2021 First Responder Bowl: Odds and prediction for Louisville vs Air Force
The 2021 First Responder Bowl will feature Louisville and Air Force. Here’s a breakdown of the matchup as well as a look at the odds and a prediction.
Bowl games are always about motivation, especially the lower-tier bowl games and the 2021 First Responder Bowl certainly meets that criteria.
That doesn’t mean it’s not an important game. It certainly is for Louisville, which won a couple of games down the stretch to reach a bowl game, and also for Air Force, which is back in the postseason and looking at a possible10-win season.
Of course, the two teams couldn’t be more different in the way they want to move the ball. Air Force averaged 345 yards per game on the ground and more than 5.3 yards per attempt.
Louisville, on the other hand, relies on one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country in Malik Cunningham. The Cardinals average more than 200 on the ground and in the air thanks to Cunningham who is just 32 yards short of 1,000 yards rushing.
Brad Roberts rushed for over 1,200 as a running back for Air Force and he’ll be the bell cow, although quarterback Haaziq Daniels also ran for nearly 700 yards and accounted for 14 total touchdowns.
All in all, the 2021 First Responder Bowl should be an interesting matchup, and here’s a look at the odds, as well as a prediction.
2021 First Responder Bowl odds
According to WynnBet’s odds for the 2021 First Responder Bowl, Louisville is entering the game as a 1.5-point favorite. The over/under is set for 55, while the money line is +100 for Air Force, as well as -120 for Louisville.
2021 First Responder Bowl prediction
Games between top-tier Group of 5 teams and lower-tier Power-5 teams are always interesting. The Cardinal battled to reach 6-6 and could use some momentum heading into 2022. Plus a winning season is always nice.
Air Force is tough. The Falcons play a physical brand of football and boast a top-20 scoring defense. The Mountain West is a solid conference and has some talented offenses but Cunningham is one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in all of college football and his playmaking ability will prove to be the difference.
The oddsmakers are correct in that it will be a tight game, but Louisville gets a little more production in the red zone to win the game 31-27.
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