Tag: SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

Memphis 38, Utah State 10 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl What Happened, What It All Means

Memphis 38, Utah State 10: SERVPRO First Responder Bowl what happened, player of the game, and what it all means

Memphis beat Utah State 38-10 to win the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. What happened, who was the player of the game, and what does it all mean?

Memphis 38, Utah State 10 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl What Happened, Player of the Game, What It All Means

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SERVPRO First Responder Bowl What Happened

– Memphis needed a little bit to heat up, and then it all kicked in midway through the second quarter. With the score tied a 3-3, the game blew open with Seth Henigan throwing three touchdown passes – including two to Eddie Lewis – for a 24-3 Tiger halftime lead. The game coasted in from there.

– Utah State tried three quarterbacks, but injuries were a problem. Bishop Davenport stepped in and led a 92-yard drive early in the fourth quarter to pull within 14. An onside kick went awry, Memphis hammered away on the short field for the first of two Jevyon Ducker touchdown runs in the final eight minutes.

– Utah State kept fighting, but it couldn’t make anything work once the second quarter Tiger point avalanche hit. It couldn’t control the clock, was -2 in turnover margin, and Memphis kept its offense moving when it had to.

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SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Player of the Game

Seth Henigan, QB Memphis
He completed 20-of-29 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns

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SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Fun Stats

– Time of Possession: Memphis 36:06 – Utah State 23:54

– Sacks: Utah State 5- Memphis 4. Utah State DE Daniel Grzesiak led the way with two sacks and a forced fumble.

– Average yards per catch: Memphis 14.2 – Utah State 9

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl What It All Means

It might have been a disappointing year overall for Memphis, but this makes it a whole lot better. After going 6-6 last year and not being able to play in a bowl game, the program kept alive a nice run of nine straight years without a losing season. It also turned into a good win for head coach Ryan Silverfield – 7-6 looks a whole lot better than 6-7.

If nothing else, this was a nice way to go into the offseason and into a new American Athletic Conference world as even more of a contender.

Utah State was missing too many pieces to pull this off. It was outmanned against Memphis, but it was still a strong effort to close out a solid year. It started bad, got better, and the team never quit fighting.

It was a losing season with this loss – the second in three seasons – but head coach Blake Anderson is a good one to keep the momentum rolling. There’s enough in place to build off the second half of the season and be a player in the Mountain West title chase.

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Memphis vs Utah State SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Prediction Game Preview

Memphis vs Utah State game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl on Tuesday, December 27

Memphis vs Utah State prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, Tuesday, December 27

Memphis vs Utah State SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Prediction Game Preview

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Memphis vs Utah State How To Watch

Date: Tuesday, December 27
Game Time: 3:15 ET
Venue: Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Memphis (6-6), Utah State (6-6)
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Memphis vs Utah State SERVPRO First Responder Bowl 5 Things To Know

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

– Memphis crashed down the stretch with a four game losing streak against the tough teams on the AAC slate, and it didn’t help to close the regular season with a loss to SMU. Basically, the Tigers beat the bad teams and lost to the good ones. Even so, it’s a fun offensive team, there’s enough explosion to hit a slew of big plays, and now it’s here and as close to intact as reasonable, unlike …

– Utah State isn’t exactly a mess, but it’s missing a bunch. It’s going to be very, very thin at the skill spots with the loss of 1,043-yard rusher Calvin Tyler to the NFL world a big hit.

The Aggies started out 1-4, pulled up out of the nosedive to go 5-1 as the offense got sharper and the turnovers slowed, and close with a blowout loss to Boise State. They’re not the Mountain West Champion-level team of last year, but they’re dangerous enough to make this a fight.

– Utah State was one of the surprises of the 2021 bowl season, dropping Oregon State with relative ease in a 24-13 LA Bowl win. It won two of its last three bowls, but the program has been hit-or-miss going just 2-3 since 2014.

– Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield was on a bit of a hot seat at the end of the year. He’s expected to be back, but it would be a big positive to pull off this win. His Tigers rolled by Florida Atlantic in last year’s Montgomery Bowl, breaking the run of five straight bowl losses and a rough 1-7 run since 2005 for the program. It was supposed to play in the Hawaii Bowl last year, but it got canceled.

– The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl was sacked in 2018 because it was stormy, and apparently there weren’t any indoor football stadiums in the greater Dallas metropolitan area to play in. The bowl gods made up for it with three straight good battles all decided by a touchdown or less. Four of the last five First Responders have been one score games.

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Why Memphis Will Win The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

The Tigers know how to throw the ball and should have enough success to push for 250 yards. They’ve got the veteran quarterback in Seth Henigan, they have the weapons to keep the offense moving, and they should be able to own third downs.

