SMU vs Memphis overall
The Duel: Who wants it more. First thing about the SMU vs Memphis preview: both coaches are fairly secure. Both teams made their goal of being bowl-eligible. The final game of the regular season for both teams is at SMU. SMU has lost only 2 home games. Those were to #4 ranked TCU and also to #21 ranked Cincinnati.
SMU vs Memphis Preview
Memphis Defense vs Tanner Mordecai, SMU quarterback: SMU has the edge. buoyed by star Tanner Mordecai.
BREAKING: #SMU QB Tanner Mordecai will walk on Senior Day with intentions to enter the NFL Draft, he tells reporters.
“I’ve had a frickin’ blast.”https://t.co/IL2Wy9ZUOv#PonyUpDallas pic.twitter.com/dGmLU2yIpF
— Billy Embody (@BillyEmbody) November 22, 2022
This Mordecai has had an electric season. He is ranked #13 in NCAA in total passing yards. To show the rarefied air this is, consider this. Deep breath. That’s right behind Hendon Hooker. And just ahead of Bo Nix (Oregon) and Stetson Bennett (GA). The SMU Mustangs run game is solid but Tanner drives that offense. Against other highly touted offenses the Memphis defense is giving up 28-35 points a game (see ECU, Houston, etc.).
SMU vs Memphis Preview
Memphis offense vs SMU defense: the Memphis hope. Seth Henigan returned to his no-turnover ways last week. The SMU defense is ranked 91st in the country, passable but not elite. Worse still is their run defense, 121st, so less than 10 worse in the country. The Memphis offense was revamped last week with Brandon Thomas, the RB with the most carries this year, out. He was announced before last week’s game with an undisclosed injury, and to be out for the year.
Asa Martin handled the majority of the starter’s minutes in the first half. The offense has evolved with Seth Henigan taking the ball less on called QB draws and less scrambles. Maybe the blocking has improved, or maybe the playcalling is forcing less reliance on Henigan’s tough-minded running style. But Martin, Ducker, and even Gabe Rogers on called reverses have touched the ball in the running game.
For the passing game, Eddie Lewis is getting open more often than earlier in the year. Gabe Rogers is still getting a lot of receptions, and Caden Prieskorn the TE is still getting many catches in the red zone. Last week against a Division 2 opponent is an aberration. But the downfield passing has improved this year, partly from better offensive line protection.
SMU vs Memphis Preview
Memphis intangibles; perhaps affection for the coach? Can getting this coach to 7-5 be a holiday weekend gift for the coach. Other intangibles are the special teams, suddenly coming alive. Eddie Lewis for Memphis is one of the top returners in the country. He’s currently #15 in punt returns. Lewis is averaging 9.9 yard per fielded punt return.
Memphis kicker Chris Howard was named AAC special teams player of the week against Tulsa 2 weeks ago. Last week as well he did not miss a field goal. And 8 extra points as well executed flawlessly.
Though SMU has had a better season overall statistically, Memphis always gives them a good game. The Memphis Tigers have owned this series of late. They have won 3 of the last 4 at SMU’s stadium, and 7 of 8 overall. If the Memphis Tigers win, they’ll go to a better bowl game than a loss.
The AAC bowl tie-ins are with the Fenway Bowl vs ACC; – Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl vs Conference USA;– Military Bowl Presented by Peraton vs ACC;– Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl vs Army (h/t College Football News). There’s another 4 bowls that the AAC might participate in. But suffice it to say the loser of this game will be slotted down 2-3 slots down in the bowl hierarchy and a 6-6 record. So let’s know that the Tigers and the Mustangs will have to be highly motivated to participate in a top-tier AAC bowl placement.
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