There is a pronounced difference in the playing styles of the teams that will lock horns in the first Montgomery Bowl on Wednesday. The Memphis Tigers play a high-octane game, while the Florida Atlantic Owls want to get in the trenches and slug it out. We will soon get to see which side wins out. Let’s take a closer look at this online betting matchup.
Montgomery Bowl Betting
College Football Odds: Memphis -8
Sportsbook Total: 50
Location: Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, Al
Montgomery Bowl Overview
The Memphis Tigers have had a wild ride. They lost to SMU. The Tigers could not overcome the Cincinnati Bearcats, who won the American Athletic Conference championship and produced an unbeaten season. They also stumbled against Tulane, led by talented coach Willie Fritz. Yet, for all of Memphis’s wrong turns, the Tigers still put together a 7-3 regular season. The campaign was highlighted by a big, late comeback from a double-digit deficit against UCF in one of the most entertaining games of the season. The Tigers were tied by Houston in the final minute of regulation in their most recent game on Dec. 12, but promptly drove down the field for a game-winning field goal in a 30-27 decision over the Cougars.
Brady White
Memphis quarterback Brady White, a transfer from Arizona State, has thrown for more than 3,000 yards, with 28 touchdowns against nine interceptions. Memphis averages just over 31 points per game and will be a load to handle for Florida Atlantic’s defense.
Defense
FAU doesn’t average a lot of points – 20 per game. But the Owls, under coach Willie Taggart, don’t give up much of anything. Florida Atlantic has surrendered just 16.5 points per game. That marks the Owls as one of the better defensive teams in Conference USA. FAU was rolling at 5-1 until it ran into tougher competition in its two most recent games. The Owls lost to Georgia Southern by a score of 20-3, then lost to Southern Mississippi 45-31 in the worst defensive performance of the year. This game offers FAU a chance to bounce back under Taggart, who failed at Florida State and is trying to rebuild his career in a smaller conference with the Owls.
Bottom Line
The Memphis defense allows almost 30 points per game, so while FAU doesn’t have an especially strong offense, it should get opportunities to score. Memphis, though, has athletes FAU’s defense is highly unlikely to match up with. Brady White knows how to lead an offense. He is a veteran who understands the Memphis system of offense. White should be able to make plays whenever his team needs them. FAU hasn’t played the level of competition Memphis has, and that is going to be a defining difference here.
