Week 1: Eastern Illinois at Central Michigan

Whether they were looking for it or not when this game made its way onto the schedule, both parties will get a pretty stiff test of their abilities in the 2008 opener. Although they compete in different divisions, both Eastern Illinois and Central Michigan were made pre-season favorites to win their respective conferences. The Chippewas look for a third straight MAC crown, while the Panthers are the Ohio Valley Conference front-runner.

Central Michigan comes to the table with enough offensive muscle to just simply overpower other teams. Quarterback Dan LeFevour is the reigning MAC offensive player of the year, and one of just two players in Division I-A history to rush for 1,000 yards and pass for 3,000 in a season. The Chippewas led the conference and were 20th in the nation in scoring, and with loads of talent at the skill positions should only enhance those rankings.

The Panthers counter with a lot of talent and a tinge of bitterness after getting bounced from the playoffs last year in the first round. They know 70-year-old head coach Bob Spoo does not have many opportunities left to win it all, so the motivation has spiked.

Eastern Illinois has junior Brodie Reeder back at quarterback and senior Norris Smith at tailback, but the reliance on the run will make it tough to match the Chippewas score for score, despite eight returning starters on the Panthers defense.

Notes:

Eastern Illinois tailback Norris Smith missed all but one game last year with a knee injury, but the 5-9, 220-pound senior is being counted on to be the workhorse in 2008.

Central Michigan’s offensive punch is enhanced by wide receivers Bryan Anderson (90 receptions, 10 TDs and Antonio Brown (102 receptions, 6 TDs), who both produced more than 1,000 yards last year.

The Panthers are excited about tailback Chevon Walker, a transfer from Florida who was a highly-prized recruit two years ago, but his immediate future is cloudy with a possible three-game NCAA suspension looming.

The Chippewas need to get through this healthy and confident, since the rest of the non-conference schedule is rugged, with trips to Georgia, Purdue and Indiana on the horizon.

Key Player (Chippewas) – Colin Miller, C

The talented sophomore anchors the protective unit for highly-rated quarterback Dan LeFevour, and Miller is so respected that he was the MAC’s only player named to the pre-season watch list for the Rimington Trophy.

Key Player (Panthers) – Brodie Reeder, QB

Reeder had modest numbers in 2007 (170 for 260 passing, 1,726 yards), and he needs to be more of a quick-strike artist for Eastern Illinois to flourish.

Central Michigan by 14