback running for his life.

Western has the best linebacker in the Mid-American Conference in
Ameer Ismail. He has 15 sacks this season. Western has 34 sacks this
season and allowed just 73 rush yards per game.

Advantage: WMU. Hands down, this is the best matchup of the game.
But Western’s ability to get sacks gives them the nod.

WMU offensive line vs. CMU front seven

The Broncos have given up just 10 sacks this season. They also give
holes for their running backs to run through, averaging 147.2 rushing
yards per game.

CMU will give Western its best challenge of the season. WMU will
focus on Dan Bazuin, which will set junior Steven Friend and Mike Ogle
free. Central has put pressure on the quarterback all year, and should
do the same today.

Advantage: CMU. Western hasn’t faced a front seven this good —
except maybe in practice.

CMU receivers vs. WMU defensive backs.

What was a weakness now is a strength for CMU. Freshman Bryan
Anderson has three consecutive 100-yard receiving games this year.
Damien Linson and Obed Cetoute are peaking at the right time.

Western surrenders 210 passing yards per game. Cornerback Londen
Fryar leads the MAC with five interceptions.

Advantage: CMU. Western will be hard-pressed to cover Anderson.

WMU receivers vs. CMU defensive backs

The Broncos’ leading receiver, Jamarko Simmons, has just 275 yards
of receiving. He has zero touchdowns. Its deep threat is tight end
Brandon Ledbetter, who has six touchdowns.

CMU hasn’t given up a pass longer than 50 yards this season. But it
does give up 249 yards per game through the air. Those short passes
could add up if CMU isn’t careful.

Advantage: CMU. Western doesn’t pass much and has no real deep
threats.

Special teams

The Broncos have a solid punter (Jim Laney) and field goal kicker
(Nate Meyer). Laney averages 38.3 yards per punt, while Meyer is
13-of-18 on field goals with a long of 42 yards. Punt returner Joe
Chapple is 10th in the nation, averaging 14.8 yards per kick return.

CMU’s Tony Mikulec averages 40 yards per punt, and his kicking style
doesn’t allow big returns. Rick Albreski has been inconsistent on field
goals all season. He is just 8-of-13.

Advantage: WMU. If the game comes down to a field goal, can Albreski
come through?

Coaching

Central’s Brian Kelly and Western’s Bill Cubit have both done
remarkable jobs turning their programs around. Now the winner of the
game will be the MAC West champ.

Advantage: WMU. Cubit has completed his turnaround in less time than
Kelly.

Bottom line

You can’t find two more evenly matched teams. Stout defense against
high-powered offense. But Central wins because it is at home — a place
where Western has won only once in 20 years.

Prediction: 14-10 CMU