The upcoming Week 4 game of the 2025 College Football Regular Season pits the Wagner Seahawks against the Central Michigan Chippewas. Hosted at the Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, MI, this outdoor game will take place on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 1:00 PM. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN+.
Entering the game, the Wagner Seahawks are seeking their first win of the season, with a current record of 0-1. In their season opener, they suffered a heavy defeat against the Kansas Jayhawks, losing 46-7, highlighting some areas for improvement. As an independent team, Wagner will aim to put up a stronger performance on the road.
The Central Michigan Chippewas hold a 1-2 record for the season, with their sole victory coming in Week 1 against San Jose State. However, they are coming off back-to-back losses, including a significant 63-3 defeat to the Michigan Wolverines. Despite their early setbacks, Central Michigan hopes to capitalize on their home-field advantage in this matchup.
Central Michigan vs Wagner At a Glance
- Game Week: Week 4 of the 2025 Regular Season
- Location: Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, MI
- Game Time: Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 1:00 PM
- TV Broadcast: ESPN+
- Wagner Seahawks Record: 0-1 for the season
- Betting Odds: Wagner +2500, Central Michigan -10000
Central Michigan Chippewas Set for a Key Showdown
Offensive Overview
Central Michigan’s offense ranks 81st in points for the current season, with a total of 36 points scored. The team has shown a stronger ground game, ranking 89th in rushing yards with 380, while their passing game lags at 123rd with 352 yards.
The Chippewas have managed to secure 41 first downs, placing them 46th in the nation. This indicates their ability to sustain drives despite challenges in aerial attacks.
Defensive Insights
Defensively, Central Michigan has struggled, allowing 122 points against, which ranks them 94th. Their pass rush has been effective with two sacks, placing them 13th nationally.
The defense has been opportunistic, recording four interceptions and one fumble recovery, ranking 5th in both categories. These turnovers can be pivotal in shifting momentum during games.
Recent Game Performance
The Chippewas have faced tough competition, recently losing to Michigan 63-3. In that game, their offense struggled significantly, achieving only eight first downs and accumulating just 142 yards combined in passing and rushing.
Prior to that, Central Michigan fell to Pittsburgh 45-17, where their passing game showed some promise with 177 yards. However, their rushing game was limited to just 51 yards.
Key Players
Angel Flores leads the quarterback unit, though his performance has been modest with 93 passing yards across three games. Joe Labas, another key QB, has thrown for 181 yards and one touchdown.
On the ground, Trey Cornist has amassed 128 rushing yards and one touchdown over three games. DeCorion Temple stands out among tight ends, contributing 36 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Upcoming Challenges
The Chippewas will next host the Wagner Seahawks at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. This home game presents an opportunity to bounce back and gain momentum for the season.
Subsequent home games against Eastern Michigan and Massachusetts could further test their capabilities. Road challenges include a trip to Akron, requiring resilience from Central Michigan.
Betting Trends
- ATS – Home Games: 3-0 in last 3 games (2024)
- SU – As Favorite: 17-9 in last 26 games (2020–2024)
- SU – Home Games: 15-8 in last 23 games (2021–2024)
- O/U – Totals ≥ 50: 11-6 in last 17 games (2022–2025)
- O/U – Away Games: 11-7 in last 18 games (2022–2025)
Wagner Seahawks: A Season of Challenges and Opportunities
Offensive Struggles
The Wagner Seahawks have had a challenging start to their 2025 season on offense. They rank 97th in points scored with only 7 points and sit at 195th in passing yards, recording a mere 90 yards. Their rushing game isn’t much better, with 54 yards placing them at 174th in the rankings.
These offensive struggles were evident in their recent game against Kansas, where they managed just 7 points. The Seahawks will need to find ways to improve their offensive production to compete effectively in upcoming games.
Defensive Performance
Defensively, the Seahawks have shown some promise despite their offensive struggles. They are ranked 31st in points allowed with 46 points, indicating a need for improvement in this area. On a positive note, their defense has been effective in creating turnovers, ranking 2nd in interceptions with 1 and 5th in fumbles recovered with 1.
The Seahawks will look to build on these defensive strengths as they prepare for future opponents. Limiting their opponents’ scoring opportunities will be crucial in achieving more favorable outcomes.
Key Players to Watch
Quarterback Jack Stevens leads the Seahawks with 90 passing yards and a touchdown in the season opener. Wide receiver Jeremiah Colclough made an impact with a touchdown and 45 receiving yards. On the ground, Andre Hines Jr. and Sekou Kamau are the leading rushers, though their production was limited in the first game.
These players will be pivotal in helping the Seahawks turn their season around. Improved performances from these key players could make a significant difference in upcoming games.
Recent Game Recap
In their recent game against Kansas, the Seahawks suffered a 46-7 defeat. They struggled offensively, managing only 6 first downs compared to Kansas’ 32. Wagner’s defense was overwhelmed, allowing 346 passing yards and 285 rushing yards to Kansas.
This game highlighted the areas where the Seahawks need to improve, particularly in both offensive and defensive facets. Addressing these weaknesses will be essential for success moving forward.
Betting Trends
- ATS – All Games: 2-1 (66.7%) in the last 3 games
- ATS – As Underdog: 2-1 (66.7%) in the last 3 games
- ATS – Away Games: 2-1 (66.7%) in the last 3 games
- ATS – After Loss: 2-1 (66.7%) in the last 3 games
- ATS – Totals ≥ 50: 2-1 (66.7%) in the last 3 games
- O/U – Totals ≥ 50: 3-5 (37.5%) in the last 8 games
- O/U – All Games: 3-6 (33.3%) in the last 9 games
- O/U – As Underdog: 3-6 (33.3%) in the last 9 games
- O/U – Away Games: 3-6 (33.3%) in the last 9 games
- O/U – After Loss: 2-5 (28.6%) in the last 7 games
- SU – All Games: 0-3 (0.0%) in the last 3 games
- SU – As Underdog: 0-3 (0.0%) in the last 3 games
- SU – Away Games: 0-3 (0.0%) in the last 3 games
- SU – After Loss: 0-3 (0.0%) in the last 3 games
- SU – Totals ≥ 50: 0-3 (0.0%) in the last 3 games
Central Michigan vs Wagner Prediction: Central Michigan -28.5
Central Michigan enters this game as a significant favorite with a spread of -28.5. The Chippewas have shown strong performance trends in home games, covering the spread in their last three home contests of 2024. This gives them a statistical edge against a Wagner team that has struggled on the road, currently holding an 0-1 away record this season.
Wagner’s offensive output has been limited, scoring only 7 points in their season opener. This offensive struggle, combined with Central Michigan’s home advantage and ability to cover large spreads, supports the expectation of a decisive victory by the Chippewas. Wagner’s defense has also allowed 46 points, indicating vulnerabilities that Central Michigan could exploit.
Central Michigan’s loss to Michigan in their previous game is unlikely to impact their performance negatively against a weaker opponent like Wagner. In fact, the Chippewas have shown resilience in bouncing back after losses, with a solid track record of 15-13 in straight-up games following a defeat from 2021 to 2025.
Given the disparity in both teams’ performances and the trends favoring Central Michigan in large spread home games, backing the Chippewas to cover the -28.5 spread appears to be the optimal pick. Expect Central Michigan to dominate, with a projected final score of Central Michigan 42 – Wagner 7.
- Central Michigan vs Wagner Prediction: Central Michigan -28.5
- Central Michigan vs Wagner Score: Central Michigan 42 – Wagner 7
