Western Kentucky vs. Central Michigan NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping
Western Kentucky is in a bowl game, but they made more news after the season when they announced that they would be giving ex-Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino another chance.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. Central Michigan Chippewas
Venue/ Stadium: Ford Field, DETROIT, MI
Time/Date: 7:30 PM EST Wednesday, December 26, 2012
NFL Odds From: BetOnline
Moneyline: OFF
Spread: WKY -5
Over/Under: 57.5
ATS Matchup Stats | Gambling Insight!
Check out our in-house Handicapper!!! Buy Razor Ray’s Picks Today!
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. Central Michigan Chippewas Preview
The Hilltoppers have a good rushing attack and they snapped their 3-game losing streak at the end of the season by winning their last game. With only a month left in the season it did not look like Central Michigan would make a bow, but they won their last 3 games of the season to become eligible for the post-season.
In their last games this season Central Michigan beat UMASS 42-21 and Western Kentucky beat North Texas 25-24.
This season WKU is 8-4 ATS and they have an Over/Under record of 6-4-1 and CMU is 5-7 ATS and they have an Over/Under record of 7-3-1.
CLICK TO GRAB OUR Expert CFB Picks for 2012 NCAA FOOTBALL Betting!
Central Michigan QB Ryan Radcliff passed for over 2,900 yards with 20 TD and 9 INT and he has a very good pair of WR’s in Titus Davis and Cody Wilson, who combined for 107 receptions, 1,599 yards and 10 TD’s on the season. Western Kentucky did not play any big conference teams with a great passing attack, but they still rank 31st in the nation in pass defense.
WKU has a solid pass rush, but that unit suffered when Sun Belt defensive player of the year Quanterus Smith (12.5 sacks) was lost for the season due to an injury.
Western Kentucky ranks 32nd in the nation in run defense and their main concern in this game and that is to try to contain CMU RB Zurlon Tipton, who rushed for nearly 1,400 yards this season and he rushed for over 100 yards in the last 6 games of the season including galloping for 185 yards in the season finale facing UMASS. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The big gun on offense for WKU is Antonio Andrews, who has a chance to beak the NCAA record for all-purpose yards. He has rushed for 1,609 yards this season and has 957 return yards. To say he ended the season well is an understatement, as in his last 2 games he rushed for over 200 yards in each. He has to be a major concern since the CMU run defense only ranks 98th in the nation.
Central Michigan’s pass defense ranks 74th in the nation and while the rushing offense is the strength of the Hilltoppers QB Kawaun Jakes had a good season and he has a couple of WR’s that have over 500 receiving yards.
In some betting trend for the Little Caesars Bowl Western Kentucky is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games, 21-7 ATS in their last 28 games, and they have an Over record of 4-1 in their last 5 games following a S.U. win.
Central Michigan is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games, 1-10 ATS vs. a team with a winning record, and they have an Over record of 15-5-1 in their last 21 games overall.
Jason’s Pick: Have to go with WKU in this game simply because they have a better defense and a more well balanced offensive attack. The Hilltoppers will win this game and cover the spread.
