Tulsa vs. Central Michigan Prediction, Miami Beach Bowl Preview
Tulsa vs. Central Michigan prediction and Miami Beach Bowl preview. Projecting who wins between the Golden Hurricane and Chippewas in South Florida.
Tulsa vs. Central Michigan prediction and Miami Beach Bowl preview. Projecting who wins between the Golden Hurricane and Chippewas in South Florida.
Tulsa vs. Central Michigan Miami Beach Bowl Preview
When: Monday, Dec. 19 – 2:30 p.m. ET
Where: Marlins Park, Miami.
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Tulsa showed it can play with most teams in the country on its way to a 9-3 record. It lost to Ohio State then fell by a combined nine points to Houston and Navy, which won the AAC West tiebreaker over Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane have one of the most dynamic offenses in the country with the running back duo of James Flanders and D’Angelo Brewer.
Central Michigan is best known for its controversial win over Oklahoma State, a victory that came on a Hail Mary with an untimed down that shouldn’t have been awarded. Other than that, the 6-6 Chippewas have been exactly average and enter this matchup having dropped six of their last nine games.
What To Know About Tulsa
Tulsa ranks fourth in the nation in average yards per game at 529.8, with 261.8 of them coming on the ground. Flanders 1,529 yards rushing are ninth in the country and his 17 touchdowns tied for seventh. Flanders and Brewer each have a 200-yard game this season as Brewer added 1,330 for the season.
That makes it easy to forget about Dane Evans, a 3,000-yard passer who tossed 27 touchdowns. Protection was an issue at times, though, as Evans was sacked 21 times. The Golden Hurricane also tied for ninth in the AAC with a minus-3 turnover margin.
What To Know About Central Michigan
Cooper Rush finished second in the MAC in passing yards per game and third with 23 touchdowns, but he also tossed the conference’s second-most interceptions with 13. He didn’t throw a single TD pass in two of the final three games. It didn’t help him that Central Michigan tied for the second-most sacks allowed with 34.
Joe Ostman is solid on the defensive side of the ball and finished second in the MAC with nine sacks, and he’ll need to make his way through to Evans plenty in order to slow Tulsa’s offense. Otherwise, the Chippewas could be in for a long day.
Advantages
Offense: Tulsa – Flanders and Brewer are ready to run all over CMU.
Defense: Even – Tulsa allowed 5.51 yards per play, while Central Michigan gave up an average of 5.62.
Special Teams: Central Michigan – Finished first in the MAC with five blocked kicks, two by Winslow Chapman.
Coaching: Tulsa – Philip Montgomery has taken the Golden Hurricane to bowls in each of his first two years and is on the verge of a four-win improvement from last season.
Intangibles: Tulsa – The Chippewas enter this game on a slide, while Tulsa has won five of its last six.
Matchup To Watch
Flanders and Brewer vs. Central Michigan’s defense
The Chippewas know what’s coming, but it’s a matter of stopping it. If Tulsa’s dynamic duo gets rolling, this one won’t be close.
Betting Odds
Spread: No line as of post
Over/Under: No line as of post
Tulsa vs. Central Michigan Prediction
Flanders runs for 200 yards, Brewer adds 125 and Tulsa explodes early on its way to an easy win over the overmatched Chippewas.
Tulsa vs. Central Michigan Final Score Prediction: Tulsa 48, Central Michigan 21
Campus Insiders Staff Picks
Brian Stultz: Tulsa
Jeff Bartl: Tulsa
Rich Cirminiello: Tulsa
Robert Judin: Central Michigan
Pete Fiutak: Tulsa
