The Memphis Tigers and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers collide at FAU Stadium in Florida, to compete in the Marmot Boca Raton Bowl. The shoot-out between the two offensive juggernauts is scheduled to start on Tuesday, December 20th at 7 p.m. ET. The game can be seen on the ESPN Network for your viewing pleasure. Las Vegas has the Hilltoppers as a -4.5 favorite and the contest’s total at 78.
The Tigers ended their regular season schedule with an exhilarating last-second victory against the Houston Cougars 48-44. The win improved Memphis to 8-4 on the year and also landed them in sunny Florida for the Marmot Boca Raton Miami Beach Bowl.
Memphis (8-4):
The Tigers quarterback Riley Ferguson has been the catalyst for the offense, passing for 3,326 yards on 255 completions with 28 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He spearheads the nations 17th ranked scoring offense that averages 39.5 points per game. Ferguson also throws the rock for the country’s 20th ranked passing offense (294.9 ypg).
Memphis prefers to tote the rock down the grid-iron by committee. Three tail backs have totaled 295 carries for over 1,750 yards and 16 scores. Doroland Dorceus leads this trio with 786 yards and nine touchdowns. It will also be tough sledding for the Tiger’s running game against Western Kentucky’s 4th ranked rush defense (99.1 ypg).
Riley Ferguson’s favorite down field target is wide receiver Anthony Miller. This season, the junior wide out has collected 84 passes for 1,283 yards and 11 trips to the back of the end zone. He should find plenty of space against the porous secondary of the Hilltoppers in the Marmot Boca Raton Bowl. Western Kentucky is 110th in the nation against the pass.
Memphis’ defense has been a problem area for the Tigers this year. The front seven struggles to hold back opposing runners, ranking 85th in the nation, giving way to 200 yards per game. The secondary also has it’s issues, allowing 242 more yards a contest (81st).
Western Kentucky (10-3):
The Hilltoppers won their second-straight Conference USA Championship on the heels of a 58-44 victory over Louisiana Tech. Quarterback Mike White and running back Anthony Wales lead a potent Hilltoppers offense that sits second in the nation with 45 points scored a game.
Mike White has been sensational from the beginning of the season until the end. The junior rifleman has topped the 4,000 yard mark in passing yards 34 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Thanks to his productivity, Western Kentucky enters this game ranked 5th in the nation in passing yards per game.
The Hilltoppers do there best to keep opposing defenses honest. When they look to tot the rock via the ground, they call upon running back Anthony Wales. Wales has been great, charging forward for 1,376 yards on over 200 carries and has a team-high 24 touchdowns to show for it.
Two skilled wide outs catch the majority of passes from quarterback Mike White. Taywan Taylor and Nicholas Norris have combined for 162 grabs for almost 2,900 yards and a gaudy 29 touchdowns. Both receivers have surpassed the 1,000 yard mark this season and may be the best one-two combo in the nation.
Western Kentucky has also been susceptible to their opponent’s passing attack throughout their 2016 campaign. The Hilltoppers rank 110th in the country, giving up 268.5 yards per match. Unlike the secondary, the front seven has been a rock this year. The Hilltoppers run defense ranks fourth in the nation, yielding only 99.1 yards per game.
Trends and Notes:
The Tigers are 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 non-conference games.
The Hilltoppers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
The Over is 7-3 in the the Tigers last 10 games overall.
The Over is 6-2 in the Hilltoppers last 8 games overall.
Toledo won last year’s Boca Raton Bowl 32-17 over the Temple Owls.
This is only the third installment of the Boca Raton Bowl.
Game Predictions:
Prepare to hunker-down for a game that will feature plenty of offense. It won’t take long for this contest to turn into a shoot-out because both teams love to throw the ball down field.In the end, it will come down to which defense has the ability to get a stop.
Western Kentucky will also be able to run the ball while its defense will stifle the Tiger’s ability to answer over the ground. Take the Hilltoppers to close out there season with a high-scoring victory over the Memphis Tigers. Pick the over 78 and watch these talented offenses score at will. Hilltoppers 45-38 over the Tigers.
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