This is hardly a rock-solid Memphis team, but it’s able to get the chains moving. On the flip side, Utah State is awful on third converting just 32% of its chances. If this is any sort of a back-and-forth shootout, even a little bit of a blink will be big.

On the other side, the Memphis defense is hardly a rock, but it should be able to hold up. Teams are able to throw against it, but the run defense has held up fine. Utah State is 0-4 when it doesn’t get to 130 yards on the ground, and Memphis has only allowed that many yards four times.

However …

Why Utah State Will Win The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

With all the lost pieces in the Utah State backfield, getting time to work will mean everything. That’s not a problem against a Memphis defense that doesn’t generate a pass rush and fails to produce enough tackles for loss.

It might be ugly at the Utah State skill spots when it comes to depth and veterans, but the offensive line should be okay. The game has to be about blasting away for the ground game, keeping the mistakes to a minimum, and getting a huge performance out of a defense that needs to generate at least two takeaways.

Utah State had a problem this year in turnover margin, but it’s 4-1 when forcing multiple takeaways. Memphis is 1-3 when turning it over two times or more.

But …

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History

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Louisville vs Air Force: SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Prediction, Game Preview

Louisville vs Air Force: SERVPRO First Responder Bowl prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might or might not win.

Louisville vs Air Force: SERVPRO First Responder Bowl prediction, game preview, how to watch 

Louisville vs Air Force: SERVPRO First Responder Bowl How To Watch

Date: Tuesday, December 28
Game Time: 3:15 pm ET
Venue: Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX
How To Watch: ESPN, Live stream on ESPN+
Records: Air Force (9-3), Louisville (6-6)
CFN Predictions | Bowl Schedule

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Louisville vs Air Force SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Preview

– Get ready for what might be the fastest bowl game of the season.

It’s not like Louisville can’t or doesn’t throw – it averages 239 yards per game through the air – but it’s at its best when QB Malik Cunningham and the rushing attack get rolling.

– Head coach Scott Satterfield isn’t necessarily coaching for his job, but the 6-6 season was a bit of a disappointment, and the fan base would love to somehow get former Cardinal quarterback Jeff Brohm away from the Purdue job.

A strong bowl win would calm everything down, and it would be even better if the offense that put up 450 yards per game could make an emphatic statement. That’s going to be hard to do against Air Force.

– The Falcons aren’t above having rough days defensively, but they allowed 21 points or fewer to everyone but Utah State and Nevada mainly because they don’t let the other side have the ball.

– Air Force leads the nation in rushing and is second in time of possession, grinding down the clock in drive after drive with efficiency and without a whole lot of mistakes. The defense, though has to prove it can hold up if Louisville and Cunningham get hot through the air.

Why Louisville, Air Force Will Win
Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Players To Know

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Louisiana 31, UTSA 24: SERVPRO First Responder Bowl 10 Things To Know

Louisiana 31, UTSA 24. The 10 ten things you need to know about the Louisiana win over UTSA in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.

Louisiana 31, UTSA 24. The 10 ten things you need to know about the Louisiana win over UTSA in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.

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Louisiana 31, UTSA 24: SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

10. The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl was one the best of the last bowl season with a thrilling 23-20 WKU win over Western Michigan, and considering how miserable the start to the 2020 bowl season has been, a 31-24 game with a late score seems like the 2006 Vince Young Texas over USC Rose Bowl. Considering the bowl was canceled due to lightning in 2018 – Boise State vs. Boston College – this thing has been solid.

9. Neither team got into the backfield with any sort of consistency, but UTSA was popping. Safety Rashad Wisdom led all defenders with a game-high 13 tackles with a whole slew of open field stops. The Roadrunners got powered on, but they swarmed to the ball and held up well under the circumstances.

8. The 411 yards of total offense by Louisiana were good enough, but coming off the 227-yard day against Appalachian State to end the regular season, it was a rocky finish for the attack. It was the fourth-lowest offensive output of the season – the Ragin’ Cajuns were outgained by 20 yards.

7. Sincere McCormick was the focus of the Louisiana defense, and it didn’t matter. The UTSA star running back only had a few good runs, but powered his way to 122 yards on a tough 23 carries.

6. It would’ve been nice to have had a sharper passing game out of Levi Lewis – he hit 12-of-22 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns – but he didn’t make any big mistakes. Trey Ragas powered for 98 yards and the game-winning score, but there was a key fumble – more on that in a moment. Elijah Mitchell ran for 127 yards and a score and led the team with two catches for 45 yards.

