Zach Thompson
All eyes will be on the Liberty Bowl this weekend when Memphis takes on SMU in a game that has huge west division implications. The Ponies are 8-0 and come in ranked at #14 in The Associated Press Top 25, while the Tigers make a return to the poll this week at #23.
SMU is led by former Texas quarterback Shane Buechele and running back Xavier Jones, whom together have accounted for 38 of the team’s 44 total touchdowns thus far. If Jones can rack up 116 yards on the ground, he will crack the 1,000-yard mark for the season, while Buechele only needs 175 passing yards to hit 3,500. They are as dangerous an opponent as Memphis has faced all year, and will be a tough test for Mike Norvell’s team Saturday night.
The recipe for success is no secret for the Tigers. Kenneth Gainwell is having a historic season and will once again be heavily featured on offense. They will need to avoid another anemic stretch like the second half they played against Tulsa. Still, Brady White and company feel like a sure bet to respond well at home.
Over the last five meetings, Memphis has gone 5-0, and they will surely come ready to play with the stakes as high as they are in the divisional race. Expect the Tigers to make it six straight and hand SMU their first loss in a high-scoring game against the Mustangs in prime time.
Score prediction: Memphis 48-45 SMU
Jacob Rice
Last year the Tigers beat the SMU by a decent 10 point win. The Tigers kept their hopes for the AAC West division alive, and the Mustangs dropped to 5-6 and ended up not being bowl-eligible. There is an unspoken fight between these two teams. Last year both sides struggled to produce as the Tigers led 7-5 at halftime but eventually broke away. The year before, Memphis beat SMU in a rampant offensive game 66-45.
I have watched these teams over the years, and it has either been a massive blowout or a close game. This time, I think it will be the Memphis sideline cheering at the final whistle, but a lot of things need to happen.
SMU has a very dynamic offensive chemistry, and their quarterback, Shane Buechele, typically passes to his best receivers, Reggie Roberson Jr. and James Proche. The Mustangs possess a running back talent that produces as much as Kenneth Gainwell.
The key to stopping this offense relies on getting the defense rest more often. When the Tigers played Tulsa, the offense was scoring so easily, so when the Golden Hurricane offense took the field, they wore down the defense.
The Memphis defense can keep the pressure on anyone, but they do not have supernatural powers. They must keep the defense rested, or the offense will have to play perfectly to beat SMU.
After the almost costly trip to Oklahoma a week ago, the Tigers should be on peak high-alert for this game. In addition to the spotlight on this game, the city of Memphis could be determining whether the Tigers win. The home crowd and the cameras can change the motivation, so it is all very possible to win by a cushioned margin.
Score Prediction: Memphis 44-35 SMU
Reggie Reed
The stage is set for a prime-time matchup between two teams that desperately need a win over the other in #15 SMU and #24 Memphis. The College Gameday crew is also here in town to set-up the AAC clash.
The biggest players to watch out for Memphis is Brady White and Kenneth Gainwell. These two have been the best players for the Tigers, and they will continue to showcase their skills against a very good but beatable Mustangs team.
The key to winning in general for both teams is who shuts down the other team first. This will be a high-scoring game because both teams average over 35 points per game.
SMU’s quarterback, Shane Buechele, has an identical stat line to White with 20 touchdowns in the air and 2000-plus passing yards. Memphis’ defense will need to keep him in check at all times. They played a horrible second half of football last week at Tulsa, so this week’s preparation will be key.
I like Memphis to get the win, not because of all the attention that is about to come their way, but because they have a football team that wants this win in front of the city. Also, if Memphis loses, they can kiss their AAC West title goodbye.
Score Prediction: Memphis 45-42 SMU
Frank Ramirez
While everybody is excited about College GameDay coming to Memphis, the Tigers will need to head into this game with the same mentality against South Alabama or Southern. Many know the story-like emergence of Kenneth Gainwell and Brady White, proving all the doubters wrong. Still, the winner will be the team who is the strongest mentally.
SMU has an undefeated season in their hopes while Memphis yearns for a spot in a New York Six Bowl Game. The running game has to be in Memphis’ favor for a win, and if Taylor Jr. makes a return, it would be key for him to gain big yardage.
Both teams will look at the tape when they played against Tulsa as both teams should have lost against the Golden Hurricane in their respective games earlier this year.
While the Tigers need to keep their “1-0 every week” mentality in check, the team, fans and the entire city need to enjoy a historic day for the city. Who knows when a time like this will happen again?
Score Prediction: Memphis 36-35 SMU
