Boca Raton Bowl: Our pick for the Western Kentucky-Memphis matchup

Tuesday’s bowl game

Boca Raton: Memphis (8-4) vs. Western Kentucky (10-3), at Boca Raton, Fla., 4 p.m., ESPN – Western Kentucky, which enters the game on a seven-game winning streak, is being guided in this game by Nick Holt, who took over as interim coach when Jeff Brohm left for Purdue. Holt is in his fourth year as defensive coordinator – after holding the same post at Washington and USC – and he wanted the permanent job. He didn’t get it. The Hilltoppers hired Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Sanford. Will the tumult slow an offense that averages 517.4 yards per game and tied for the national lead (with Washington) with 70 touchdowns? Memphis is coming off a 48-44 upset over then-No. 20 Houston and seems to be on the rise under coach Mike Norvell. The pick: Memphis, 42-40.

—Mike Hiserman