At 7:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, December 20, the 8-4 Memphis Tigers will face the 10-3 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the Boca Raton Bowl.
It will be the fifth meeting between the two programs, but the first since 1956. Interestingly, there have been six shutouts in the five-game series, which is tied at 2-2-1 after a 0-0 tie in 1934 according to Winsipedia (which is an awesome site you should check out). What a fact.
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Expect fireworks in this one. The Western Kentucky offense averages 7.6 yards per play — the highest figure in college football team this season, and the highest by any team since the 2013 National Champion Florida State Seminoles. They rank seventh in the division in total offense at 517.4 yards per game, despite only running 67.8 offensive plays per game — the 95th most in the division.
WKU Quarterback Mike White has been outstanding — ranking among the top ten in the country in completion percentage (67.2), passing yards (4,027), yards per attempt (10.4), and passer efficiency rating (180.5), and two Hilltoppers rank in the top ten in the country in receiving yards (Tywan Taylor and Nicholas Norris). Finally, running back Anthony Wales has scored 26 rushing touchdowns — only one fewer than national leader Jeremy McNichols from Boise State.
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Memphis is no slouch when they get the ball either. Riley Ferguson has thrown 28 touchdowns to nine interceptions, and was OUTSTANDING in the Tigers' 48-44 upset win over Houston to finish the season. He went 30-for-45 for 409 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions, and when he got the ball down three with 1:24 left to play, he carried the offense 72 yards for the game-winning touchdown pass to Anthony Miller.
The linesmakers have this one set between 77 and 79 points, with Western Kentucky at -4.5 favorites.[divider]
Memphis vs. Western Kentucky
Location: FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV Channel: ESPN
Live streams: WatchESPN
