The Central Michigan Chippewas take on the New Mexico Lobos in Albuquerque, NM. Kickoff is set for 10 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.
New Mexico is favored by 10.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -465. The total is set at 46.5 points.
Here’s my Central Michigan vs. New Mexico predictions and college football picks for Saturday, September 5, 2026.
Central Michigan vs New Mexico Prediction
- Central Michigan vs. New Mexico Pick: Central Michigan +10.5 (Play to +7.5)
My New Mexico vs. Central Michigan best bet is on the Chippewas to cover the spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Central Michigan vs New Mexico Odds
| C. Michigan Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+10.5 -105 | 46.5 -110o / -110u | +350 |
| New Mexico Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-10.5 -115 | 46.5 -110o / -110u | -465 |
- Central Michigan vs New Mexico point spread: Central Michigan +10.5 (-105), New Mexico -10.5 (-115)
- Central Michigan vs New Mexico over/under: 46.5 (-110o / -110u)
- Central Michigan vs New Mexico moneyline: C. Michigan +350, New Mexico -465
Central Michigan vs New Mexico Preview
Central Michigan Chippewas
Matt Drinkall was very transparent about the culture and scheme he wanted to establish at Central Michigan.
In Year 1, the Chippewas loaded up on the tight ends, leaned into the ground game (only three non-service academy teams rushed with more frequency), and played Northwestern in a bowl game. For Year 1, not too bad.
Angel Flores was named the starting quarterback for the season in mid-August. He's a mobile, run-first option guy with limited arm talent. Drinkall isn't afraid to utilize multiple quarterbacks for different situations, so Jadyn Glasser likely steps in as the pass-first option.
Three offensive linemen from last year return, and they're joined by Georgetown starting center Losini Maka. This projects to be one of the better offensive fronts in the MAC.
Second-leading receiver Tommy McIntosh is out for the season due to injury. A blow to the lineup, but the Chips favor the run so heavily that it likely doesn't impact the betting market.
On the other side of the line of scrimmage, Central Michigan is loaded, too. It's a brand-new group, headlined by Cornell nose tackle Max Van Fleet, but Phil Steele ranks this unit third in the MAC. The entire second level is gone, including All-MAC linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski (117 tackles), and production will need to be found there.
But in the MAC, if you can win at the line, you can win lots of ballgames.
Central Michigan benefits from a favorable schedule. It's likely a fringe bowl-eligible team that controls the clock and shortens games on the ground. With opponents like New Mexico, Wyoming, and the usual MAC cast, that approach goes a long way.
New Mexico Lobos
The Mountain West conference favorite is in trouble.
Widespread injuries have plagued this team all summer long, a plague that head coach Jason Eck has been very candid about to local beat reporters. Quarterback Jack Layne is out for the season, and eight other starters are in jeopardy of missing this game. Notable absences from fall camp practices include Jaxton Eck (all-conference linebacker), both projected starting corners, and two projected starting safeties. Both top receivers, Luke Wysong and Trey Omeire, are each questionable for the game.
Granted, not all of these players might miss the game, but the injury bug has been a problem since spring, and no positive news has emerged to combat it.
In Layne's place is Luke Moga — a highly-touted name among respected circles — but Eck said he is going to split time in Week 1 with other quarterbacks. At least the offensive line should be intact, with three starters, including all-conference center Kaden Robnett, returning. This should be a sound front on both sides, with the defensive line highlighted by all-conference nose tackle Brian Booker.
Last year was a turning point for Eck and New Mexico. It wasn't a fluke or a temporary breakout; this is repeatable success so long as the Lobos have the horses to do it. Over the long term, those injuries may add up and affect this team's depth. But it's still a worthy conference contender.
In Week 1, however…
Central Michigan vs New Mexico Pick, Betting Analysis
I got in on this number a bit ago when the fall camp injuries started to surface (if you follow me on Twitter, you probably did, too). It's come down a bit, though it appears there's a resistance point.
Listening to different perspectives on the matter, I believe that's for two reasons:
- The Layne injury is really the only major one to have made its way into the news stream, and the full extent of the roster injury isn't fully realized, and…
- People are really high on Moga.
It's not that I'm not high on Moga, but he's been thrust into a starting position right out of the gate and late in the game. The report that multiple quarterbacks will play against what should be a pretty evenly matched foe tells me Eck isn't sold on the Oregon transfer as the answer.
Despite the camp reps not going to Layne, confidence in Moga as QB1 isn't there, which makes me hesitant about his first start.
The other factor is that both teams play slowly.
Central Michigan on the road will try to control possession, win the line of scrimmage, and lean into the run. It's what Drinkall did all last year and, thanks to his background at Army, will continue to do this year. With Flores as the starter, that tells me this isn't a pass-first team.
Ultimately, expect the Chips to shorten the game with their offensive approach.
Frankly, Central Michigan is live to win this game, and I took a piece of the moneyline, too. They're a great addition to a Round Robin underdog moneyline parlay to boost your possible payout. I really do believe this team wins the game outright.
But the official play here is Chips anything above a touchdown.
Pick: Central Michigan +10.5 (Play to +7.5)
