The focus on transfers bypassing this bowl has been on skill position players, yet a number of defensive guys are skipping it, too. The plunge on the Toal by about eight points seems overly steep. Western compiled the second fewest rushing attempts in FBS and, even with a backup QB, is likely to keep filling the air. Old Dominion's offense operates at the eight quickest pace in the division and is unlikely to pump the brakes. The Monarchs allow lots of sacks, which opens the door for turnovers for the Hilltoppers that could present the offense with short fields.

It appears as if prolific WKU QB Austin Reed is going to skip this game. Underestimate HC Tyson Helton at your peril, however; he's won and covered bowls the past two years, and is 3-1 SU in now-familiar postseason action with the Hilltoppers, whose season got knocked for a loop in late September at Ohio State. Not sure the Monarchs have the look of a reliable favorite, with all six of their Ws by seven points or fewer, and needing last-play wins over Georgia Southern and Georgia State to close the season to become bowl-eligible. Helton has been preparing nephew and backup QB Turner Helton to replace Reed, and Sun belt sides hardly overwhelmed in Saturday's bowls. Play WKU

Both teams were hit by opt outs/the portal, but WKU much more so with starting QB Austin Reed and a handful of offensive lineman and defensive starters. There's also the motivation factor. Western Kentucky plays in a bowl every year. This is still pretty new for ODU, which has played in only two, last in 2019, and not won a bowl since 2016.