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Motor City Bowl        Dec. 26 7:30 p.m. ESPN

Purdue (7-5, 3-5) vs. Central Michigan (8-5, 6-1)

                                    Purdue                                                 CMU                          

Offensive Leaders         

Passing       Painter 321-515, 3,300 yards, 26 TDs    LeFevour 338-509, 3,360 yards, 23 TDs

Rushing      Sheets 156 att., 832 yards, 9 TDs         LeFevour 155 att., 1,008 yards, 17 TDs

Receiving     Bryant, 82 rec, 871 yards, 8 TDs            Anderson 83 rec. 1,003 yards, 7 TDs

Defensive Leaders

Tackles         Terrell Vinson- 78                                Thomas Keith- 139

Sacks           Cliff Avril- 6                                          Frank Zombo – 7.5

Int.              Terrell Vinson- 5                                  Josh Gordy- 4, 1 TD

These two teams matched up in week 3 of the college football season with Purdue coming out on top 45-22. Central Michigan head coach Butch Jones won the MAC in his first year as head coach of the Chippewas after leaving as an assistant at West Virginia and replacing Brian Kelly, who took the same position at Cincinnati. Boilermaker head coach Joe Tiller has managed to lead Purdue to yet another bowl game, their 10^th in 11 seasons. 

Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour is, in many respects, a poor man’s Tim Tebow. The sophomore has passed for more than 3,300 yards and, even more impressively, rushed for more than 1,000. LeFevour was virtually unstoppable this season passing for an average of 258 yards/game as well as rushing for an average of more than 77 yards/game. His leading target for much of the season was fellow sophomore Bryan Anderson who totaled 83 receptions for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns.    

Purdue is led by quarterback Curtis Painter who passed for 3,300 yards and 26 touchdowns and his favorite target Dorien Bryant (82 rec., 871 yards, 8 TDs). The key just might be running back Kory Sheets and his 832 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. If he can develop a rhythm in the backfield and give the Boilermakers a double threat on offense, it will keep Dan LeFevour and the vaunted Chippewas offense off the field. 

If there is one thing the Chippewas have struggled at this season, it has been their inability to stop the opposition. In addition to allowing 45 points to Purdue in the two teams’ meeting earlier this season, Central Michigan allowed 44 to North Dakota State, 70 to Clemson and 48 to Eastern Michigan. At least if Purdue’s defense gives up some points, there offense should seemingly be able to keep up. 

Purdue 38       Central Michigan 24

Tags: college football preview