In this week's Associated Press Poll, Ball State was ranked No. 14 with 714 votes and Central Michigan was listed No. 29 with 13 votes. Of the 65 AP voters, five voted for both the Cardinals and Chippewas. Below is a sampling from three of those AP voters about tonight's game between Ball State and Central Michigan.
Pete DiPrimio
Fort Wayne News-SentinelVoted Ball State: Voted Central Michigan:Thoughts on tonight's game?"Given that Central Michigan plays close games, I think Ball State wins. Ball State's offense is better than Central Michigan's offense, and Ball State's defense is better than Central Michigan's defense. From those two factors, I think Ball State will win, but it won't be a blowout."
What made you put Central Michigan in your top 25?"They played well all year. They almost beat Purdue and beat some teams in the MAC. They got hammered at Georgia (but who doesn't?), and they are on a roll right now. And they have one of the best quarterbacks in the country."
Can you recall a MAC regular season game as big as this one?"There may have been one. Miami was once ranked in the top 10 of the BCS."
If Ball State wins, how much higher can it climb in your poll?"Depends on what other teams do below them. Utah and Boise, they would have to lose for Ball State to slip in. Ball State would need to win impressively and make the top 10."
Who will win tonight's game?"Ball State"
Kent Taylor
WAVE3 (Louisville, Ky.) Voted Ball State: Voted Central Michigan:Thoughts on tonight's game?"This will go a long way to determine where they will get into BCS. It will help that the game's on national television."
What made you put Central Michigan in your top 25?"It had been the last two weeks. I was going to rank Western Michigan because they beat Illinois, but then I was looking through the standings and saw they lost to Central Michigan. Central Michigan beat Indiana by three points. That was the reasoning, because I couldn't see ranking Western Michigan and Central Michigan."
Can you recall a MAC regular season game as big as this one?"Probably not. There were some big Miami and Marshall games. The last few years there has been a only one good MAC team."
Who will win tonight's game?"Central Michigan. I think Central Michigan having the home field advantage helps. I would say it will be tough task for Ball State."
Molly Yanity
Seattle Post IntelligenceWhere she voted Ball State: Where she voted Central Michigan:Thoughts on tonight's game?"I can't wait for this game. I'll be in front of the TV Wednesday for sure."
What made you put Central Michigan in your top 25?"I keep an eye on what happens in the MAC. You simply can't deny the quality of players that come out of this conference year in and year out. The MAC has made the Big Ten look bad this year. Even Ohio U's loss at the Horseshoe made the Buckeyes look weak."
Can you recall a MAC regular season game as big as this one?"I'm from Athens, Ohio, where Ohio U is located. I can't remember any from my childhood, and I went to college on the West Coast and didn't pay much attention at that point. So, in recent memory, no, I can't."
Who will win tonight's game?"I wouldn't even make a guess. I'll wait with everyone else, but you've got to like Ball State's offense."
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