Purdue 7-5 (3-5), 7th Big Ten
vs
Central Michigan 8-5 (6-1), 1st Mid-American - West
December 26, 7:30PM, ESPN
For the second time this bowl season, we will see a game between two teams that played earlier in the year. The first one, the Las Vegas Bowl, was a thriller that came down to the end, so let's hope that the Motor City Bowl rematch gives us the same excitement. Purdue started the season 5-0, which included a 45-22 victory over Central Michigan on September 15. Since that time the Boilermakers went 2-5. On the other hand, the Chippewas won 7 of their last 9 games including the Mid American Conference championship game.
It is the same story each year for the Boilermakers, they start out the year on a tear, but when it comes to play the boys of the Big Ten, they crumble under the pressure. Purdue uses the short passes instead of rushes and they are led by quarterback Curtis Painter. Painter has thrown for 3300 yards with 26 touchdowns. He has one of the biggest threat receivers in the nation in Dorien Bryant. Bryant is a threat catching the ball and in the return game. Dustin Keller provides a good complement to Bryant in the receiving core. Their defense is average against the run but a little below average against pass giving up over 235 yards per game. The pass defense will see a serious test when going against the Chippewas.
There is one name that comes to mind when talking about Central Michigan, that is duel threat quarterback Dan LeFevour. Not only does he lead the team in passing with over 3300 yards and 23 touchdowns, but he is the Chippewas' leading rusher with over 1000 yards on the ground and 17 touchdowns. Unfortunately for the Chippewas' their weakness on defense is Purdue's strength. Central Michigan ranks 111th in the country in pass defense, 106th in total defense, and 107th in scoring defense giving up almost 36 points per game.
If you like offense, I think the Motor City Bowl will be for you. Purdue has shown at times that they can play defense but for the most part their bend but don't break defense yields at least 24 points per game. Central Michigan has played 3 teams that are in bowl games (plus lost to FCS North Dakota State) and beat 1 while Purdue played 6 and beat only 1. The game will be more competitive than the last one where the Boilermakers won by over 20 points, but with the holes in the secondary of the Chippewas, they are going to have a difficult time keeping up on the scoreboard with Purdue.
Purdue 41 Central Michigan 35
Picking Purdue to Win (78%)
ITB Brian Sakowski, Football Frontier, Sportsbone TV, Rizzo Sports, Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician, The Enlightened Spartan, Pitch Right, ITB Ron Juckett, Corn Nation, MizzouRAH, The LSC Scoop, Matt Kieta, Jeff Brancolini, Sunny Verma, Lorena The Dodgerchick, Jason Stiver, Cyril Tircuit, Pete Boivin, Rodney Polston, Greg Gowins, Brian Isaacson, Brant Chruscial, Dan Schoonover, Logan Jaffe, Richard Dixon
Picking Central Michigan to Win (22%)
MidWest Coast Bias, Bastard Sons of Pinfall Marks, Kansas It's Football Time, ITB Charlie Swager, Lou Nemec, Mrs Corn Nation, Timmy B
