After dropping the last two games against University of Central Florida and University of Missouri, the Memphis Tigers (4-4, 1-3 American Athletic Conference) will travel to Greenville, North Carolina, on Saturday to attempt to salvage this season by defeating East Carolina (2-5, 0-4 AAC). The game will broadcast on ESPNN. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.
The Helmsman sports staff added a new member to the discussion. Ryan Brown, who is the men’s basketball lead writer, has joined reporters Frank Ramirez and Zach Thompson and sports editor Joshua A. Vinson to break down this matchup.
Ryan Brown
The rushing offense, led by Darrell Henderson, has had a great season for Memphis and will need to have a repeat performance against a strong ECU front seven, allowing just 3.81 yards per rush. The rushing offense will need to make plays that open up ECU’s secondary for Brady White. ECU has currently allowed an average of 7.25 yards per passing attempt.
The Memphis secondary will need to take away ECU’s top receiving threat, Trevon Brown. Brown is currently averaging 14 yards per catch and has caught four of East Carolina quarterback Reid Herring’s six touchdown passes.
If the Tigers can do all this, they should have their second conference win.
Final score prediction: Memphis 35, ECU 17
Frank Ramirez
Memphis heads to East Carolina to face a Pirates team that has lost four out of their last five games. This game would be a major confidence booster for the Tigers if they can get the job done, but with both teams eager to get a win after their bye weeks, the team needs to stay focused.
A key will be for the defense to deny ECU freshman quarterback Holton Ahlers a repeat of his performance against UCF a few weeks ago, in which he completed 406 passing yards and 69 rushing yards. Ahlers will be making his second start after contributing the most to the run game during the season. He only completed 54.7 percent of his passes and threw a pick, so look for the Tigers to put pressure on him to scramble.
Hopefully, Darrell Henderson will be back into form after limited play time against Missouri, where he gained only 15 yards on four carries. He will prove why he’s the nation’s second leading rusher, and he should help the team against an ECU rushing defense that allows on average 146 yards per game.
Final score prediction: Memphis 56, ECU 35
Zach Thompson
After two straight losses against marquee opponents in UCF and Missouri, the Tiger football team will be eager to get back on the winning side of things as they travel to East Carolina to play the Pirates.
Historically, this is a matchup that has always caused problems for Memphis, and this AAC game on the road won’t be any easier. ECU is eager to redeem their 70-13 defeat last season, and their defense currently allows fewer yards per game than the Memphis defense. Keen on stopping the run, the ECU defense will focus on limiting Darrell Henderson’s impact to slow down the Memphis offense.
The outcome of this game will ultimately be decided by whether Henderson can be contained by the Pirates’ defense, who have currently allowed an average of 146.4 yards per contest on the ground. While ECU will play relatively competitively in their home stadium, Memphis will pick up their second conference win of the campaign.
Final score prediction: Memphis 56, ECU 31
Joshua A. Vinson
I would call this potential matchup in East Carolina a “trap game,” but Memphis would have to have a winning record for that to apply. Nevertheless, if the Tigers go into this game believing they are superior, the Pirates will make them pay.
This game will come down to how effective Carolina’s defense can contain Darrell Henderson. If the running back gets going, Memphis will cruise away in this game without any issues.
I expect Memphis to turn things around in this game and build from there.
Final score prediction: Memphis 48, ECU 17
Brady White throws the ball deep to his target. White had 208 passing yards and two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Helmsman sports reporter Ryan Brown
Sports reporter Frank Ramirez
Sports reporter Zach Thompson
Sports editor Joshua A. Vinson
