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The No. 25 Memphis Tigers (10-2) and West Virginia Mountaineers (6-6) meet Tuesday in the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl. Kickoff from Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college football odds around the Memphis vs. West Virginia odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
Memphis ended its season on a high note, winning the final 3 games to finish fourth in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). The Tigers capped off their streak with a 34-24 upset over Tulane on Nov. 28, handing the Green Wave their first conference loss. They were 12.5-point road underdogs and the Over 54 hit.
QB Seth Henigan threw 2 TD passes in that win to become the AAC’s all-time leading passer with 13,972 career yards. RB Mario Anderson added 177 yards and a TD to finish second in the conference in rushing with 1,292 yards.
This is the 10th consecutive bowl game for Memphis. The Tegers beat the Iowa State Cyclones 36-26 in the 2023 AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
West Virginia closed out a bumpy regular season, losing 2 of its last 3 games and finished eighth in the Big 12. Defensive issues were glaring, as the Mountaineers allowed an average of 40.8 points per game (PPG) over their final 3 contests.
Their season ended with a 52-15 blowout loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, failing to cover as 2.5-point road underdogs as the Over 62 hit. RB Jahiem White had 124 rushing yards and a TD, but West Virginia’s offense was plagued by 3 costly turnovers, including 2 INTs by QB Garrett Greene.
The Mountaineers have been to bowl games in 3 of the last 4 seasons. They beat the North Carolina Tar Heels 30-10 in the 2023 Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
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Memphis at West Virginia odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college football odds. Lines last updated at 6:20 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Memphis -210 (bet $210 to win $100) | West Virginia +170 (bet $100 to win $170)
- Against the spread: Memphis -4.5 (-115) | West Virginia +4.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 58.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Memphis at West Virginia picks and predictions
Prediction
Memphis 38, West Virginia 23
Moneyline
Memphis (-210) will win its 4th consecutive bowl game on Tuesday evening. West Virginia has just too much turnover to have a chance at winning this game. I’ll take my bet to the spread.
PASS.
Against the spread
BET MEMPHIS -4.5 (-115).
This game is a send-off for a special group at Memphis under coach Ryan Silverfield, led by record-breaking, 4-year starter Henigan. With NFL-caliber talent like Anderson Jr. and WR Roc Taylor, the Tigers’ offense is poised to shine.
While the defense has had its issues, they’ve been opportunistic, forcing 24 turnovers this season. Against a struggling West Virginia team, Memphis shouldn’t encounter much resistance. Mountaineers’ Greene has been inconsistent with 13 TDs and 11 INTs.
Silverfield boasts a 3-1 bowl record, including last year’s win over Iowa State. West Virginia, now rebuilding under Rich Rodriguez, has seen multiple players opt out for the transfer portal. A victory would mean Memphis ends the season inside the Top 25 rankings for the first time since 2019.
Over/Under
BET OVER 58.5 (-115).
The Tigers and Mountaineers both tend to light up the scoreboard, finishing Over the posted total in 5 of their last 6 games. Neither team is known for its defensive prowess, setting the stage for a high-scoring affair.
Henigan will aim to end his college career in style, leading a Memphis offense that averaged 34.7 PPG, 14th best in the nation. Memphis games surpassed 58.5 total points 5 times this season.
West Virginia also has a penchant for shootouts, with 6 games exceeding 58.5 total points. The Mountaineers averaged 26.6 PPG while allowing 32.6, creating an environment ripe for offensive fireworks.
The Over/Under of 58.5 points is slightly above the season averages for both teams. With both offenses capable of putting up points, expect an up-and-down matchup with plenty of scoring.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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