2010 GMAC Bowl Predictions: Central Michigan v. Troy Football Odds & Picks
The 11-2 Central Michigan Chippewas take on the 9-3 Troy Trojans on Wednesday, January 6th on ESPN in the 2010 edition of the GMAC Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. NCAA football odds makers have listed Central Michigan as a 3-point favorite with the total set at 63.
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Coach Butch Jones put the Chippewas on the map, but he won’t be around to help them win the GMAC Bowl after accepting a coaching position at Cincinnati. Jones had led the Chipps to a 27-13 mark in three seasons while bringing in a spread offense that took the MAC by storm. This offense averaged 32.6 points under Jones and broke the 45-point mark five times this season. Another thing Jones was able to accomplish was getting Central Michigan into the Top 25 for the first time. The Chipps enter this game ranked No. 25 after defeated Ohio in the MAC title game.
With Jones already handling recruiting duties for the Bearcats, assistant coach Steve Stripling will coach the Chippewas in their bowl game. Stripling is no spring chicken with 30 years of coaching experience.
While Central Michigan won’t have Jones on the sideline, it should still have a pretty good shot to win with record-setting QB Dan LeFevour on the field. LeFevour has thrown 27 touchdowns and rushed for 14 more this season for 147 career scores. That number is the new standard in college football as LeFevour was able to overtake Hawaii’s Colt Brennan and Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell.
With a record-setting quarterback sometimes comes a record-setting receiver. Bryan Anderson is that wideout. He has caught at least one pass in 53 straight games to set a new NCAA mark. Anderson has 57 grabs for 700 yards and six scores on the season. But LeFevour’s favorite target remains Antonio Brown, who has a team-high 97 grabs for 1,020 yards and nine touchdowns. It is worth noting that the Chippewas are 8-1-2 ATS in their last 11 games as a favorite of 3.0 points or less. If you like the Chipps to take care of business in the small chalk again Wednesday, bet Central Michigan at -3 at Bodog.
While Central Michigan boasts an explosive offense, Troy may have an offensive unit capable of keeping pace. The Trojans averaged 33.1 points per game this season and really turned it on down the stretch, scoring 41.2 points over their last six. The late offensive surge helped them earn at least a share of the Sun Belt crown for a fourth straight season.
And Dan LeFevour isn’t the only record-setting QB playing in this game. Troy QB Levi Brown’s 3,868 passing yards are the most in the history of the Sun Belt Conference. In fact, his 322.3 passing yards per game this season are good for the second-highest tally in the country. Brown has also recorded a record 153 wins at Troy.
Running back Shawn Southward is often the beneficiary of teams dropping too many players back in pass coverage in an attempt to take away what Troy does best. Southward was one of the top freshman backs in the nation with 10 rushing scores and 574 yards gained on just 100 carries. He shares carries with DuJuan Harris, who racked up 471 yards. The Trojans enter this contest on an 8-2 ATS run. If you like the Trojans to keep cashing tickets for their backers, bet Troy at +3 at Bodog.
Score the cash Wednesday night with winning football picks on the college gridiron from World Champion handicapper Jimmy Boyd.
