BIRMINGHAM BOWL -- Memphis will be without RB Darrell Henderson, who leads the nation in all-purpose yardage. He's sitting out to prepare for the NFL draft, and the Tigers will be crippled without his production. Wake Forest will be without dynamic receiver Greg Dortch due to injury. But the injury-ravaged Deacons were an underdog to even be here. They pulled upsets at N.C. State and Duke in the final three weeks just to receive a bowl bid and should have the edge over a Tigers club that is historically poor at any venue that isn't their home turf.

BIRMINGHAM BOWL -- A 70+ Over/Under in bowl season suggests one thing to me -- shenanigans. Both teams hit the Over more than the Under in 2018, even in games with O/U of 61 or more points. Both defenses are giving up more than 31 points per game, and both offenses have averaged more than 5.75 yards per play in the month of November. They should be able to hit the Over early in the fourth quarter.

BIRMINGHAM BOWL -- Tigers running back Darrell Henderson decided to make the jump (rightfully so) to the NFL and won't play in the bowl game. That's unfortunate because Henderson is a touchdown waiting to happen and averages over eight yards per carry. Another big absence from this Memphis squad will be associate head coach Will Hall, who has taken the offensive coordinator job at Tulane. Hall was a big-time architect of the ground game this season for Memphis. Both absences will make this a much better game for Wake Forest from a schematic standpoint. Pick: Take Wake Forest and the points

BIRMINGHAM BOWL - This pick is more of a gut feel than one based in a ton of analysis. The fact is that Dave Clawson has had his Wake Forest team ready for a bowl game the last couple of years, winning outright against Texas A&M and Temple as an underdog both times. This year Wake will be facing a good Memphis team, but a Memphis team without its most explosive weapon in RB Darrell Henderson. Take the Deacons.

BIRMINGHAM BOWL -- Memphis RB Darrell Henderson will skip his senior season to cast his lot with the NFL draft, thus crippling the Tigers’ offense. Henderson topped the FBS in touchdowns and all-purpose yards. So Christmas comes early for the Demon Deacons’ defense, which ranks 116th in defense. Wake owns the better bowls legacy in recent years, with outright wins the last two years while Memphis was losing a pair. Wake QB Jamie Newman is settling in after replacing injured starter Sam Hartman four games ago.

BIRMINGHAM BOWL -- Memphis's troubles defensively leave the Tigers prone for a letdown against a resurgent Wake Forest team. Yet, look for Mike Norvell to have the right answers offensively to overwhelm the Demon Deacons.