Motor City Bowl

[The Judge]

3* - Middle Tennessee State (+8)
There is no doubt that Central Michigan is the better of these two teams but how excited can they really be about this game? The MAC Champions have been rewarded by getting to take a bus ride in the cold back to the same stadium where they played their last game nearly a month ago. In that game the Chippewas beat Ohio 31-10 but only two weeks earlier they fell to Northern Illinois by the exact same score and I think we all saw last week when the Huskies played TCU just how good of a team they are not. Additionally, in a move that shocked the team, HC Brian Kelly has since taken the top job at Cincinnati and will not be on the sidelines for this one. Consider this quote from just two weeks ago by QB Dan LeFevour: "We have a lot of guys returning next year, not to mention Coach Kelly, so you can't help but be excited." Hmmmm . . . .

Middle Tennessee on the other hand, is thrilled to be playing in their first bowl game since joining Division 1-A ten years ago and no other program has made it to a bowl so quickly after making the jump. While the Blue Raiders record is just 7-5, they have played some tough competition this season. Sure they were outscored 159-24 against Maryland, South Carolina, Louisville and Oklahoma, but they allowed the other eight teams they played this season to score a total of only 71 points.

While the Chips have a size advantage over the Raiders, they have not defended the run well this season. Little Garret Wolfe of Northern Illinois had a season best 203 yards rushing against this team and Michigan ran for 252 yards against them in week two. While the Raiders don?t have a Mike Hart on their team, they do have two solid running backs in Gross and McNair who are both averaging 4.4 yards per carry. All purpose freshman Gee has seemingly done it all by running, catching and even passing for a touchdown this season and has scored a TD in each of the last six games.

The line on this game opened at 11 with most offshore books despite the fact that Las Vegas Sports Consultants? initial recommendation was 8. Since then it has been bet down to as low as 7? in some places and you can be sure that it has not been the wagers of recreational players that have caused the huge line move.

 

[Dead Money]

Game breakdown.....hard to see Midten keeping up..

Game breakdown.....hard to see Midten keeping up..

Home > Motor City Bowl
Game breakdown: Prediction: 45-21 CMU
Sports editor David Harris breaks down the Dec. 26
Quarterback Dan LeFevour won the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year award for his performance this season. He has thrown for 2,869 yards and a school-record 25 touchdown passes as a redshirt freshman.



Quarterbacks

CMU's Dan LeFevour was spectacular in the Mid-American Conference Championship game. He was 22-of-30 for 314 yards and three touchdowns. He had great touch on the deep ball and threw catchable balls on short passes.

Middle Tennessee State's Clint Marks has thrown for just 1,666 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions this season.

Advantage: CMU. LeFevour is a special player. Luckily for CMU, he is just a freshman.

Running backs

MTSU uses three backs. Eugene Cross, DeMarco McNair and Desmond Gee combined for 1,672 yards and 21 touchdowns. Cross leads the way with 845 yards and 10 touchdowns.

CMU's Ontario Sneed and Marcel Archer don't see too many carries. Sneed has rushed for 716 yards, while Archer has 309 yards. LeFevour is a threat to run the ball anytime.

Advantage: MTSU. There is no one featured, but the three Blue Raider running backs outclass Sneed and Archer.

CMU offensive line vs. MTSU front seven

Four CMU offensive lineman were named to the All-Mid-American Conference team. They do an excellent job of protecting LeFevour. Senior tackle Joe Staley likely will be an early-round NFL draft pick.

MTSU has done a nice job stuffing the run, allowing just 117 yards per game. They also put pressure on the quarterback with 33 sacks on the year.

Advantage: CMU. Central's unit rarely gets dominated up front, and it likely won't happen this time.

MTSU offensive line vs. CMU front seven

The Blue Raiders are a run-first team, averaging 137 yards per game. They also protect Marks well, allowing just 25 sacks on the season. Franklin Dunbar and Germayle Franklin both made second-team All-Sun Belt honors.

CMU shut down run-oriented Ohio in the MAC title game. Linebackers Doug Kress and Red Keith and defensive linemen Dan Bazuin and Steven Friend are better than any MTSU has seen.

Advantage: CMU. This is the best defensive front CMU has had in a long time.

