CFB: St. Petersburg Bowl - South Florida vs Memphis (4:30 PM ET, ESPN2)

South Florida University, based in Tampa, will be very close to home in inaugural St. Petersburg, FL bowl.

2008-12-19

South Florida University, based in Tampa, will be very close to home in inaugural St. Petersburg, FL bowl. The Bulls (7-5, 4-7 ATS) never came together as a team and were undermined by -7 turnover margin, in losing four of last five Big East contests. South Florida is solid 23-15 ATS in non-conference action. Memphis (5-5-1 ATS) made another late season push to finish 6-6, winning three of last four games. The semi-hosts are big 13-point favorites.

The Tigers tamed Tulane 45-6 to have a chance to be invited to a bowl; however are 2-15 ATS after scoring 42 points or more last game. Neither team has played in many bowls, though South Florida has an excuse being a FBS school only since 2001. The Bulls are 1-2 SU and ATS and Memphis is 3-2 all-time failing to cover as underdog on both occasions.

MajicJack St. Petersburg Bowl Series Trend: This year’s St. Petersburg Bowl game is the first college bowl game hosted at “The Trop”, better known as the home of baseball’s American League Champion Rays. It is an unofficial home game for South Florida, who normally plays across the bay at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Top ATS Trend
• Tommy West is 9-1 ATS (+7.9 Units) in road games versus good defensive teams - allowing <=310 yards/game in all games he has coached since 1992. The average score was West 18.8, OPPONENT 25.7 - (Rating = 1*)

Top Totals Trend
• MEMPHIS is 10-2 UNDER (+7.8 Units) as an underdog of 10.5 to 21 points since 1992. The average score was MEMPHIS 17.5, OPPONENT 28.6 - (Rating = 1*)

Recent Memphis Bowl Game Trends
* The favorite has won all four prior lined MEMPHIS bowl games, both SU & ATS.
* The L3 MEMPHIS bowl games have gone OVER the total, averaging 75.7 PPG.
* MEMPHIS has never played a BCS-conference opponent in a bowl game.

Recent South Florida Bowl Game Trends
* S FLORIDA won its only prior bowl game vs. Conference USA, both SU & ATS.
* S FLORIDA has been outscored 77-45 in three bowl games, going 1-2 SU & ATS.
* Favored team has won SU & ATS in two of three S FLORIDA bowl games.

StatFox Outplay Factor Ratings say: South Florida by 5.7

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