New Orleans Bowl Preview Articles | Gambling

By: Richard Bleuze

New Orleans Bowl Bettting Preview
Florida Atlantic (7-5) vs. Memphis (7-5)
Friday, December 21, 2025 @ 8:00 pm Eastern – ESPN 2

SBG Global Current Line: Florida Atlantic – 2.5 , Total 67

The New Orleans Bowl may not have the hype and hoopla of many of the other bowl games but it may end up being a very competitive game on the field.  Memphis and Florida Atlantic both come into the game at 7-5. The Tigers won five of their last six games to finish 7-5 while Florida Atlantic upset Troy in their final game to finish 7-5, winning the Sun Belt Conference title. It is the first appearance ever in a bowl game for Florida Atlantic. SBG Global reports that early college football betting  has the public taking Florida Atlantic on the Road.

The New Orleans Bowl could also be a high scoring game.  Memphis averaged 34 points per game and 504 yards per game in the second half of the season.  Quarterback Martin Hankins returned from a hip injury in mid-October and the Tigers rolled.  He passed for at least 320 yards and three touchdowns in five of the Tigers’ final six games.  He has excellent receivers in Duke Calhoun and Carlos Singleton. Calhoun led the Tigers in receiving yards while Singleton had 10 TD catches. Memphis’s offense ranks among the Top 25 in the country and their passing game is in the Top 12. ''We're the dynamic duo,'' Calhoun said. ''It'd be scary if we were on the field at the same time.'' FAU's pass defense ranks 75th nationally, allowing 237.5 yards per game.  Quarterback Martin Hankins will be playing in a familiar environment on Friday.  He played in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and in Hammond, Louisiana. "This being my last go-around, I'm really excited to play so close to home in my last college football game," Hankins said. "It's going to be fun." Hankins has thrown for 2,107 yards (351.2 per game) and 17 touchdowns in the last six games in which Memphis went 5-1.

SBG Global Current Line: Florida Atlantic – 3.5 , Total  66.5

The problem for Memphis is a defense that is very weak.  They gave up over 50 points three times in conference play.  That could be a problem against a Florida Atlantic offense that averaged 36 points per game in the second half of the season. Another key according to Memphis head coach Tommy West will be special teams. "One of the keys to winning this game will be special teams," West said, "I think both of these offenses are going to score points because they are both good and have scored points all year. I think whoever's special teams unit can give their offense a short field and then make the other team go the long way with your cover teams, is going to have the advantage. We are going to have a good time playing tomorrow night and let it all roll and try to get us a win,"

Florida Atlantic does have a head coach that most people are familiar with in Howard Schnellenberger. It was Schnellenberger that took over at Florida Atlantic seven years ago.  He has made history, as Florida Atlantic made it to a bowl game faster than any other team in NCAA history. The offense is led by quarterback Rusty Smith, who led the conference in passing.

Here are the college football betting stats for Friday’s game.  The Owls are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games on turf. The Owls are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite. The Owls are 4-9 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. The Owls are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 non-conference games

The Tigers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as an underdog. The Tigers are 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 games overall. The Tigers are 15-7 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.

The Over is 4-0 in the Owls last 4 games as a favorite. The Over is 7-0 in the Owls last 7 games overall. The Over is 8-2 in the Owls last 10 non-conference games. The Over is 4-1 in the Owls last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.

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