Staff Predictions, Week 6: CMU favored on the road against Miami (Ohio)

Seth Newman, staff reporter (5-0): This is going to get ugly. And not in the sense of a blowout.

Central Michigan and Miami (Ohio) share a lot of things in common. Head coaches that are friends, defenses that continue to give up more than 30 points a game and offensives that struggle to score more than 20 points.

Both teams' offensive struggles are puzzling, as both head coaches come from the offensive side of the ball. (Dan Enos was the running backs coach when Don Treadwell was the offensive coordinator at Michigan State.)

This is a must-win for both teams. The loser's season is over. If Cooper Rush struggles, you might see Alex Niznak taking some snaps in this game. Central Michigan scores late, putting the game away.

CMU 21, Miami (Ohio) 13

Aaron McMann, senior reporter (4-1): This is a game that CMU should win.

The Chippewas will be able to get their ground game going early, opening it up for Rush and the rest of the offense.

If Rush can't get it together this weekend, he might be in for a long rest of the season. Miami (0-4) is depleted all around. There's no reason CMU should lose this game.

CMU 27, Miami (Ohio) 21

Jeff Papworth, staff reporter (4-1): There are few things that differentiate the seasons Central Michigan and Miami have endured.

The only reason the Chippewas have a win and the RedHawks don’t is because CMU was smart enough to schedule an FCS opponent in New Hampshire, which they barely beat.

Miami did give Cincinnati all it could handle, losing 14-0 after giving up two touchdowns in the last five minutes of the game.

But in a toss-up, the Chippewas should be able to run the ball more effectively than the RedHawks to win an ugly game.

CMU 21, Miami (Ohio) 14

Kristopher Lodes, sports editor (4-1): After all that has happened the last three weeks, I was going to pick Miami because of its home advantage.

After looking at some stats, I can't do that.

Despite how bad the Chippewas have played, the RedHawks have played worse, scoring only five touchdowns all season. Cooper Rush has more passing touchdowns than the entire Miami offense does.

That being said, the RedHawks add two more, one of which will come defensively.

CMU 31, Miami (Ohio) 14