Central Michigan vs. Albany fearless prediction and game preview.
Broadcast
Date: Thursday, August 29
Game Time: 7:00 ET
Venue: Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Mount Pleasant, MI
Network: ESPN3
– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions
Central Michigan (0-0) vs. Albany (0-0) Game Preview
It’s the first game in the Jim McElwain era as he tries to help Central Michigan rebound from a miserable 1-11 2018 season. The lone win came against Maine from the FCS world, and with Wisconsin coming up next, the Chippewas need to match last year’s win total after Week 1.
Albany didn’t do a whole lot better going 3-8, getting whacked around by Pitt 33-7 to start last season. This year’s team has just enough returning experience to make this a bit of a fight.
Why Albany Will Win
Can the Great Dane passing game work right away? Central Michigan lost its stars from last year’s secondary – draft picks Sean Bunting and Xavier Crawford – and top pass rusher Mike Danna transferred. Former Albany QB Vincent Testaverde is done – yes, his son – but the young receiving corps of last season should be a whole lot stronger.
On the other side, CMU has to prove its passing game can work. It was among the nation’s most inept last season, and this is the game to try getting the kinks out. Albany will air it out – it’ll make mistakes, but it’ll take some shots – and the Chippewas have to prove they can do the same. However …
Why Central Michigan Will Win
McElwain has a few instant impact parts to the puzzle, with former Tennessee/Houston QB Quinten Dormady stepping in at quarterback, and Virginia Tech transfer Kalil Pimpleton a promising target in a good-looking receiving corps.
The Chippewa defense has to prove it can stop someone’s running game after getting steamrolled over last season, but that’s for the date with Wisconsin to worry about. Albany won’t have much of a ground attack, at least right away, with some new parts in the backfield working behind what should be a leaky O line.
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What’s Going To Happen
There won’t be any real problems in McElwain’s debut. All of a sudden, there will be a passing game, and for CMU fans who sat through power outage after power outage – the O only came up with more than 17 points four times, and never scored more than 17 – this will be a treat. Albany won’t be able to keep up after the first quarter.
Fearless Prediction & Line
Central Michigan 34, Albany 13
Line: No Line, o/u: No Line
Must See Rating: 1
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1: Christina on the Coast
NEXT: Each Team’s Schedule, Predictions So Far
2019 Central Michigan Football Schedule
2019 Preseason Prediction: 3-9
2019 Preseason MAC Prediction: 1-7
2018 Record: 1-11
– 2019 Central Michigan Preview
Aug. 29 Albany W
Prediction: Central Michigan 34-13
Sept. 7 at Wisconsin L
Sept. 14 Akron W
Sept. 21 at Miami L
Sept. 28 at Western Michigan L
Oct. 5 Eastern Michigan L
Oct. 12 New Mexico State W
Oct. 19 at Bowling Green L
Oct. 26 at Buffalo L
Nov. 2 Northern Illinois L
Nov. 9 OPEN DATE
Nov. 16 at Ball State L
Nov. 23 OPEN DATE
Nov. 29 Toledo L
