WALDRON GRAIN & FUEL

12/08 11:02 CST GameAbove Sports Bowl pits Northwestern against Central Michigan GameAbove Sports Bowl pits Northwestern against Central Michigan By The Associated Press Central Michigan (7-5) vs. Northwestern (6-6), Dec. 26 at 1 p.m. EST. BetMGM College Football Odds Opening Line: Northwestern by 12.5. Against the spread: Northwestern 6-4-2, Central Michigan 8-4. How to watch: ESPN Key stats Northwestern Offense Overall: 348.8 yards per game (95th in FBS) Passing: 181.8 yards per game (111th) Rushing: 167.1 yards per game (60th) Scoring: 22.5 points per game (105th) Northwestern Defense Overall: 334.9 yards per game (35th in FBS) Passing: 194.8 yards per game (33rd) Rushing: 140.1 yards per game (54th) Scoring: 20.9 points per game (34th) Central Michigan Offense Overall: 335.7 yards per game (109th in FBS) Passing: 166.2 yards per game (119th) Rushing: 169.5 yards per game (57th) Scoring: 23.8 points per game (95th) Central Michigan Defense Overall: 358.6 yards per game (59th in FBS) Passing: 207.2 yards per game (49th) Rushing: 151.4 yards per game (73rd) Scoring: 22.7 points per game (51st) Central Michigan ranks 93rd in defensive third down percentage, allowing opponents to convert 41.3% of the time. Northwestern ranks 37th on offense, converting on 43.8% of third downs. Northwestern ranks 100th in the FBS with a -4 turnover margin, compared to Central Michigan's 20th-ranked +8 margin. Northwestern ranks 9th in the FBS averaging 35.0 penalty yards per game. Central Michigan is 13th in FBS in red zone defense, allowing opponents to score on 73.2% of trips. Both teams rank high in time of possession. Northwestern is 11th in the FBS with an average time of possession of 32:44, while Central Michigan's 19th-ranked average is 32:07. Team leaders Northwestern Passing: Preston Stone, 2,174 yards, 14 TDs, 12 INTs, 59.9 completion percentage Rushing: Caleb Komolafe, 886 yards on 175 carries, 10 TDs Receiving: Griffin Wilde, 783 yards on 61 catches, 6 TDs Central Michigan Passing: Joey Labas, 1,676 yards, 12 TDs, 6 INTs, 68.9 completion percentage Rushing: Nahree Biggins, 540 yards on 105 carries, 2 TDs Receiving: Langston Lewis, 513 yards on 35 catches, 3 TDs Last game Northwestern fell 20-13 to Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 29. Stone passed for 163 yards on 19-of-36 attempts (52.8%) with one touchdown and three interceptions. Robby Preckel carried the ball 22 times for 82 yards, adding one reception for four yards. Hayden Eligon II put up 99 yards on eight catches with one touchdown. Central Michigan fell 21-3 to Toledo on Saturday, Nov. 29. Labas passed for 242 yards on 19-of-30 attempts (63.3%) with no touchdowns and one interception. Brock Townsend had 68 rushing yards on 14 carries, adding one reception for five yards. Tommy McIntosh had six receptions for 83 yards.