It’s little consolation to Memphis that the Tigers have played better than their record indicated over the past two years.
In 2021, the Tigers went 6-6 and lost four games by six points or fewer, including three by three points or fewer.
Last season, the Tigers went 7-6 (3-5 AAC), ending with a 38-10 victory over Utah State during the First Responder Bowl in Dallas. Memphis lost four games by seven points or fewer, including three by three points or fewer. That included a 47-45 four-overtime loss at East Carolina.
One impressive stat – Memphis is among nine teams that have made nine straight bowl appearances. According to cfbeveryday.com, the other eight are Georgia (26), Oklahoma (24), Wisconsin (21), Alabama (19), Clemson (18), Oklahoma State (17), Mississippi State (13), Ohio State (10), and Memphis (9).
Not bad company to be keeping.
The bowl streak aside, the theme this year is to obviously win more of those nail-biters. This is a team that has the ability to contend for the AAC title, but only if some of those close games turn into wins.
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Memphis Football’s AAC Title Odds
Memphis has the fourth-best odds to win the AAC at +700, via BetMGM.
Memphis Football’s Over/Under Win Total
Memphis’ win total Over/Under is 8, with Over 8 at -115 and Under 8 at -105.
Memphis Football’s Schedule
9/2 vs Bethune-Cookman
9/9 at Arkansas State
9/14 vs Navy
9/23 at Missouri
9/30 vs Boise State
10/13 vs Tulane
10/21 at UAB
10/28 at North Texas
11/4 vs USF
11/11 at Charlotte
11/18 vs SMU
11/24 or 25 at Temple
Bold indicates AAC contests.
Key Memphis Football Returners
2022 All-AAC Honorable Mention
DL Jaylon Allen
DB Davion Ross
Seth Henigan Leads A Potent Memphis Offense
Junior quarterback Seth Henigan returns for his third season as a starter. He is considered among the best AAC quarterbacks.
Last season, Henigan completed 64.1% of his passes for 3,571 yards, 22 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He also rushed for 289 yards and four scores. Henigan capped his season by being named MVP in the First Responder Bowl win over Utah State, completing 20 of 29 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns.
If Henigan can take the next step, then Memphis should have a potent offense. Last year, Memphis was fourth in the AAC in scoring offense, averaging 35.3 points per game. Memphis must replace its top four leading receivers, including Eddie Lewis, who had 42 receptions for a team-high 615 yards along with seven touchdowns during his redshirt senior season.
Another key loss was tight end Caden Prieskorn, who transferred to Ole Miss after earning second-team All-AAC honors.
A newcomer to watch is junior receiver DeMeer Blankumsee, a transfer from Toledo, who had 41 receptions for 512 yards and three touchdowns last season. Senior Joseph Scates was another big-play performer with 18 receptions for 412 yards and four touchdowns.
Junior Jevyon Ducker rushed for a team-high 544 yards and seven touchdowns. A major boost for the running game should be senior Blake Watson, a transfer from Old Dominion and a HERO Sports G5 preseason All-American. In 33 career games at ODU, Watson rushed for 2,144 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also had 60 receptions for 448 yards and three scores.
The experience on the offensive line is in the interior, with three returning starters – guards Davion Carter and Jonah Gambill and center Jacob Likes.
Jaylon Allen Is A Team Leader On Memphis’ Defense
The Tigers must replace their two leading tacklers from last year – linebacker Xavier Cullens, who was fifth in the AAC with 111 tackles, and safety Quindell Johnson (77 tackles, four interceptions). Johnson was a first-team all-AAC selection last year. Cullens was a second-team choice.
Memphis’ leading returning tackler is senior linebacker Geoffrey Canti-Arku, who had 76 tackles.
Senior defensive end Jaylon Allen is considered one of the overall team leaders. He led the Tigers in both tackles for loss (10) and sacks (five) while recording 67 tackles and was an honorable mention All-AAC choice. The other returning starting defensive lineman is junior Cormontae Hamilton, who had six tackles for loss.
The Tigers also welcome back their starting cornerbacks, senior Davion Ross and junior Greg Rubin. Ross had five pass breakups and an interception along with 43 tackles. Rubin had four pass breakups and 39 tackles.
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Memphis Football Season Prediction
Memphis won’t win the AAC but will win more games than in 2022.
This is Ryan Silverfield’s fourth season as head coach and the Tigers have the ability to show appreciable improvement. They did receive one of the 34 first-place votes in the AAC preseason media poll but were picked to finish fourth.
The offense should score plenty of points, and the key will be how the defense comes around. The Tigers were fifth in the AAC in scoring defense, allowing 26 points per game. Even if they stay at that level, the offense should be able to carry the load.
One advantage for Memphis is that it will face two major AAC contenders, defending champion Tulane and SMU, at home. If Memphis is able to win those two games, then the Tigers should finish in the top two spots and earn a berth in the AAC title game.
There are other teams the Tigers can’t sleep on and one of the key junctures of the season is a three-game stretch when they host Tulane, visit UAB (a potential sleeper), and then travel to North Texas, not expected to be a contender but a team that should be competitive.
As stated earlier, the success of the season will all come down to winning the close games and beating the main contenders at home. Memphis has the ability to do both, but it is far from assured.
This is a team that should improve upon last year’s win total. It’s tough to pick the Tigers to win the AAC until they show they can win those close games, but they can’t be discounted either.
Reaching the nine-win total will be challenging, but not impossible, especially since Memphis has the ability to compete with anybody in the AAC – it’s just that the Tigers, after straddling at or near the .500 level the past two seasons, must be able to prove it.
