Zach Thompson
After bouncing back impressively in their 47-17 win over Tulane, Memphis will be back on the road this week at Tulsa. Despite what is shaping up to be a pivotal home game next Saturday against #16 SMU, the Tigers must first take care of business against a pesky Golden Hurricane team that pushed the 7-0 Mustangs to their limit in a triple-overtime thriller in Dallas earlier this season.
At 2-5, Tulsa’s record is a bit misleading. They have faced several quality opponents, including Oklahoma State, Michigan State and Cincinnati, to go along with SMU. The Golden Hurricane offense, led by quarterback Zach Smith, relies on a potent passing attack that features four receivers with at least 250 yards through the air, so it will be crucial for Adam Fuller’s defense to show up with the same intensity they did against the Green Wave.
For Memphis, Kenneth Gainwell keeps on shining brighter and brighter. Last Saturday, he became the first player since 1997 to record 100 rushing yards and 200 receiving yards in the same game. He has emerged as a truly dynamic force whenever he steps on the field, and Tigers fans should be excited to see what he does next. If they take care of the ball and stick to what has worked for them, Memphis should be able to pull this one out.
Score prediction: Memphis 49-30 Tulsa
Reggie Reed
Memphis will travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for a clash with the Golden Hurricanes for another AAC showdown.
Memphis turned things around against Tulane Saturday after an impressive performance by Kenneth Gainwell. He now leads the team in rushing and receiving yards and has a total of 11 touchdowns this season. The Tigers will continue to feed him and Patrick Taylor Jr., who may be back from his injury.
Quarterback Brady White also had a brilliant game against Tulane throwing five touchdowns and no turnovers.
The defense for Memphis will need to keep the Tulsa passing game in check. The Golden Hurricane averages a little over 250 yards passing, so they put the ball in junior quarterback Zach Smith’s hands. Memphis will take of business in this match as the team continues to gain momentum heading to the game with SMU.
Score Prediction: Memphis 49-17 Tulsa
Frank Ramirez
While most of the hype from the Temple game has died down, Memphis will look to take care of business on the road against Tulsa.
After Kenneth Gainwell’s historic performance last week, I do not see him slowing down against this Tulsa defense. If Gainwell can continue to have stats in the triple digits, Memphis’ run game should be able to get the job done.
If Taylor Jr. is finally returning, expect Memphis to limit his amount of carries to have him at full force in an important homecoming matchup against SMU. Despite the controversy, Gainwell should be the lead back as long as he remains consistent.
Memphis should be able to get the job done, and for once, I do not expect them to struggle. This is a different team from the earlier squad who forced the Mustangs into a triple-overtime contest. Memphis should cruise.
Score Prediction: Memphis 42-13 Tulsa
Jacob Rice
Memphis will take on Tulsa in a game that may not be watched by everyone in the conference, but it could have an incredible highlight reel.
The Tigers got into a massive groove after pretty much drubbing Tulane. Offense, defense and special teams can take plenty of pride after a great display. Memphis typically has to take a few weeks to establish who their playmakers are, and I feel like everyone knows that the UofM now has a dynamic rush and pass offense if the conditions are just right.
Kenneth Gainwell was the first player in the spotlight after Tulane, and the light on him has gotten brighter and brighter week after week. Antonio Gibson and Calvin Austin III are now getting plenty of recognition for their talents. Joey Magnifico also got to prove his purpose on the field and may become an even better player in this game.
Tulsa struggles after losing four of their last five games, and it was probably the most demoralizing loss to SMU. The next week they went to Cincinnati and lost by 11 in a game that was way closer than expected.
Too many people are looking at the potential SMU matchup Nov. 2. Tulsa is a team that cannot be overlooked. The point is the Golden Hurricane offense can produce in big-game situations. Tulsa probably wants to win just as much as Memphis does. However, this is another game where I think the Tigers are only on red alert mode and won’t back down. I think Tulsa will play stiff competition, but I have to believe that Memphis can be too much to handle.
I see the Tigers winning by a decent margin, but Tulsa plays close for two quarters. I don’t see Tulsa dropping out of the game early, and if they do, it should happen late in the second half.
Score Prediction: Memphis 41-24 Tulsa
