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NY Times : Motor City Bowl Predictions...

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"At least there is one thing we know the city of Detroit does well: Make cars Put together a decent bowl game. The 2007 Motor City Bowl, for example, was perhaps the bowl season’s best game, a 51-48 shootout between Purdue and Central Michigan that ended up going for the Boilermakers. While this game does bring the Chippewas back to Ford Field for the third straight season, their matchup with the F.A.U. Owls does not necessarily have you shooing the in-laws out of the house by 7:30 Friday so you can watch the game. If there is a scale of watch-ability, put this game at around a 3: well below Tuesday night’s Poinsettia Bowl, but better than Sunday’s Independence Bowl.

The Motor City Bowl: Friday, Dec. 26, 7:30 p.m. in Detroit


Florida Atlantic

Let’s give credit to Florida Atlantic for participating in its second consecutive bowl game, an impressive feat for such a young program (founded in 2001; part of the F.B.S. since 2005). While this year’s .500 finish fell short of last season’s 8-5 mark and the preseason expectations, F.A.U. is a program on the rise. Troy was able to reclaim the Sun Belt crown after ceding it to the Owls in 2007, but expect the two schools to battle it out on a yearly basis for conference supremacy. The junior quarterback Rusty Smith, whose numbers took a dip after winning conference player of the year honors in 2007 (10 less touchdowns, 5 more interceptions), is the face of the program. The senior Frantz Joseph, a Boston College transfer, is one of the best F.B.S. linebackers you’ve never heard of.

Central Michigan

Only a pair of late season losses – each by a touchdown or less – prevented Central Michigan from playing for its third straight MAC championship. Certainly, a dinged-up Dan LeFevour (who missed two full games to injury) hurt its chances, but it was evident fairly early in the season that this C.M.U. team was not as strong as in the past two seasons. A late-season loss at home to Ball State (by 31-24) officially eliminated it from the MAC title hunt. While LeFevour is the heart and soul of the offense, it is the sophomore receiver Antonio Brown (82 receptions; 102 as a freshman) who is making a run at the N.C.A.A. record books. On defense, the sophomore safety Bobby Seay finished second on the team in tackles (76) while also performing well as a lefty specialist.

Florida Atlantic Bowl History

Record: 1-0

Last appearance: 2007 New Orleans Bowl vs. Memphis (W, 44-27)

Central Michigan Bowl History


Record: 1-3

Last appearance: 2007 Motor City Bowl vs. Purdue (L, 51-48)

Motor City Bowl History
First played in 1997

Last year: Purdue 51, Central Michigan 48

Bowl Pick ‘Em

Pete: Central Michigan. Giving up 50 points to Florida International isn’t a good sign. But at least Florida Atlantic got to leave dreary Boca Raton for Detroit this holiday season.

Thayer: Central Michigan. The only highlight for Owls will be seeing snow.

Paul: Central Michigan: The Chippewas are the better team, but it’s great to see Florida Atlantic in back-to-back bowl games.

Fred: Central Michigan. I’ve got a LeFevour and the only thing that can cure it is more cowbell. Sorry. I do like the Chippewas though, mainly because The New York Times’s own Wayne Kamidoi is an alumni who is forever rooting for the Chips.

Connor: Central Michigan. It’s not often that a team from Michigan has a home-field advantage against a team from Florida in a bowl game."

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Re: NY Times : Motor City Bowl Predictions...

NY Times : Motor City Bowl Predictions...

Florida_Owl said

Fred: Central Michigan. I’ve got a LeFevour and the only thing that can cure it is more cowbell.

Actually, I have a much better cure – more OWLBELL!

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Re: NY Times : Motor City Bowl Predictions...

Lm77 said

Florida_Owl said

Fred: Central Michigan. I’ve got a LeFevour and the only thing that can cure it is more cowbell.

Actually, I have a much better cure – more OWLBELL!




How on earth did i miss that when i previewed it??

:D
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Re: NY Times : Motor City Bowl Predictions...

Pete: Central Michigan. Giving up 50 points to Florida International isn’t a good sign. But at least Florida Atlantic got to leave dreary Boca Raton for Detroit this holiday season.

Huh? What? Uh, Huh? Dreary Boca Raton for Detroit?

FAU - THE REAL SLEEPING GIANT
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Re: NY Times : Motor City Bowl Predictions...

illinoisowl said

Pete: Central Michigan. Giving up 50 points to Florida International isn’t a good sign. But at least Florida Atlantic got to leave dreary Boca Raton for Detroit this holiday season.

Huh? What? Uh, Huh? Dreary Boca Raton for Detroit?

Pretty sure it was sarcasm  ;D

Florida_Owl said

Let’s give credit to Florida Atlantic for participating in its second consecutive bowl game, an impressive feat for such a young program (founded in 2001; part of the F.B.S. since 2005). While this year’s .500 finish fell short of last season’s 8-5 mark and the preseason expectations, F.A.U. is a program on the rise… Only a pair of late season losses – each by a touchdown or less – prevented Central Michigan from playing for its third straight MAC championship… early in the season that this C.M.U. team was not as strong as in the past two seasons. A late-season loss at home to Ball State (by 31-24) officially eliminated it from the MAC title hunt… N.C.A.A. record books.

Great quote: "F.A.U. is a program on the rise."

Not news by any means but still great to hear.

Interesting to see which abbreviations deserve dots (F.A.U., N.C.A.A., etc) and which ones don't (MAC) in the New York Times…  8)
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