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2012 Hawaii Bowl odds and lines: Mustangs 12-point underdogs vs. Bulldogs

The Mustangs will have their work cut out for them against Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year Derek Carr and the high-powered Bulldogs offense.

Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE

The Southern Methodist Mustangs are gearing up for a shootout against Fresno State in the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve, and oddsmakers doubt June Jones' squad will be able to keep up with the potent Bulldogs offense. The Mustangs are 12-point underdogs, according to Oddsshark.com.

The Bulldogs (9-3, 7-1 Mountain West Conference), who are coming off five straight wins to close out the season, rank 14th nationally with 488.5 total yards per game and they average 40.3 points per contest. Fresno State's offense is led by junior quarterback Derek Carr who was named MWC Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for a career-high 3,742 yards with 36 touchdowns and just five interceptions.

SMU (6-6, 5-3 Conference USA) finished the season with a 35-27 upset of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, who were unbeaten in C-USA play at the time. Fresno State fell to Tulsa 27-26 in their fourth game of the season. The Mustangs will need a very strong game from their vulnerable secondary if they hope to have the slightest chance of containing Carr and the Bulldogs on Monday night.

The over/under opened at 62, but has shifted to as low as 58.5 at one sportsbook.

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. CT at Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium and the game will be televised on ESPN.

Photographs by jamesbrandon, jdtornow, phlezk, flygraphix, mcdlttx, tomasland, and literalbarrage used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.