FBS-CFB Game Preview: Central Michigan Chippewas (1-0) vs. Pittsburgh Panthers (1-0)

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Venue & Kickoff

Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025

Time: 12:00 PM ET

Broadcast: ESPNU

Capacity: 68,400

Surface: Natural Grass

Weather Forecast

Conditions: Patchy clouds, warm

Temperature: ~70°F at kickoff

Wind: WNW at 10 mph, gusts up to 12 mph

Precipitation: ~28% chance of light rain

Impact: Mild breeze could slightly affect deep passing; otherwise favorable

Injury Report

Central Michigan

No reported injuries

Pittsburgh

No reported injuries

Team Records & Recent Form

CMU: Run-heavy offense (236 rush yds in opener), minimal passing (8 attempts total)

PITT: Explosive opener with 460 total yards, 13 different receivers caught passes

Key Player Matchups

QB Angel Flores / Joe Labas (CMU) vs. QB Eli Holstein (PITT)

Flores: 3/3, 59 yds; 12 rushes, 30 yds

Labas: 5/10, 56 yds

Holstein: 15/23, 215 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT; 41 rush yds

RB Nahree Biggins & Trey Cornist (CMU) vs. LB Kyle Louis (PITT)

Biggins: 102 yds on 18 carries

Cornist: 99 yds, 1 TD on 13 carries

Louis: 6 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks in opener

WR Tommy McIntosh (CMU) vs. CB Cruce Brookins (PITT)

McIntosh: 2 rec, 61 yds

Brookins: 5 tackles vs. Duquesne

RB Desmond Reid (PITT) vs. CMU Front Seven

Reid: 66 rush yds, 1 TD; 8.3 YPC

Series History

First-ever meeting between Central Michigan and Pittsburgh

PITT is 34–6 all-time vs. MAC opponents

Betting Trends

Pittsburgh: 1–0 ATS in 2025; every game has gone OVER this season

Central Michigan: 1–0 ATS in 2025; UNDER in opener

PITT as ≥20-pt favorite: 2–0 SU last season

CMU vs. Power 5 since 2021: 1–5 SU, 3–3 ATS

Game Odds

Central Michigan Chippewas      49.5

Pittsburgh Panthers                        – 21.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 5, 2025