Memphis vs UCF Preview
You cannot do a Memphis vs UCF Preview without noting the different directions of the seasons. Memphis comes off a 3-game losing streak. UCF has just beaten a top-25 conference rival. Memphis needs to get home cooking to beat UCF. The key factor in this game is the injury to the star QB for UCF.
Memphis vs UCF Preview (The Coaches)
Coach Silverfield’s team took a bad time to have a bye week. Despite starting well, the 3-game losing streak has Coach Silverfield getting some bad press. People are starting to notice. (h/t to Athlon Sports). It’s a heated topic on message boards and talk radio whether it should be a hot-seat situation for Coach Silverfield. On the other hand, Coach Gus Malzahn of UCF is off to a good start in his 2nd year, 12-5 at UCF.
Memphis vs UCF Preview (The Field Generals)
Memphis QB Seth Henigan has fallen off greatly as of late. Whether it’s because of defensive schemes against him, or because the Tiger defense has left the offense in some dire straits? Who knows, but the results are the same. On the other side, the status of UCF QB John Rhys Plumlee is in doubt. Miley Keene is their backup QB and will sub in if Plumlee cannot go. He did go 15-21 in the second half as the Cincinatti Bearcats were upset by UCF last week.
UCF Offense vs Memphis Defense
Wardalis Duckworth and Quindell Johnson have led the Tigers defense. Johnson being back last week was supposed to lift a lagging defense. It did not match up as Tulane carved the defense up; aided by some sloppy play by the Tiger offense. Hopefully for the Tiger defense they can put together a great defensive game in the same game as a great offensive game.
The Memphis offense vs the UCF Defense
The Memphis Tigers have fallen greatly in offense this year. That’s as opposed to last year and as opposed to earlier this year. The passing offense has dropped to 28th in NCAAF, and the rushing offense to an abysmal 86th in NCAAF. The UCF defense has really stepped up this year. It’s ranked 40th in total defense, and even ranked an incredible #1 in the NCAA in red zone defense. The stingy defense has allowed only 8 touchdowns in 29 red zone attempts by UCF opponents.
Memphis vs UCF: The Brass Tacks:
The Memphis Tigers have played like a different team at home than on the road. They have lost to Houston in Memphis this year, but it took a herculean comeback by the Cougars. Also Clayton Tune was throwing against a Memphis Tigers secondary devoid of Quindell Johnson in the fourth quarter. However, the Tigers have been fading as the season has gone forward. Injuries, tough losses, internal and external pressure have not been kind to the Tigers. Without a high-turnover game from the Memphis defense, or a return to form by Seth Henigan, it could be a tough Memphis home loss.