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USATSI

The Utah State Aggies will try to keep their late-season surge going when they square off against the Memphis Tigers in the 2022 First Responder Bowl on Tuesday at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. After starting the season with a 1-4 record, including four-straight losses, the Aggies (6-6) finished the regular season by winning five of their final seven. This year's team is just the third in program history to play in a bowl game after starting the season with a losing record. Meanwhile the Tigers (6-6) have gone the opposite direction, losing five of their last seven. Memphis is coming off a 34-31 loss to SMU. 

Kickoff is 3:15 p.m. ET. The Tigers are 7.5-point favorites in the latest Memphis vs. Utah State odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 57, down 6.5 points from the opening line. Before locking in any Utah State vs. Memphis picks, make sure you check out the college football predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past six-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $2,500 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has locked in on Memphis vs. Utah State and just revealed its First Responder Bowl 2022 predictions. You can head to SportsLine to see the model's picks. Here are the college football odds and betting lines for Utah State vs. Memphis:

  • Memphis vs. Utah State spread: Tigers -7.5
  • Memphis vs. Utah State over/under: 57 points
  • Memphis vs. Utah State money line: Tigers -292, Aggies +235
  • MEM: The Tigers rank sixth in the nation in penalties per game (4.0).
  • USU: Ike Larsen is tied for the nation's lead in blocked kicks (three).
  • Memphis vs. Utah State picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why Memphis can cover

Memphis has received solid quarterback play from Seth Henigan. A 6-foot-3 sophomore from Denton, Texas, Henigan ranks third in the conference and 16th in the country in total offense (299.0 yards per game). He also ranks fifth all-time at Memphis in career attempts (809), completions (500), yards (6,597) and touchdown passes (44).

In addition, the Tigers have one of the best tight ends in the conference in Caden Prieskorn. The 6-foot-5 junior from Lake Orion, Mich., is tied for seventh in the nation among all tight ends with six receiving touchdowns. He also is sixth in receiving yards (593). For his efforts this season he was named to the all-AAC second team.

Why Utah State can cover

Utah State has done an excellent job of limiting turnovers recently. During their first five games, the Aggies were -8 in turnover ratio, committing 15 turnovers and forcing seven. Over their last seven games, they are +1 in turnover ratio, generating 10 takeaways while committing just nine of their own.

In addition, Utah State has excelled on special teams this season. The Aggies have blocked four kicks, which leads the conference and is tied for ninth in the nation. They also have scored four special teams touchdowns (on a kickoff return, punt return, fake field goal and blocked punt).

How to make Utah State vs. Memphis picks

The model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 62 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can see who to back at SportsLine.

So who wins Memphis vs. Utah State? And which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine right now to see which side of the spread to back, all from the advanced model that has been crushing its top-rated college football picks, and find out.