It’s a shame that the Memphis Tigers won’t have the services of one of the most dynamic players in college football this season in Darrell Henderson, but that shouldn’t dampen their spirits, when they go up against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at the Jared Birmingham Bowl. The Demon Deacons are gunning for their third bowl win in a row, an accomplishment worth going all out for. The sportsbook predicts a close one, giving more than a field goal edge to Wake Forest.
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Betting Preview for the Memphis Tigers vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons College Football Birmingham Bowl Game on December 22 2018
Where: Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama
When: Saturday, December 22, 2018, 12:00 PM ET
Line: Memphis Tigers (+3.5) vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (-3.5) – view all 2018 NCAAF lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Memphis Tigers (8-5 Overall / 5-3 Conference)
The Tigers came awfully close to shocking the college football world when it raced to a 24-7 lead against the UCF Knights in the American Athletic Conference title game only to collapse and ultimately lose the contest, 56-41. Still, that game showed how dangerous Memphis can be so long as it has running back Darrell Henderson. The problem is that Henderson will not be around to help his team win a bowl game, as he’s already declared his decision to skip the Jared Birmingham Bowl to focus on next year’s NFL Draft. Losing Henderson almost throws away whatever the Tigers’ third-ranked average of 282.3 rushing yards per game means, but they still have another solid rusher in running back Patrick Taylor Jr. Taylor is second on the team with 1,012 rushing yards to go with five rushing touchdowns. He showed explosiveness against UCF with 118 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Moreover, the Tigers can turn to quarterback Brady White, who will be dealing with an uninspiring Wake Forest pass defense that only had five interceptions this year. The Tigers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games.
Betting on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-6 Overall / 3-5 Conference)
Memphis’ loss of Henderson is definitely a big plus for Wake Forest. What’s more is that the Demon Deacons arguably now have the best playmaker in the upcoming date with the Tigers in the form of wide receiver Greg Dortch. The sophomore wideout topped the Demon Deacons with 1,087 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 89 receptions this season. In Wake Forest’s 59-7 walloping of the Duke Blue Devils on Nov. 24, Dortch toyed with opposing defenders to finish the game with 124 receiving yards and a touchdown on 10 receptions. Getting the ball to Dortch may not be that much of a problem for Wake Forest, given that the Tigers have a leaky pass defense that is fifth worst in the AAC with 250.8 passing yards surrendered per contest. That should also be music to the ears of Wake Forest quarterback Jamie Newman, who torched the Blue Devils for 177 passing yards and four touchdowns without surrendering a single pick on 18-of-23 completions. Newman isn’t an elite signal-caller, but Dortch obviously elevates his ability to move the chains through the air.
Wake Forest is 3-2 ATS in its last five games.
Writer’s Prediction
Wake Forest wins, 40-37.
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