Liberty Bowl Preview: Memphis vs. Iowa State
Bowl season heats up on Friday, December 29, with four contests, including the Liberty Bowl matchup between Memphis and Iowa State at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.
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Memphis vs. Iowa State (-9.5, 57.5)
The AutoZone Liberty Bowl will feature two teams that are relatively unaffected by opt-outs and transfers. Memphis will be without two offensive linemen but will otherwise be taking the field at full strength. Across from them, Iowa State will need to figure out how to replace its top two running backs, who both hit the portal but are otherwise intact. The Liberty Bowl opened with Iowa State installed as a 9.5-point favorite and a total of 57.5; that is where we still sit today.
The Cyclones, who closed the season 7-5, made a major shift on the offensive side of the ball after a 10-7 loss to Ohio and have not looked back since. Once they opened up the offense and attacked through the air downfield, they failed to score 21 or less just three times, and all of those came against ranked opponents. All five of the losses came against schools that are playing in a bowl game, and Iowa State was able to notch multiple quality wins, including beating #19 Kansas State on the road 42-35 to close out the season.