5. Grind, grind, grind, grind, grind. Louisiana wasn’t flashy, and it didn’t have a whole lot of big plays, but it was able to methodically come up with enough good drives to take over the game late against a team missing the depth to hold up. They had the ball for over five minutes than the Roadrunners, and it seemed like it was over because …

4. UTSA wasn’t a big passing team, but it had its moments. There were a few 300-yard games, and it’s not that it couldn’t throw, but it preferred to roll on the ground. Frank Harris got the team back in the game in the second half with two touchdown passes – he threw for 208 yards with 91 rushing yards and a score – and he pulled the team back because …

3. This was about to be a blowout. Louisiana was up 24-7 in the third quarter and driving, but Trey Ragas fumbled off a perfect helmet-on-ball pop, UTSA recovered, and then it was Game On. UTSA’s offense struggled, but it went on two good scoring drives, tied it at 24 on a field goal, and showed the team showed the heart to hang around because …

2. The Roadrunners were depleted. They didn’t have their head coach, they were missing a slew of players, and the depth wasn’t there. They hung around for a full 60 minutes to close out the season with as tough bowl loss in a 7-5 season. It was a brilliant campaign for Jeff Traylor, whose team played its heart out through all of the adversity. It was a loss, but it was the type of performance that showed what kind of program this is going to be going forward.

1. Louisiana got through the season with only the one loss to Coastal Carolina. It wasn’t always smooth, and it wasn’t dominant, but it had the 31-14 win over Iowa State to start the season, the bowl win over UTSA to end it, and technically, a Sun Belt co-championship on the way to a ten-win run. The veteran team came up with a whale of a season.

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Louisiana vs UTSA: SERVPRO First Responder Prediction, Game Preview

Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns vs UTSA Roadrunners: SERVPRO First Responder Bowl prediction and game preview.

Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns vs UTSA Roadrunners: SERVPRO First Responder Bowl prediction and game preview.

Louisiana vs UTSA: SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Broadcast

Date: Saturday, December 26
Game Time: 3:30 pm ET
Venue: Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX
Network: ABC

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Louisiana (9-1) vs UTSA (7-4) Game Preview

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Three Reasons Why You Should Watch The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

– It’s just the second bowl game in the young history of UTSA football – losing the first in 2016 – but first year head coach Jeff Traylor has built up something positive in a hurry, starting with the running game that dominated late in the season. Unfortunately, he’s not going to get his chance to be out there after testing positive for COVID.

– Louisiana’s running style under head coach Billy Napier has been among the nation’s most effective over the last few years. UTSA might be relatively new to the bowl world, but this is the third bowl in a row under Napier. His team is going to bring the attitude along with RB Elijah Mitchell and a great backfield.

– UTSA will be fired up to play in this, but Louisiana is going to play disrespected. It beat Fiesta Bowl-bound Iowa State 31-14, and it’s only loss of the season is to unbeaten Coastal Carolina. Nothing against this bowl, but the Ragin’ Cajuns deserved a brighter spotlight against a bigger opponent. Now they have to show why.

Why Louisiana, UTSA Will Win
What’s Going to Happen, Prediction, History

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First Responder Bowl: Western Michigan vs. Western Kentucky odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Monday’s SERVPRO First Responder Bowl betting odds and lines between Western Michigan Broncos and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers with betting picks, tips and bets.

The Western Michigan Broncos (7-5) and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (8-4) meet up in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. Kickoff at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas 12:30 p.m. ET Monday. We analyze the Western Michigan-Western Kentucky odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Western Michigan vs. Western Kentucky: Three things you need to know

1. The Broncos head into this game with a 1-8 straight-up (SU) career record in bowl games, while the Hilltoppers have won three of their five all-time appearances.

2. Western Michigan ranked 23rd in the nation with 457.3 total yards per game and are 24th in the country with 212.7 yards per game on the ground, while posting 34.2 points per game to check in 25th.

3. Western Kentucky covered in seven of its final nine games despite the fact it ranked just 87th in the country with 380.0 total yards per game on offense. The defense is rather stout, however, allowing just 20.1 PPG to rank 21st.

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Western Michigan vs. Western Kentucky: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday at 9:40 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Western Kentucky 24, Western Michigan 21

Moneyline (ML)

WESTERN KENTUCKY (-164) is a moderate favorite. Playing the moneyline isn’t a bad bet since the Hilltoppers are laying 3.5 points. Anything less and the play is to just look to the spread.

New to sports betting? Every $1.64 wagered on the Western Kentucky ML will profit $1 if the Broncos win.

Against the Spread (ATS)

AVOID. Western Kentucky (-3.5, -106) is laying three and a hook, and I expect this to be a one-possession game. I’d rather play the moneyline and cheer for a straight-up win. Western Michigan (+3.5, -115) could easily cover the line and still lose this game, which should be a close, defensive slog.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 54.5 (-106) is the way to go, as Western Kentucky’s defense has been stout this season. Western Michigan can sling it, but expect the Broncos to struggle finding as many open spaces as they’re used to in MAC play.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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