The Central Michigan Chippewas will face off against a Tulsa Golden Hurricanes team that was able to hang with the big boys this season as both teams head to South Beach for the Miami Beach Bowl on Monday afternoon. Central Michigan, on the other hand, brings a mediocre 6-6 record into the game and became bowl eligible largely due to a questionable win against Oklahoma State.
Watch this Miami Beach Bowl matchup live on Monday, December 9, 2016, at 2:30 p.m. ET at Marlins Park.
CFB Odds at BookMaker.eu
Central Michigan +12
Tulsa -12
Odds Analysis
Central Michigan has covered the spread in just five of its 12 games on the season, most of which came at the beginning of the season.
The Chippewas closed out the year covering two of its final nine games and dropped to the Eastern Michigan Eagles in their regular season finale.
On the other side of the gridiron, Tulsa ended the year with three more wins than the Chippewas both SU and ATS. Cincinnati did play the Golden Hurricanes tough in Tulsa’s last game, losing by three in overtime despite a large 23-point spread.
That latest ATS loss aside, Tulsa finished the year 6-1 ATS.
Matchup to Watch
Tulsa is favored by nearly two touchdowns and to cover, the Golden Hurricanes will need the offense to go off.
That doesn’t seem like too much of a challenge for a team ranked sixth in total yards per game and No. 11 in points per game. They’re scoring 41.4 PPG.
The running game has been a particular strength for Tulsa with James Flanders and D’Angelo Brewer combining for 24 touchdowns and each notching 1,330 yards or more. Flanders has average 6.3 yards per carry while Brewer is just behind at 5.4.
Defensively, the Chippewas are an average defense. They’re allowing the opposition to tally 28.2 PPG with the opposing rushing attacks averaging 161.3 yards per game, but Tulsa offers a unique challenge.
It’s not a surprise that this game will boil down to whether Flanders and Brewer can go off. Dane Evans is a solid QB, too, He’s thrown for over 3,000 yards himself, but the line doesn’t do that great of a job of protecting him. He’s ended up on his back quite frequently. Even so, neither he nor the line will win or lose this game the dynamic ground duo on the ground will decided this one.
Revenge Angle
Tulsa is coming off a disappointing game against Cincinnati where the Bearcats scored 37-points to easily cover a 23-point spread. They will be very motivated to show that was not the real Tulsa. This offense can run up the score quickly while the defense, typically, preforms respectably.
It was the Golden Hurricane’s defense that let the team down last time out, however. Flanders and Brewer each had strong games with 197 and 99 yards respectively. Flanders added two scores while Evans had a very solid game in the air with 305 yards and three scores, though he was picked off a couple times which allowed the Bearcats to be in position to add to their point total.
It was the passing game that really struggled. They allowed 400 yards and four scores in the air.
The Golden Hurricanes’ defense ranks No. 90 in passing yards allowed and that’s helped lead to 31.5 PPG allowed. Tulsa’s offense will roll on Monday, leaving Central Michigan offense to keep pace to cover the spread.
The Chippewas are an average offense with 27.7 PPG though the passing game is far better than the running attack and that could play into Central Michigan’s favor as Tulsa’s defense can be beat in the air.
Free ATS Pick
Look for a massive game from both Flanders and Brewer as the Hurricanes run all over the Chippewas front seven. Central Michigan knows what is coming, but they are not very well equipped to stop it.
Meanwhile, the Chippewas should see their offense have some success against a Tulsa secondary that looked very beatable against Cincinnati.
In the end, Tulsa wins on offense while the defenses are rather balanced.
College Football Odds: Tulsa 45, Central Michigan 28
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