Cardinal Roundtable: Central Michigan

(There isn't much left to be said about this game. Let's see what myself, Over The Pylon and Ball U Nation think about this one as well.)

1. Obviously the big news this week is Ball State dropping three spots in the BCS poll and being passed up by both BYU and TCU. In your opinion, was it our rather lackluster win against Miami or our schedule that led to us dropping?

I haven't the slightest clue why we dropped. Personally, I think it was rather bush league that this occurred, but what can you do? I'm sure the drop had to do with the computers who downgraded our schedule. Regardless, there's no reason a two-loss TCU team should have passed us. Their conference is not THAT superior to ours. As for BYU, that was a risk we knew we were taking rooting for them to beat TCU. It was a worst-of-both-worlds type of situation.

2. Our chances of making it to a BCS bowl are obviously on life support, do you think a victory over Central Michigan will help us in the BCS or just add fire to the charge that the MAC and our schedule is weak?

I don't think it's going to help all that much. Wishful thinking says yes, playing the 29th and 20th teams in the next two weeks will raise our Q rating. But what about everyone else? Is there enough? I mean...at 17 we are the FIFTH highest-rated non-BCS team. Ball State picked the wrong year to do this unfortunately. But we really need to win this conference championship and that's what we're playing for right now.

3. If you could save one Central Michigan player, who would it be and why?

I have no idea and don't feel like looking anything up, but Ill take Bryan Anderson.

4. Central Michigan has been the top dog in the MAC for the past couple of seasons, how confident are you that this will finally be the year we knock off the Chips?

Probably more confident than I should be. They've owned us the last four meetings, but every single stat points Ball State's way...especially Central Michigan's putrid defense. We've got to exploit that for all it's worth. But that doesn't mean I'm going to be confident watching the game. I promise I will be a glass case of emotion. 38-28 BSU.

5. Central Michigan and Ball State both have powerful offenses, do you think this game is going to be a shootout or will Ball State's defense be able to slow down CMU?

I'm taking Ball State's defense in this one. This squad is much much MUCH improved from year's past and while Lefevour will certainly get his yards, I have full confidence in the Cardinals limiting him from being able to do too much.

OVER THE PYLON
BALL U NATION