VS.

With the first national ranking in their history but without the coach who led them there, the No. 25 Chippewas will face Sun Belt Conference champion Troy on Jan. 6 at the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

7:00 PM ET, January 6, 2010
LADD PEEBLES STADIUM, MOBILE, AL
ESPN

Central Michigan Chippewas finished their season with a record of 11-2 and they are Mid-American Conference Champions for the third time in four seasons, with the last two titles coming under Jones. The coach posted a 27-13 record in his three seasons, marked by a spread offense that averaged 32.6 points during his tenure and exceeded 45 points five times in 2009. A 20-10 victory over Ohio in the MAC championship game vaulted the Chippewas into the Top 25 for the first time. After that success, No. 4 Cincinnati came calling. Faced with a coaching vacancy after Brian Kelly left for Notre Dame, the Bearcats tabbed Jones for the job. Associate coach Steve Stripling will lead the Chippewas on an interim basis. The Chippewas may no longer have the coach who installed their high-powered offense, but they still have the record-setting quarterback who makes it run. QB Dan LeFevour has thrown for 27 touchdowns and run for 14 to bring his career total to 147 TDs passing, rushing and receiving. That sets the major college football mark, previously shared by Hawaii’s Colt Brennan and Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell. Having a record-setting receiver to target also helps. Senior WR Bryan Anderson has caught at least one pass in an NCAA record 53 consecutive games, and has 57 receptions for 700 yards and six touchdowns this season. Junior WR Antonio Brown, meanwhile, has team highs of 97 catches, 1,020 yards and nine scores. Other players involved un offense are QB Ryan Radcliff and RB Bryan Schroeder. It is the perfect scenario to finish a great season, the offensive line is simply unstoppable.

Troy Trojans finished their season with a record of 9-3 and on top of the Sun Belt Conference. The Trojans averaged 33.1 points per game and 41.2 points over the last 6 games which is impressive. They have won the Sunbelt title 4 years in a row and that is a clear indicator that they can keep the pace at this bowl. They also boast a record-setting quarterback of their own. Senior QB Levi Brown ranks second in the nation with 322.3 passing yards per game, and his 3,868 yards were the most in the history of both Troy and the Sun Belt. Also when Brown isn’t throwing the ball, he’s often handing it off to RB Shawn Southward. The running back ranked fifth in the nation among freshmen with 10 rushing touchdowns and gained 574 yards on 100 carries. He’s taken some of the workload away from junior RB DuJuan Harris, whose production fell from 1,077 rushing yards in 2008 to 471. Troy lost in overtime to Southern Miss in the New Orleans Bowl following last season. The Trojans earned their lone bowl victory in three tries in 2006, beating Rice at the New Orleans Bowl. Troy could be a real headache in offense, other players involved in the strategy are WR Jerrel Jernigan and WR Tebiarus Gill but mainly they will run the ball first and throw later.

GAME ODDS

CENTRAL MICHIGAN -3˝
TROY 63

THIS GAME WILL BE A WIDE OPEN SCORING FIESTA. BOTH TEAMS PRESENT SOLID OFFENSIVE LINES AND GREAT QBS. THE RUNNING GAME THAT BOTH TEAMS USE WILL BE THE KEY FOR THE SUCCESS. MY PICK WILL BE CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS -3˝.

CHECK OUR LATEST ODDS ON NCAA COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWLS AND OUR BONUS PROMOTIONS AT GAMBLERS PALACE SPORTSBOOK & CASINO.