Taking a quick-hit look at the Dec. 19 bowl menu, which, after the “opening weekend” buffet of five bowl games, is more like a snack than anything remotely resembling a meal. It has the potential to be a high-scoring, entertaining slice of football pie, though.
WHO: Central Michigan (6-6) vs. Tulsa (9-3)
WHAT: The 3rd Miami Beach Bowl
WHERE: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida
WHEN: 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
THE SKINNY: Central Michigan is the first of the three directional Michigan schools that will go bowling this season, the first time ever each member of that state trio has been in the postseason the same year. CMU faces a tall task in earning its first bowl win since 2012, though. Tulsa lost by 45 in Week 2 to College Football Playoff semifinalist Ohio State; after that, they won eight of their last 10 (three in overtime), with the lone losses coming by a combined nine points to 9-3 Houston and 9-4 Navy. Both of those losses, incidentally, came on the road. The Chips, on the other hand, lost four of their last five to come staggering into the postseason. If you’re a fan of aerial proficiency, this could be the game for you -- CMU is 26th nationally with 276.4 yards per game, Tulsa 40th at 260.8 ypg. The Golden Hurricane, though, has an added dimension as they are eighth in the country in rushing offense (261.8 ypg) -- two backs, James Flanders and D’Angelo Brewer (pictured), have rushed for at least 1,300 yards -- while their opponents are a middling 56th (161.3) in stopping the run. CMU was a controversial win over Oklahoma State away from not even being bowl-eligible; Tulsa’s about to try to show the MAC school that they may not have belonged in the postseason after all. One final note: the winner of the first two Miami Beach Bowls has scored at least 45 points, while the loser has scored at least 35. Just spitballing here, but don’t expect that trend on either side to come to a screeching halt this year.
THE LINE: Central Michigan, +13
THE PREDICTION: Tulsa 58, Central Michigan 37