Bowl season is here. Here is your First Responder Bowl Preview.
The Memphis Tigers and the Utah State Aggies have been dodging mediocrity all year. No one gives you brownie points for “taking care of business” and losing every game to tough opponents. Yet it is college football, and if you eat your vegetables and smash the teams you’re supposed to, you’ll end up with enough wins for a bowl game. This matchup features a forgiving but turnover-causing Memphis Tigers team, and a run-heavy Utah State Aggie offense. All this happening December 27 at 2:15 Central, in the suburbs of Dallas. Let’s break it down.
First Responder Bowl Preview.
Memphis Tiger defense, led by Jaylon Allen (predicted to be great this year) and has turned out to be great this year, making first-team All-AAC honors. The Tigers have been clutch on red zone opportunities and special teams, with K Chris Howard also making All-AAC first team. The Utah State team regrouped with a second -string RB (talked about below) and backup QB taking over and getting them to this bowl game. The key matchup may be whether a strong Memphis offense can compensate for an often-leaky defense, ranking 100th in passing yards allowed.
First Responder Bowl Preview.
The Memphis Tiger offense: has been difficult to diagnose this year. The playcalling by Coach Ryan Silverfied has been criticized, but mainly it’s been driven by the opponents’ tendencies. The Tigers schedule has had several non-descript opponents that make the running game look top-level. But for the big games (and a bowl game is the biggest game of the year) the offense had to be deceptive.
Quarterback Seth Henigan began the year listed among the top-10 most efficient QBs. But once defenses (like Utah State will) game-planned against him, the attack needed to become more varied.
The Tigers will throw to a wide variety of receivers, Eddie Lewis, Jaden Ivory, and then TE Kaden Prieskorn, especially in red-zone opportunities. Jevyon Ducker has been the second option all year, but may get the most carries today. Ducker has been good in games that needed consistency and toughness. Utah State lost a couple of defensive stalwarts early, and their defense is outside the top 100 nationally.
First Responder Bowl Preview
Utah State offense: relies on its run more than passing. They lost their starting QB early in the season. For the run they’ve relied on Calvin Tyler Jr. , who ran for 3 touchdowns and 125 yards against San Jose State. Overall, the Utah State rushing offense is 58th in the country. It doesn’t sound terrifying, but that number puts them just behind Wisconsin and USC in that category, and ahead of teams like SMU and North Carolina.
For their passing Utah State relies on QB Cooper Legas. Their offense overall has put up 17 TD and also, unfortunately 18 interceptions. The receiving leader is Brian Cobbs, who caught 70 passes for 844 yards this year. But this Tiger defense should match up evenly against the Utah State Aggies offense.
First Responder Bowl Preview.
Intangibles – Memphis is playing all its core players in the bowl game. For the first time in 3 years, all the playmakers will participate. And the Tigers have been active in keeping most of their main players for the next year and have a great transfer portal class. They will not take part, of course, but the vibe is very positive for this good but not great Memphis Tigers team.
Prediction – the Memphis Tigers high-powered offense will defeat a Utah St team that hasn’t met an unpredictable and varied offense and won. Memphis will have just enough defense to stop a Utah St team that been hindered by key injuries all year.
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