The Central Michigan Chippewas are taking on the Quick Lane Bowl against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The game is scheduled for a 5:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on ESPN2. Currently the betting odds for the game have the Golden Gophers favored to pick up the win.

This game will be played at Ford Field in Detroit, the Golden Gophers are one of three 5-7 teams that qualified for a bowl game. Central Michigan went 7-5 on their season but had to win five of their last six games overall in order to get to this point. The lone loss the last six weeks game at home against Toledo in a tough game.

Central is playing in the school’s second-straight bowl game, last year they lost to Western Kentucky in the thrilling Bahamas Bowl. Minnesota has dropped each of its last five bowl games, last season they dropped a 33-17 decision to Missouri in the Citrus Bowl. Minnesota hasn’t picked up a postseason win since the 2004 Music City Bowl.

This year’s Chippewas team played a tough non-conference schedule, dropping games to Oklahoma State, Michigan State and Syracuse. QB Cooper Rush had a great season with better than 3,700 yards passing and 25 passing TDs. A couple of scores in this game would allow Rush to reach last season’s 27 touchdown passes.

Minnesota has faced good quarterbacks this season, though every win they had this season came against a team not nearly as good as the Gophers. Losses to TCU, Northwestern, Nebraska, Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa and Wisconsin saw the Gophers fall by an average of 32.2-19.7, Minnesota has played a tough schedule no doubt.

The proximity to Mt. Pleasant is noticeable for Central Michigan in this one, this is their seventh bowl in 10 years overall. Minnesota hasn’t looked good in a couple of months and Central Michigan will look to take advantage of beating a Big Ten team in this one.

Free Pick: Central Michigan

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