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2008 Motor City Bowl Predictions – Florida Atlantic v. Central Michigan Football Odds & Picks

Written by Jimmy Boyd on December 22, 2008

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Central Michigan is a 6.5-point favorite with the total set at 64 when it takes on Florida Atlantic in its home state in the 2008 Motor City Bowl on December 26, 2008.

The Chippewas suffered back-to-back disappointing losses to end the 2008 regular season on a sour note. They’ll look to bounce back to wash the sour taste of defeat out of their mouth. Central Michigan has guaranteed itself a fourth straight winning season and has earned its fifth postseason berth while playing at the FBS level. The 8-4 Chippewas will likely make themselves at home as they will be competing in the Motor City Bowl for the third straight year. The Chips are only 1-3 all-time in bowl games. Butch Jones led his team to this game last season, only to fall to Purdue 51-48 on a last second field goal.

This season did not pan out the way Central Michigan had dreamed it up. Its two-year reign atop the MAC West was ended with a 31-24 home loss to Ball State. Nine days late, the Chippewas were upset 56-52 by rival Eastern Michigan. They have not lost three in a row since 2004.

Florida Atlantic was expected to rule the Sun Belt Conference this season, but it got off to a horrid 1-5 start. The Owls fought their way back, winning five of their last six games to become bowl eligible by the skin of their teeth. A 57-50 overtime against Florida International in their regular season finale to become bowl eligible is what I mean when I say “by the skin of their teeth”.

Considering last season’s Motor City Bowl and each of these team’s regular season finales, the 2008 Motor City Bowl could be another shootout. With the total set at 64, college football odds makers are certainly expecting some points to be scored.

Central Michigan’s offense has been potent all season long. It ranks 24th in the FBS with 427.1 yards per game. The Chippewas are led by QB Dan LeFevour, who finished third in the MAC with 253.1 passing yards per game. LeFevour has proven to be one hell of a player in his career. He is a three-time all-MAC selection and won the 2006 Motor City Bowl MVP award. Injuries slowed him a bit this season, but this is a guys who ranked up over 3,000 passing yards and 26 touchdowns in each of the previous two seasons to lead CMU to back-to-back MAC titles. LeFevour is a QB which can get the job done on the ground as well. He finished as CMU’s leading rusher in 2008 with 536 yards and six scores.

A name you can plan on hearing often in this game is Antonio Brown. Brown is LeFevour’s top target. He caught a team-leading 82 passes for 906 yards and six touchdowns. He is also a big weapon in special team, leading the entire country with a 20.7 punt return average. If you like the Chippewas in their home state, bet Central Michigan at -6.5 at Bookmaker and receive a 20% cash sign up bonus.

The legendary Howard Schnellenberger has built the Florida Atlantic team into a formidable force in the Sun Belt Conference in a short period of time. The Owls have only has a football team since 1998. The 74-year-old Schnellenberger, who won a national title with Miami in 1983 after defeating Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, has seen the program make huge strides in just their fourth year as a FBS member. The Owls won the Sun Belt Conference last season and went on to bear Memphis in the New Orleans Bowl for the school’s first ever bowl victory. Schnellenberger is 5-0 all-time in bowl games, winning two each with Miami and Louisville.

Defensively, linebacker Frantz Joseph, second in the nation with 141 tackles, leads the charge for the Owls. Offensively, its the Rusty Smith show. The junior QB led the Sun Belt with 2,918 yards and 22 touchdowns. He hooks up with Cortez Gent early and often. Gent had 837 yards and eight scores this season. Smith is also though to be a pro prospect. If you like Schnellenberger to remain perfect in bowl games, bet Florida Atlantic at +6.5 at Bookmaker.

Do you college football betting on Jimmy Boyd’s football picks this bowl season for the most winners in the industry bar none!

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