Middle Tennessee playing out of Conference USA which has dominated bowl games this season and seasons past. Conference USA is 4-1 this bowl season with their only loss being an ATS cover as UTSA lost by just 3 at New Mexico. I like MTSU and I'm not really worried about the travel spot and the warm weather. I like what I am hearing from players and coaches referring to this game as a business trip. They also went to the Bahamas Bowl game last year and lost so I am sure they learned something from that experience. In the end I don't know that it matters, because Middle Tennessee has by far the best player on the field in Mississippi transfer I'Tavius Mathers who is an absolute beast and gives this offense a balanced dynamic. Mathers 1504 yards rushing 16 TD's at a 6.84 ypc clip and he's also got nearly 600 yards receiving.
This MTSU team will get their QB back in Brent Stockstill who missed the last 3.5 games after he got hurt against UTSA and this team actually comes into this game with a little bit of value because they are so much better with him. This team lost by 1 to Western Kentucky. They beat Missouri, they beat Louisiana Tech, and they should have beaten Vanderbilt before a lengthy rain delay really hurt them.
Hawaii is not all bad to be perfectly honest this team will benefit from having the time off, but playing on Christmas Eve at home is not always the easiest. I expect Hawaii to have some success but for Middle Tennessee to make adjustments and force this team into third and longs where they are not successful. Expect big plays from Middle Tennessee's offense and a lot of points. Hawaii has played 6 top 50 offenses (MTSU IS 10TH) in yards per play and have allowed an average of 49.33 points per game. That actually sets up a final score of 49-23 according to the total, but I expect more of a 45-31 final. I see no reason to back Hawaii here and the play of Mathers and return of Stockstill accompanied by this team's experience playing the in a tropical location a year ago gives me a ton of confidence backing them.
