Motor City Bowl Watch

The Motor City Bowl, on tap for Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., features the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders and the Central Michigan Chippewas. The game will be broadcast on ESPN, and we'll have our popcorn popped in plenty of time to catch all the action.

Players that I'm looking at in this contest primarily are defensive end Daniel Bazuin and offensive tackle Joe Staley, both from Central Michigan.

Bazuin is an undersized defensive end, who could potentially be converted to outside linebacker. But I'm thinking he might be better utilized as a situational pass rusher. He has a great first step, but I don't know that he is athletic enough to play linebacker.

Staley has the athletic ability needed at left tackle against today's speed rushers, and could see his draft value rise significantly once he tests at the NFL combine. He needs some work on his technique, and could stand to bulk up a little as well. But he should be a starter in the NFL within a couple years.

Game prediction: Chippewas 31, Blue Raiders 21