The Memphis Tigers waltz into Cincinnati to face the Bearcats in an AAC Conference clash. Kick-off is set for Friday, November 18th at 8:00 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network. As of Wednesday, the Tigers enter this road game as a-7 point favorite and the over/under is at 57.5.
In last years match-up, the Memphis Tigers scored 22 points in the fourth quarter and out-lasted the Cincinnati Bearcats 53-46 at home. Quarterback Patrick Lynch, who has now moved on to play for the Denver Broncos, passed for over 400 yards and two scores.
Memphis (6-4):
Last weekend, The Tigers Memphis gave up 679 yards of total offense during a 49-42 home loss versus the South Florida Bulls. After a solid 5-1 start, the Tigers have lost four of their last five contests.
Quarterback Riley Ferguson is certainly doing his part in keeping the Memphis Tigers afloat during this tough stretch of the season. Over the last three games, Ferguson has thrown for 10 touchdowns and only three picks. Altogether, the new face-under-center has tallied almost 2,900 yards with 24 touchdowns and nine scores.
Three Memphis running backs pitch in to get the Tiger’s running game going. Combined, they have rushed the ball over 230 times for 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns. Doroland Dorceus leads the way with 638 yards and six trips to the end zone.
Junior wide receiver Anthony Miller had 10 grabs for 151 yards and a score in a losing effort for the Tigers last week against the Bulls. The flashy wide out is making a statement as to why he is the best receiver in the AAC. This year, Miller has caught 67 passes for well over 1,000 yards and 10 trips to the promised land.
The Tigers defense has been anything but spectacular in 2016. They continue to put the team behind the eight ball, forcing the offense to out-score their opponents to capture their victories. Memphis ranks 92nd in the nation, giving up 444 yards a contest. Their front seven also rank 99th in the country, yielding 216 yards a game.
Cincinnati (4-6):
The Cincinnati Bearcats have struggled this season and will need victories in their final two matches to become bowl eligible. The Bearcats are also just 1-5 in conference play and will finish-up their regular season against Tulsa next week on the road.
On Saturday, Cincinnati looked lifeless during a 24-3 road loss against Central Florida. The Bearcats gained 327 yards on the afternoon but turned the ball over three times in defeat.
Both Bearcat quarterbacks have struggled over the course of this disappointing season. Hayden Moore and Gunner Keil have combined for over 2,000 yards with 13 touchdowns and seven picks. both signal-callers could see action on Friday against Memphis.
Running backs Tion Green and Mike Boone share the carries out of the Bearcats’ back field. The duo has collected over 1,000 yards on 238 carries and have four trips to the promise land.
The talent for the Bearcats resides at the wide receiver position. Three pass catchers have all caught over 40 catches and all three have found the back of the end zone on multiple occasions.
Cincinnati’s defense has its share of their own problems in 2016. The squad ranks 71st in yards allowed and gives up 25 points a content. The front seven has also been gashed for some yards, ranking 74th in the nation, giving way to 179.9 yards a game. Memphis’s 23rd ranked passing offense should also test the suspect Bearcat secondary on Friday.
Trends and Notes:
The Tigers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
The Bearcats are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
The Over is 6-2 in the Tigers last 8 games overall.
The Under is 5-0 in the Bearcats last 5 games overall.
The Underdog is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
Game Predictions:
Memphis started the season off on fire and has cooled off quite a bit after facing the three top teams in the AAC. The Tigers look to get back to their winning ways against a Cincinnati team that has seemed lifeless over their last three or four contests.
Cincinnati must win out if they want to salvage their season and hopefully receive a bowl berth. The Bearcats lack of offensive production has been their downfall in 2016. They will need to take advantage of a struggling Memphis defense to capture their fifth win of the season.
The Bearcats’ wide receivers could finally get Cincinnati on the right side of the scoreboard. Memphis’s secondary has struggled, giving up almost 230 yards a game. Hopefully, one of the Bearcats’ two options at quarterback will get the ball to the play-makers on the outside.
Memphis has had no problem scoring and that will continue once again versus Cincy on the road. They have gotten accustom to having to out score their opponents and I don’t see why that will change on Friday. Take the over 57.5 and hope that Cincinnati can find some life to their offense at home.
