2022 First Responder Bowl: Odds, prediction and how to watch

Bowl season is cranking up on Tuesday and the 2022 First Responder Bowl is one of the games taking place between Memphis and Utah State. Here are the odds, a prediction, and how to watch. 

It’s bowl week and if you grew up as a college football fan, you’ll remember all the commercials about the most wonderful week of the year, which I haven’t really seen this year, but at any rate, bowl week is here for real with four games on Tuesday.

One of those is the 2022 First Responder Bowl which will pit 6-6 Memphis against 6-6 Utah State. The Aggies and Tigers have been moving in two different directions. Memphis dropped its last four games of the season, while the Aggies rallied from a 1-4 start to reach the postseason.

Utah State won the Mountain West championship in 2021, so the 6-6 season was a little disappointing but rallying for a winning season would put a nice cherry on the 2022 campaign.

It’s going to be made harder by the fact that the Aggies are dealing with some key opt-outs including leading rusher Calvin Tyler who rushed for 1,043 yards.

Memphis will be led by veteran quarterback Seth Henigan who threw for 3,275 yards this season as well as 19 touchdown passes. Memphis averaged 278 passing yards per game and over 420 yards of total offense. They also scored 35.1 points per game which ranked 22nd in the FBS.

The defense ranks 75th in points allowed (27.3) but was solid against the run at 3.5 yards per carry allowed. Utah State is 0-4 this season according to Pete Fiutak when the Aggies don’t reach 130 yards on the ground and Memphis has allowed just four teams to reach 130 this season.

Utah State averages just over 360 yards of total offense and throws for 200 per game. The Aggies also average two giveaways per game, which explains the 6-6 record, as does the scoring offense (23.2) which ranked 101st in all of college football.

The defense also ranks 103rd in scoring (30.6 allowed) and surrenders over 198 yards on the ground as well as 4.5 yards per attempt.

Here’s a look at the odds, as well as our prediction and how to watch the 2022 First Responder Bowl.

2022 First Responder Bowl odds

Memphis is favored by 7.5 points right now according to Fanduel. The over/under is 59.5.

(Odds are subject to change)

2022 First Responder Bowl Prediction

Utah State struggled to score this season even with its best running back on the field and now that the Aggies will be without multiple skill guys, I don’t see them lighting up the scoreboard.

Utah State isn’t great on defense. Neither is Memphis but Seth Henigan is pretty steady and he’ll shine in this game throwing for around 300 yards and 2-3 touchdowns in a 31-17 win for the Tigers.

How to watch the 2022 First Responder Bowl

Kickoff: 3:15 PM EST/Dallas, Texas

TV: ESPN

Stream: Fubo TV