A couple of things to look for with Bowl games

 Much of the time the lines are set to what happens during the season so it's good to check out the first half spreads and attack them for the "UNDER" for the first half especially after Christmas. Teams that haven't played for a while timing will be off a bit.  Usually, after Christmas both teams are motivated (Usually)  offenses are slow at the beginning of the game  MOST of The time We usually will see high-scoring games early in the Bowl Games, so it's not uncommon to see an inflated first-half total after Christmas while the offenses will be slow to get started. 

And also Don't be afraid of double-digit dogs.  Motivation is such a huge factor in many of these bowl games it is not uncommon to see double-digit dogs win.

Whistledick. That is good info.  You have any that stand out to you so far.

My early leans are Baylor utsa smu unt ou UH.

@Racerxtc

Motivation is one of the  MOST IMPORTANT parts of the Bowl game handicap.  It is hard to handicap motivation but look for teams like Clemson that at the beginning of the year expected to be in the playoff  And were National Champs a few years back and now are playing in the Cheezit bowl game???. (I'm not saying pick Iowa state right now I'm just using that as an example) I do have my eye on that one Iowa State would love to beat a high caliber team like Clemson. and since Clemson will be looking at just to show up, I expect Iowa State to be more focused. an early game that will have the scoreboard keeper busy, in my opinion, is Western Kentucky vs App State WK can score on anyone but they can be scored against also. The only time WK doesn't have a lot of points with another team in a game is when the other team, is just plain pitiful and WK holds it in the low 40,s and the other team has 20 when the total will be mid 60 or higher. but being the last game of the year, WK will be coming out gunning downfield big time, this will force App st to not be so complacent on offense also. the Memphis Hawaii game will be one to pound the under in the first half, Nevada vs E.Carolina is another one, so keep your eye on the totals in the first half. GL 

E. Carolina is playing Boston College..

oops, my bad thanx Wizerguy.....Nevada is playing W. Michigan, but any of those games from the 23rd on through the 4th that are non-Championship games should be very interesting that's a long time off without playing a game, many are 6-6 7-5, etc, and especially WISCONSIN vs Arizona St, Hell who knows what that first half will be set at. the ones 

Well in the Memphis Vs Hawaii game how much Motivation will Memphis be able to muster up in the first half, I have talked to friends who played against Hawaii before, and it's tough to go to an island of paradise and play a league game, where people are relaxing on the beach and have fun and you just got done with an 11-13 hour plane ride with a 1-2 hr layover in mid-America or west coast somewhere you get off the plane in Hawaii and now you have to get ready to play in a "who gives a shit bowl game" on Christmas eve. after you have a few days to relax have fun and its been 3 days short of a month since you have played a game. now the word "Motivation" comes into play for Memphis, HAWAII WILL BE HOME, IN THEIR OWN BOWL GAME, how do you figure. so being the line for the first half is set, will the Motivation start at kick-off? end of the first quarter?  second quarter? second half? or be there at all? Hawaii will have some being they will be before a home crowd. I have no doubt Memphis can score but, when will it start?

@whistledick

 this is absolutley true, well said. 1st half unders have hit at a great clip for many years in bowl games.

Good luck on your bowl season picks

OK NOW TAKE A LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF THE HAWAIIAN BOWL SINCE IT WAS BROUGHT FORTH IN 2002 as you see 12 out of the 18 games underdog has won!

,

The only thing about Hawaii....the Head Coach has seemed to have lost the locker room and people are beginning to leave the team via transport portal

Players don’t want to play for Graham. Top QB who is an island boy just entered transfer portal. Top RB just left. Players are saying they lost the love of the game by playing for him. He’s verbally abusive and threatens playing time if you don’t bow down to him. Coaches are afraid to go against him. Culture is not good. And when you have island kids playing on the team where the coach doesn’t instill a Ohana (family) vibe, you’re gonna lose your team. That’s why June Jones is highly regarded and Rolo who played for June were so highly loved… they loved the kids.. they loved Hawaii.. they respected the culture.

Sure game is at home for Hawaii. But the students will be on Christmas break and off campus. And who knows what kind of motivation the Hawaii team will come out with. 6-7 record. Thought they wouldn’t be playing in a bowl game until they created 2 more slots. Coach Graham was pushing for a bowl game for his own selfish reasons. And he has repeatedly told his players that coaching at UH is just a stepping stone for his next chapter. His son who is the OC sucks. The crowd won’t be too much of a factor. The Gov here has such strict covid rules to attend the game. Plus people here much rather drink at the beach instead of watch 6-7 team who just lost the local product QB (who WANTED to stay home and play in front of his family). It’s a sh!+show!!

sorry for the rambling. I’m from Hawaii and always want to see UH come out and make Hawaii proud. But I unloaded on Memphis spread. And the 1st half under, as you were saying is looking really juicy.