We have said for years that rest benefits teams that need it the most. Ball State was in a nice groove. The extra time off is not a good thing for them. CMU got 18 days rest. That is perfect because they completed a four-game stretch: three straight road games at NC State, at Miami Ohio, at Ohio, then home to best team in MAC Northern Illinois. But that makes CMU a perfect baptism by fire team.

What this means is a team takes their lumps in a brutal stretch, comes out a better team, but grossly undervalued because of the beating they took. They also played at Michigan.

So you can see why this team will benefit from the rest. In addition, they have two freshmen thrown into starting roles because of injury, but who are getting better. Freshman QB Cooper Rush has shown flashes, but will be better for the wear.

CMU lost RB Zurlon Tipton, star RB after four carries in Game 1 but has finally found a very capable replacement. Saylor Lavallii has 758 yards rushing.

Central has played 5-of-8 on the road including two to BCS conference teams. With the rest timed perfectly, they just may be the ultimate baptism by fire team.