2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl Betting Lines
The state of Michigan will be represented in its own bowl game. The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, being held at Ford Field in Detroit, will be a home away from home this year, as Western Michigan of the Mid-American Conference takes on Purdue of the Big Ten December 27.
This will mark the third all-time meeting between the schools, with the last meeting in 2002. Purdue won both meetings at home – 28-13 in 1993 and 28-24 in 2002. 2.5 60
Looking at the latest college football odds, Purdue is favored by 2.5 points, while the total has been posted at 60 points.
Western Michigan
The Broncos won three of their last four games to finish third in the MAC West Division (5-3). The team is coming off a 63-19 win over Akron. Three of the team’s five losses have been decided by a total of 10 points. The team is 5-2 in its home state, posting a 5-0 home record and dropping games at Michigan and Eastern Michigan.
WMU is one of the more potent offensive teams in the nation, ranking 18th in scoring offense (36 points per game) while recording 456 yards per game (329 passing, 127 rushing). Alex Carder directs the offense by completing 67 percent of his passes for 3,434 yards and 28 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. The offensive line has given up 22 sacks.
Jordan White is the favorite receiving target, listing as one of the national leaders with 127 catches (more than twice anyone else on the team) for 1,646 yards and 16 TDs, while Tevin Drake anchors the run game with 570 yards and four TDs with 5.6 yards per carry.
Defensively, the Broncos rank 72nd in points allowed (28 ppg), surrendering 434 yards per game (218 passing, 216 rushing), recording 26 sacks and forcing 27 turnovers – with one converted to a TD (Doug Wiggins, interception).
Johnnie Simon leads the unit with 103 tackles (19 more than anyone else), adding 2.5 sacks and two interceptions, while Drew Nowak has 8.5 sacks, 83 tackles, two forced fumbles, two blocked kicks and a fumble recovery.
Purdue
The Boilermakers did not win more than one game at a time in 2011, but finished the regular season with a 33-25 win at intrastate rival Indiana to finish third in the Big Ten Leaders Division. Purdue is 1-4 away from home, dropping the first four dates outside of West Lafayette.
Purdue ranks 65th nationally in points allowed (26 ppg), surrendering 389 yards per game (203 passing, 186 rushing) while recording 21 sacks and forcing 14 turnovers – two of which converted to TDs (Brandon Taylor, fumble recovery; Ricardo Allen, interception).
Dwayne Beckford leads the defense with 91 tackles, adding three sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a recovery, while Joe Holland adds 85 stops, 1.5 sacks and a pick. Kawann Short has 6.5 sacks, 53 tackles, two forced fumbles and a recovery, while Allen has three picks along with 72 tackles, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.
On offense, Purdue ranks 69th nationally in points scored (26 ppg), compiling 372 yards per game (197 passing, 175 rushing). Caleb TerBush has completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,804 yards and 12 TDs and six interceptions. The offensive line has given up 27 sacks.
Justin Siller and A Edison are the top receiving targets with 88 combined receptions for 994 yards and four TDs, while Ralph Bolden leads the running game with 674 yards with six TDs on 4.6 yards per carry.
