2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl Primer

2011
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl Primer

Michigan
will have one of it’s own in its bowl game this year. The Little Caesars Pizza
Bowl, taking place 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 on Dec. 27.

This
will mark the 3rd all-time meeting between the schools, with the previous
meeting in 2002. Purdue won both matchups at home 28-13 in 1993 and 28-24 in
2002.

Looking
at the latest Caesars Bowl odds, Purdue is favored by 2.5 points, while the
over/under has been posted at 60 points.

Western
Michigan

The
Broncos won three of their last four matchups to finish third in the MAC West
Division (5-3). The squad is coming off a 63-19 win versus Akron. Three of the
school’s five losses have been decided by a total of 10 points. The team is 5-2
in its home state, running up a 5-0 home record and dropping contests at
Michigan and Eastern Michigan.

Western
Michigan is one of the more potent offensive teams in the nation, rating 18th in
points scored (36 points per contest) while compiling 456 yards per contest (329
via the pass, 127 on the ground). Alex Carder directs the offense by completing
67 % of his throws for 3,434 yards and 28 scores with 10 picks. The offensive
line has given up 22 sacks.

Jordan
White is the favorite receiving target, listing as one of the national leaders
with 127 receptions (more than double anyone else on the team) for 1,646 yards
and 16 TDs, while Tevin Drake leads the run attack with 570 yards and four
touchdowns with 5.6 yards per carry.

Defensively,
the Broncos rank 72nd in defense (28 ppg), giving up 434 yards per game (218 via
the pass, 216 on the ground), notching 26 sacks and forcing 27 turnovers with
one converted to a score (Doug Wiggins, interception).

Johnnie
Simon paces the unit with 103 tackles (19 more than any other player), chipping
in 2.5 sacks and two picks, 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 contest at a time this year, but ended
the regular season with a 33-25 win at intrastate rival Indiana to end up third
in the Big Ten Leaders Division. Purdue is 1-4 as a visitor, dropping the first
four dates outside of West Lafayette.

Purdue
ranks 65th in the nation in points allowed (26 ppg), allowing 389 yards per
contest (203 passing, 186 via the run) while recording 21 sacks and forcing 14
turnovers two of which were returned for touchdowns (Brandon Taylor, fumble
recovery; Ricardo Allen, pick).

Dwayne
Beckford paces the unit with 91 stops, adding three sacks, a pick, a forced
fumble and a recovery, while Joe Holland adds 85 tackles, 1.5 sacks and an
interception. Kawann Short has 6.5 sacks, 53 tackles, two forced fumbles and a
recovery, while Allen has three interceptions along with 72 stops, a forced
fumble and a blocked kick.

Offensively,
Purdue rates 69th in the nation in points scored (26 ppg), totaling 372 yards
per matchup (197 passing, 175 on the ground). Caleb TerBush has connected on 62
percent of his attempts for 1,804 yards and 12 scores and six interceptions. The
offensive line has surrendered 27 sacks.

Justin
Siller and A Edison are the favorite receiving targets with 88 combined
receptions for 994 yards and four touchdowns, while Ralph Bolden leads the
rushing attack with 674 yards with six touchdowns on 4.6 yards per attempt.

If
you struggle with bowl
handicapping then take a look at
the college bowl picks offered by the BetFirms handicappers.