Prediction and preview for Central Michigan Football 2024 with betting odds, schedule, key returnees and outlook

Jim McElwain’s career at Central Michigan was, to say the least, an emotional rollercoaster.

In his sixth season as the program’s head coach, the Chippewas are 29-28. However, the record hasn’t been as consistent as it was in the 2010s, when CMU won six or seven games five years in a row and also had an eight-win season.

The first three years of McElwain’s tenure were promising. He was named MAC Coach of the Year in his first season and CMU lost to Miami (Ohio) in the MAC title game before going 3-3 in 2020 and finishing 9-4 the following year. They narrowly missed the title game after losing by one point to eventual champion Northern Illinois. If the Chippewas win that game, things could look very different for McElwain, who may be in the firing line if CMU has another poor season.

The Chippewas have a 9-15 record over the last two years. Time will tell if McElwain can turn things around in 2024.

The odds for Central Michigan college football to win the MAC are +2000 according to BetMGM.

Central Michigan’s overall win odds are 5.5 (over/under), with the over being -140 and the under being +115.

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29.8. against Central Connecticut

9/7 at FIU

September 14th in Illinois

21.9. against Ball State

28.9. against San Diego State

10/12 against Ohio

19.10. in Eastern Michigan

26.10. in Miami (Ohio)

11/5 against Bowling Green

11/12 in Toledo

19.11. against Western Michigan

30.11. in Northern Illinois

MAC competitions in bold

2023 All-MAC First Team

RS/RB Marion Lukes

Second team

OL Brayden Swartout

WR Jesse Prewitt III

DB Donte Kent

Three games.

That’s how many times the Chippewas held their opponents to fewer than 30 points last season. And that was against three of the league’s worst offenses – Eastern Michigan, Akron and Ball State. CMU won two of those games.

If CMU wants to compete for a MAC title again, or even get back to a bowl game, it will have to find a way to slow down the opposing offense. The Chippewas allowed a league-high 407 yards per game, and their 31 points per game were second to last.

The good news is that CMU returns a decent amount of talent and experience on that side of the ball, led by a secondary that has the potential to be an above-average secondary, with four players who started multiple games last season. Nickel Donte Kent is the leader of that group and has been one of the best defensive backs in the MAC over the past two seasons. Da’Raun McKinney started six games at cornerback last year and should be back in the starting lineup. The senior finished last season with 39 tackles and four pass breakups.

Caleb Spann and Elijah Rickard also bring a ton of experience. This part of the defense will be under pressure, as it ranked last last season, allowing 247 yards per game through the air. But there could be a big improvement here.

Linebackers Justin Whiteside and Dakota Cochran were the fourth and fifth best tacklers on the roster and should be solid up the middle. The defensive line, however, could be the group that determines how good this defense can be. There isn’t much power returning and there could be some young players stepping into bigger roles. Juniors Jason Williams and Michael Heldman will lead the D-line. Williams started seven games in 2024, while Heldman started two.

CMU will be well-positioned on offense with a better quarterback. Joey Labas transferred from Iowa and could be the starter, while Bert Emanuel Jr. could also be in the mix. Emanuel is an electrifying offensive weapon and can be used in countless situations. Three offensive linemen – Brayden Swartout, Davis Heinzen and Dominic Serapiglia III – return, along with the Chippewas’ top three receivers from 2024. Tyson Davis, Jesse Prewitt III and Chris Parker all eclipsed 400 yards.

This offense should have no problem scoring points, but I don’t know if they can win every game in the shootout. The defense, which has struggled the last few seasons, needs to improve.

I don’t expect the Chippewas to win the MAC, but they have a chance at a bowl game berth.

There are at least five games on CMU’s schedule that could go either way – Ball State, San Diego State, Eastern Michigan, Ohio and Western Michigan. The Chippewas were able to pull off many close wins last season, meaning they could likely do so again this fall.

I don’t think CMU will beat Illinois, Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio), Toledo or Northern Illinois. That’s five losses, and Central Connecticut and FIU should be wins. That means the Chippewas have to find ways to win four of those coin toss games. I don’t have too much confidence they can do it, but McElwain can certainly still turn things around, so we’ll see if they can prove me wrong.