NIU hosts Central Michigan on Wednesday

Central Michigan (7-2, 5-0) at Northern Illinois (5-4, 4-2)

When: 7 p.m. at Huskie Stadium

TV: ESPN2

Radio: WSCR 670-AM

Series: Central Michigan leads 22-20-1.

Coaches: Butch Jones (15-8, second year at CMU); Jerry Kill (5-4 at NIU; 109-61 in 15th year overall)

Players to watch: Central Michigan QB Dan LeFevour, the 2005 Benet Academy alum named the Mid-American Conference's preseason player of the year, sat out two of the last three games with a bad ankle and figures to be a game-time decision today. If he can't go, the Chippewas won't exactly be ruined. Senior Brian Brunner stepped in 11 days ago at Indiana and threw for 485 yards and 4 TDs in a 37-34 win. Top WR Antonio Brown (60 catches) leads the nation in punt returning (20.8 ypr).

Northern Illinois' offense struggled at Ball State last week, though redshirt freshman quarterback Chandler Harnish did throw for 115 yards and run for 59 more and a score. RB Chad Spann owns just 58 rushing yards in 24 attempts in the last two games. The NIU defense, which rarely got to Ball State QB Nate Davis, needs to get more pressure this week to make things easier for the secondary. Might Larry English, who needs 3 sacks to set the NIU career record, get closer to that mark?

The skinny: Northern Illinois has its second chance in eight days to affect the fierce MAC West race, though this time only as a spoiler. The Chippewas, two-time defending MAC champs, are tied for first with unbeaten Ball State.

If Northern Illinois' prideful defense intends to regain the form it lost during last week's 45-14 loss at Ball State, then it probably needs to do what few CMU opponents have been able to do: Force mistakes. The Chippewas lead the nation with just 7 turnovers (NIU ranks 13th with just 11 miscues).

If NIU wins this one, then it merely needs to split its final games _ a Nov. 18 trip to Kent State (2-7) and a Nov. 25 visit from Navy (6-3) _ to all but assure a bowl bid.