CMU receivers vs. MTSU secondary

Damien Linson was named the MAC title game Most Valuable Player for his seven-catch, 191-yard performance. Bryan Anderson and Obed Cetoute chipped in with 111 combined receiving yards.

The Blue Raiders surrender 207.8 yards per game. Safety Damon Nickson leads the team with five interceptions. Reggie Daucet leads the way with eight pass break-ups.

Advantage: CMU. Linson will be comfortable on the Ford Field turf.

MTSU receivers vs. CMU secondary

MTSU doesn't pass a whole lot. Bobby Williams

is the leading receiver with 33 receptions for 357 yards. The team has just nine touchdown receptions.

Corner Pacino Horne is expected to return after missing the MAC title game. Horne has shown his abilities, while a young unit has flourished around him.

Advantage: CMU. The secondary will come up and help against the run.

Special teams

CMU's Tony Mikulec averages 41.6 yards per punt and has put 19 punts inside the 20-yard line. Brett Hartmann handles most of the kickoff duties and has just three touchbacks in 44 tries.

MTSU's Nixon is fourth in the nation, averaging 29.95 yards on kick returns. He has scored two touchdowns. Kicker Colby Smith is 8-of-12 on field goals with a long of 48 yards.

Advantage: MTSU. Nixon is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.

Coaching

MTSU's Rick Stockstill has taken the Blue Raiders to their first ever Division I-A bowl game in school history. Before coming to MTSU he was an assistant at South Carolina, East Carolina and Clemson.

Interim head coach Jeff Quinn will coach his first career game. Quinn has been an assistant under Kelly since 1989.

Advantage: MTSU. This will be one big debut for Quinn.

Bottom line

By the time this game is played, Brian Kelly leaving will be a long afterthought. These players want to show they can win without Kelly and do it on their own.

 

[Flex]

Boise State

Boise State

Boise State made it to a bowl game quicker!!

 

[vinnie]

you can still get +9 at pinnacle

 

[PharoahUB]

3* - Middle Tennessee State (+8)
There is no doubt that Central Michigan is the better of these two teams but how excited can they really be about this game? The MAC Champions have been rewarded by getting to take a bus ride in the cold back to the same stadium where they played their last game nearly a month ago. In that game the Chippewas beat Ohio 31-10 but only two weeks earlier they fell to Northern Illinois by the exact same score and I think we all saw last week when the Huskies played TCU just how good of a team they are not. Additionally, in a move that shocked the team, HC Brian Kelly has since taken the top job at Cincinnati and will not be on the sidelines for this one. Consider this quote from just two weeks ago by QB Dan LeFevour: "We have a lot of guys returning next year, not to mention Coach Kelly, so you can't help but be excited." Hmmmm . . . .

Middle Tennessee on the other hand, is thrilled to be playing in their first bowl game since joining Division 1-A ten years ago and no other program has made it to a bowl so quickly after making the jump. While the Blue Raiders record is just 7-5, they have played some tough competition this season. Sure they were outscored 159-24 against Maryland, South Carolina, Louisville and Oklahoma, but they allowed the other eight teams they played this season to score a total of only 71 points.

While the Chips have a size advantage over the Raiders, they have not defended the run well this season. Little Garret Wolfe of Northern Illinois had a season best 203 yards rushing against this team and Michigan ran for 252 yards against them in week two. While the Raiders don?t have a Mike Hart on their team, they do have two solid running backs in Gross and McNair who are both averaging 4.4 yards per carry. All purpose freshman Gee has seemingly done it all by running, catching and even passing for a touchdown this season and has scored a TD in each of the last six games.

The line on this game opened at 11 with most offshore books despite the fact that Las Vegas Sports Consultants? initial recommendation was 8. Since then it has been bet down to as low as 7? in some places and you can be sure that it has not been the wagers of recreational players that have caused the huge line move.

i like the play and your logic. alot of people getting too confident with these favs after hawaii last night. MAC has already shown there true colors in the NIU game. The conference is weak this year. And this is CMU right? The same team that lost to my lowl bulls team 2 years ago

I also like that this is midd tenn first bowl game since they joined D-1. Your right, they will be really motivated. good luck to us