College Football Viewer's Guide: Motor City Bowl

After a two-day break, the bowl season resumes with tonight’s Motor City Bowl, featuring a rematch between the Purdue Boilermakers (7-5) and Central Michigan Chippewas (7-5). In the regular season matchup between the two schools, the Boilermakers blew by Central Michigan in a 45-22 home victory that improved Purdue to 3-0. Since then, the Boilermakers have struggled, while Central Michigan rebounded to win its conference. Things are much different this time around.

For Purdue, junior Curtis Painter (left) led the offense with 26 touchdown passes and over 3300 yards passing. He really showed improvement from his erratic sophomore season, but struggled down he stretch. After a fast start to the season, and a national ranking, Purdue tanked during the season’s final three games, losing them all. Painter threw more interceptions than touchdowns in losses to Penn State, Michigan State, and Indiana. Dorien Bryant was his favorite target, catching 82 passes and eight touchdowns, but like Painter, he struggled mightily down the stretch. He only averaged 45 yards receiving in the final three games, and failed to catch a touchdown pass.

Despite those struggles, Purdue still has an explosive offense that will find plenty of opportunities against Central Michigan’s mediocre defense. The Chippewas allow 450 yards a game, and have been burned by both the pass and run throughout the year. Running back Kory Sheets ran for a season-high 144 yards in Purdue’s win over Central Michigan, but he hasn’t run for over 100 yards in two months. Purdue should look to Sheets early until Central Michigan can show they can stop the run. A big game for Sheets could really open things up for Painter and Joe Tiller’s imaginative passing game.

Central Michigan finished with the best record in MAC, finishing 6-1 in league while winning seven of their last nine games. The Chippewas had an explosive offense to match its shoddy defense, finishing 21st in total offense and scoring 34 points a game. Quarterback Dan LeFevour (right) is probably the closest thing to Tim Tebow in the nation, other than the Heisman Trophy winner himself. The sophomore was the only quarterback in America that threw for over 3000 yards and ran for over 1000. LeFevour accounted for 40 touchdowns during the year, 23 passing and 17 running. His explosiveness as a threat running has really begun to emerge in the season’s final three weeks, and will be something Purdue needs to be prepared for that wasn’t as much of a factor in the first meeting.

LeFevour has found wide receivers Antonio Brown and Bryan Anderson throughout the season. Brown has 98 catches for 909 yards and five touchdowns and Anderson has 83 catches, 1003 yards and seven touchdowns. Together they have formed one of the nation’s most underrated wide receiver duos. The pair combined for 19 catches for 199 yards, but failed to score a touchdown. LeFevour, Brown, and Anderson will work hard to make sure they can get into the end zone this time.

Entering this game, Central Michigan aims to win a second consecutive Motor City Bowl, and Purdue tries to put a good end to what has turned into a disappointing season. This time around though, Central Michigan will show the Boilermakers how much they’ve improved, and LeFevour will show the nation just how good he really is.

The Pick: Central Michigan in a game where LeFevour dominates

Update: The Chippewas amazing comeback came close, but Purdue barely held onto a 34-13 lead to win 51-48 on a second consecutive game-ending field goal in the bowls.
Overall: 4-3