College picks: UTEP capable of first bowl win since 1967

Texas-El Paso has an accidental to triumph its archetypal vessel crippled since 1967 and tin lucifer its highest triumph full since 1988 with its eighth victory.

That would beryllium awesome worldly for Miners manager Dana Dimel aft a 5-27 start.

I wonderment however motivated Fresno State volition beryllium to play Texas-El Paso successful the New Mexico Bowl conscionable 2 days aft the aboriginal signing period, particularly aft manager Kalen DeBoer and violative coordinator Ryan Grubb near for Washington.

Fresno State volition person a first-time play caller successful the vessel crippled successful violative coordinator Kirby Moore, the younger member of Dallas Cowboys violative coordinator Kellen Moore.

Bulldogs backmost Jake Haener appeared to beryllium headed to Washington arsenic well. But imaginable eligibility concerns whitethorn person helped scuttle those plans. Haener besides is adjacent with caller Fresno State manager Jeff Tedford.

It remains unclear if Haener volition commencement successful the vessel crippled for Fresno State. And if helium does, volition things beryllium awkward?

Double-digit underdogs specified arsenic UTEP are 57.7 percent ATS successful non-playoff vessel games since 2005 and are adjacent amended successful aboriginal games, according to The Action Network.

UTEP’s defence is 19th successful expected points added per snap. That’s bully capable to support things adjacent successful a crippled with a full successful the debased 50s. Take UTEP +11½.

Four much plays (home squad successful CAPS):

Old Dominion (+9) implicit Tulsa: The Monarchs’ 6-foot-5-inch freshman Hayden Wolff took implicit astatine backmost midway done the season. After a nonaccomplishment to Western Kentucky, Old Dominion reeled disconnected 5 consecutive wins and covers down Wolff. Tulsa mislaid 3 adjunct coaches, including its antiaircraft coordinator, to Texas Christian and Southern California. The Golden Hurricane played 9 one-possession games during the regular play and athletics a defence that’s 107th successful rushing occurrence complaint allowed and 94th successful passing occurrence complaint allowed.

Kent State (+3) implicit Wyoming: Kent State’s defence (SP+ No. 117) and Wyoming’s discourtesy (SP+ No. 89) are unwatchable. Kent State’s discourtesy is successful the apical 10 nationally successful rushing occurrence complaint and enactment yards. It should beryllium capable to determination the shot against a Wyoming squad that’s 100th successful enactment yards and 92nd successful rushing yards allowed per game. The Cowboys besides mislaid their antiaircraft enactment manager to Washington State and their starting cornerback to the transportation portal. Wyoming finished the play 2-6 and failed to screen the dispersed by an mean of 5.5 points per crippled this season.

Missouri-Army U57½: I presume astir handicappers volition look astatine Missouri’s unreserved defence stats, spot that the Tigers are facing a work academy and hole for carnage. But the Tigers held their past 4 SEC opponents to an mean of lone 3.5 yards per carry. Missouri ran connected 63 percent of its snaps successful its past 5 games and is holding an “open backmost competition.” Tigers starting QB Connor Bazelak’s backups tally mode much often than helium does.

Memphis (-7) implicit Hawaii: A scathing media study claimed that Hawaii’s players are blaming manager Todd Graham for verbal abuse, favoritism and “killing their emotion of football.” Starting QB Chevan Cordeiro and starting moving backmost Dae Dae Hunter are successful the transportation portal. Hawaii’s discourtesy can’t determination the shot without them. Backup QB Brayden Schager has thrown for 5.7 yards per attempt, 2 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. The Tigers should beryllium capable to propulsion against a Hawaii walk defence that Pro Football Focus grades No. 111 successful the country.

Last week: 2-3

Season: 35-34-1

Christopher Smith of AL.com is providing assemblage shot investigation for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Follow @CFBlocksmith connected Twitter.