4. Hawaii vs Memphis: Hawaii Bowl
LINE Memphis -8.5
ATS PICK Hawaii
As I’ve already said ad nauseam, I believe that you pick the bowl games to go like they would’ve if the two teams played in the regular season, but adjust for the opted-out players, lost coaches, and heartbreak factor.
But sometimes belief systems suck.
Hawaii lost QB Chevan Cordeiro to San Jose State and RB Dae Tae Hunter to Liberty.
It doesn’t have the defense to hold up if and when Memphis gets going, and it doesn’t have the offensive firepower to keep up if this gets into any sort of a shootout.
It’s Hawaii in a bowl game, and it’s Memphis in a bowl game.
Memphis might have pushed past Florida Atlantic in last year’s Montgomery Bowl, but this has been an awful bowl program since the 2003 New Orleans Bowl win over North Texas.
Hawaii has won three of its last four bowl games – including a stunning New Mexico Bowl win over Houston last year – and it played over its head at home this year, even when Cordeiro was out.
The line going up after the departures helps the cause even more.
5. Missouri vs Army
3. Miami University vs North Texas
2. San Diego State vs UTSA
1. Kent State vs Wyoming