Senior Reporter Brian Manzullo breaks down Dec. 26’s Motor City Bowl in Detroit.

QUARTERBACKS

Sophomore Dan LeFevour earned Mid-American Conference Championship MVP honors, passing for 185 yards and rushing for 170 in Dec. 1’s 35-10 win against Miami University. Junior Curtis Painter has been just as effective for Purdue this season, passing for 3,300 yards and 26 touchdowns.

ADVANTAGE: Even. Both offenses will revolve around the play of LeFevour and Painter.

RUNNING BACKS

Junior Ontario Sneed should see more carries in this game after accumulating 161 yards in the past two games. The Boilermakers’ Kory Sheets (156 carries, 832 yards) and Jaycen Taylor (97 carries, 537 yards) split time at tailback.

ADVANTAGE: Purdue. It especially demonstrated its rushing attack with 223 yards in its 45-22 win against CMU earlier this season.

CMU OFFENSIVE LINE

vS. PURDUE DEFENSIVE LINE

Senior Eric Tunney and junior Andrew Hartline again lead CMU’s offensive line, which has protected LeFevour and opened holes all season. Defensive ends Cliff Avril (six sacks) and Eugene Bright (five sacks) can be particularly destructive on Purdue’s line.

ADVANTAGE: Even. LeFevour can use all the protection he can get to keep CMU scoring.

PURDUE OFFENSIVE LINE VS. CMU DEFENSIVE LINE

The Boilermakers’ offensive line has given up 23 sacks this season, fifth in the Big Ten. Sophomore Frank Zombo leads the Chippewas’ line with 7.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss, while Larry Knight (five sacks) can be effective on the other side.

ADVANTAGE: Purdue. Its line gives Painter the time he needs to make good decisions, something CMU saw first-hand on Sept. 15.

CMU WIDE RECEIVERS

VS. PURDUE SECONDARY

Sophomore Bryan Anderson (1,003 yards) and freshman Antonio Brown (909) are LeFevour’s biggest weapons and will be difficult to contain. Purdue’s Terrell Vinson, with a team-leading 78 tackles and five interceptions, is a force in the secondary.

ADVANTAGE: CMU. It accumulated 364 passing yards in the teams’ previous game – this time should be no different.

PURDUE WIDE RECEIVERS VS. CMU SECONDARY

Dorien Bryant, with 871 yards and eight touchdowns on 82 receptions, leads Purdue’s receiving attack, which ranks second in the Big Ten with 287.2 yards per game. Central’s pass defense, while it ranks last in the MAC with 284.8 passing yards allowed per game, held opponents to 254 passing yards or fewer in the last three games.

ADVANTAGE: Purdue. While CMU has improved in defending the pass, it didn’t face an offense like Purdue’s.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Whether teams kick to Brown or do a short kick to another special-teamer, CMU usually finds itself in great field position. Bryant averages 28.5 yards per kick return and has run two back for touchdowns.

ADVANTAGE: Purdue. Kicker Chris Summers is consistent (15-for-19) and Bryant is dangerous.

COACHING

Purdue’s Joe Tiller has sent the team to its 10th bowl berth in 11 years. First-year coach Butch Jones took the Chippewas to their second consecutive MAC Championship on Dec. 1.

ADVANTAGE: Purdue. Tiller’s long-term impact on the Boilermakers has made the team into a force.

PREDICTION

Don’t expect another 45-22 Purdue win. In fact, don’t expect another Purdue win, period. Both teams have changed since Sept. 22, with Purdue going 2-5 in its last seven and CMU going 7-2 in its last nine. And with more of a home-field advantage, familiar territory and more confidence, the Chippewas have a great chance at an upset.

CMU 42,

Purdue 40

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