Two coaches looking to finish their first season with their current team with bowl game wins square off on Wednesday, as the Memphis Tigers meet the Florida Atlantic University Owls in the Montgomery Bowl. Ryan Silverfield leads the Tigers, while Willie Taggart leads FAU. The Owls started the season 5-1 but lost their last two games of the regular season. Memphis won four out of five down the stretch, winning three of those games by no more than three points. FAU is 4-0 all time in bowl games, including a romp over SMU last year in the Boca Raton Bowl, played in FAU’s home stadium, and including a win over Memphis in the 2007 New Orleans Bowl. Memphis has dropped five straight bowl games, including a 14-point setback against Penn State in the Cotton Bowl last year.
Which team will prevail on Wednesday? Check out our college football betting thoughts on the matchup.
NCAAF: Montgomery Bowl (Wednesday, December 23)
Memphis vs Florida Atlantic
When: Wednesday, December 23, 2020, 7:00 pm ET
Where: Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, AL
TV: ESPN
Radio: No National Radio
Live Stream: ESPN+
NCAAF Odds: Memphis -8
Why should you bet on the Tigers?
The Memphis offense has taken a step back from its white-hot production a year ago, but they still scored 40 or more points on three occasions. Quarterback Brady White returned for his senior year and threw for 3,096 yards, with a 28:9 TD:INT ratio. Three wide receivers had at least 500 receiving yards, led by Calvin Austin III, who posted 1,025 receiving yards, second in the AAC, and he was tied for the lead in the conference with 10 touchdowns. However, Memphis struggled to run the ball, ranking ninth among the 11 teams in the American Athletic Conference in yards per running attempt.
The Tigers’ defense has permitted 448.7 yards per game, 102nd in the nation. However, in part because they have forced 18 turnovers, Memphis is 67th in points permitted per game (29.7). Free safety Quindell Johnson leads the team in tackles (70), interceptions (3) and fumbles forced (2). Strong safety Rodney Owens has also hauled in three interceptions. Morris Joseph leads the Tigers with seven sacks, which puts him in a tie for second in the conference. Wardalis Ducksworth and O’Bryan Goodson have chipped in four sacks apiece.
Why should you put your money on the Owls?
The Owls’ offense has struggled at times this season, as freshman quarterback Javion Posey has had a difficult learning curve this year. He came on to lead the Owls back in a comeback victory over Western Kentucky and has started ever since. He beat Florida International in his first start, but he has gone just 30 of 60 overall. He has run the ball well, and he now leads the team with 401 running yards. Malcolm Davidson has led the team with 7.1 yards per attempt but will be out for the Montgomery Bowl.
On defense, the Owls are #16 in the nation in total defense and #9 in scoring defense, permitting fewer than 17 points per game — and that includes the 45 points that Southern Miss was able to post against the Owls last week. When FAU can get their pass rush going, their defense is hard to beat. The Owls led Conference USA in sacks per game and is tied for the total sacks lead, posting 25, led by Leighton McCarthy, who had nine all by himself.
Final Score and Prediction
Memphis has much greater consistency at quarterback than does Florida Atlantic. While the Owls’ defense had been impressive all season long, the fact that Southern Miss was able to put up 45 points could show that the unit is showing signs of fatigue. Normally, teams have a couple of weeks of before a bowl game to rest and recuperate, but that hasn’t been the case this season. I like Memphis to win and cover, with a final score of 38-24.
College Football Betting Odds
Love betting NCAA football? | Xbet Sportsbook offers up to date college football lines
