In only their sixth season of football at the highest level in the NCAA, Florida Atlantic (7-5) are favored as they take on Memphis (7-5) in the New Orleans Bowl at the Superdome.

The Tigers were third in the C-USA East Division this season, winning three straight games to end their campaign. Memphis was 12th in the nation in passing yards, led by quarterback Martin Hankin, who spread the ball around evenly.

Four Memphis receivers caught at least 36 passes for 372 yards in this offense, making it difficult for defenses to key on one receiver. However, the Tigers had their issues on the other side of the ball, coming in 100th in total defense, including 110th against the opposition’s ground game.

The Owls were second in the Sun Belt this season, powered by the country’s 19th-ranked aerial attack. Quarterback Rusty Smith and receiver Cortez Gent are one of the best one-two combinations in the country, while Jason Harmon is one of the most underrated No. 2 receivers in the NCAA.

The Owls were not so explosive on the defensive side of the ball, coming in 85th in total defense, and they were 99th in scoring defense. The Owls could also not put any pressure on the opposing quarterback, as they were tied for 107th in sacks.

The Owls are favored by a 3.5-point spread in their first appearance in a bowl game , and their slight edge in defense could be the difference in this contest. Both teams put up about 30 points a game over this regular season, and it could only take only one stop to give one of these schools the upper hand.

Also, the team who can establish a solid running game will have the most success, as this will allow one team to use the clock and keep their high-scoring counterparts on the sidelines.

Special teams could also play an important role in this contest, because both schools are ranked in the bottom ten of the NCAA in net punting. This will give these teams good field position and a short field to work with, and whichever team can shore up their punt-return coverage should have an increased chance at winning this game.

New Orleans Bowl Odds at BetUS.com
Memphis: +3.5
Florida Atlantic: -3.5 (O/U 66)

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