Hawaii Bowl Odds Switch – Aztecs Now Favored

The early betting line for the Hawaii Bowl showed Cincinnati a 2-point favorite, but I never believed it. Now, with their star QB not making the trip, the line seems to have reversed and I see our Aztecs favored by 2. That's more like it!

From what I’ve read, the Bearcats are a high-scoring team, but without a strong defense. Their record is 7-5. Best wins probably the 34-23 over Miami, FL, and 19-16 over East Carolina. Among their losses, was a 38-24 to BYU and a 53-46 by powerful Memphis.

Their biggest offensive weapon is their passing game, led by 6-4 QB Gunner Kiel, a transfer from Notre Dame. He has thrown for 2,777 yards, with a 65.2% completion average, 19 TDs and 11 INTs. For their running game, the Bearcats QB hands off to three capable backs, who have run for almost equal 727, 717 and 697 yards. So watch out. However, there is a significant change because Kiel did not make the trip for “personal reasons.” That should change the match-up, as the odds switch indicates.

Their head coach ain’t exactly chopped liver. Tommy Tuberville has been a successful big-time head coach for 18 seasons, including stops at Ole Miss, Auburn and Texas Tech, and now in his third season at Cincinnati. His biggest year was 2004, when he went 13-0 at Auburn. 

A lot of Bearcat positives, but I like our Aztecs because they have been on such an impressive roll, with nine straight wins after a sluggish 1-3 start. The defense has become tougher and tougher, and turnovers have been a big factor. The offense is led by DJ Pumphrey and his 1,554 yards rushing, plus another 397 receiving. Passing has not been a huge factor but the fact that there have been no INTS in the last 11 games tells you our quarterbacking has been steady under Maxwell Smith and Christian Chapman, when the Redshirt Freshman filled in for the injured Smith in that crucial 27-24 MW play-off win over Air Force. And our Red Zone success has been sky high – 93.62%!

This Aztec team already ranks up there as one of my all-time favorites. A tribute to Rocky Long, his staff and the whole team. Now bring home another win – make it 11!

Aztec Grand Slam: MW Offensive Player of the Year (DJ Pumphrey), Defensive Player of the Year (Damontae Kazee), Special Teams Player of the Year (Rashaad Penny) and Coach of the Year (Rocky Long). All photos by Ernie Anderson.

GO AZTECS!