Benedict's record outruns its ratings against Central State OH

Benedict's 8-1 record and Central State OH's 6-3 mark suggest a mismatch, but Versus has the two SIAC teams graded almost identically. Benedict sits at a B- in power with a divisional rank of 70, and Central State OH checks in right behind at B- and 75th, a gap the win totals don't capture.

The separation shows up inside the numbers rather than on top of them. Central State OH carries a B+ offense ranked 52nd in D2 but a C+ defense down at 90th, and its strength of schedule rank of 118 raises questions about how that 6-3 record was built. Benedict is built the other way, a B defense at 61st paired with a C+ offense at 85th, and its own schedule rank of 157 is even softer. Both teams arrive hot, too. Central State OH has won its last five games while putting real distance between itself and those opponents, and Benedict has done the same over its own five-game run, a streak that includes five wins this season by 21 points or more.

This one counts in the SIAC standings, and Benedict has had the Marauders' number lately, winning four straight in the series and five of the last six meetings. Versus still projects a tight finish, with Benedict favored 29-25 and given a 58 percent win probability, numbers that fit two teams playing their best football at the same time.