Previewing Cincinnati’s Week 6 Opponent: The Memphis Tigers

The Cincinnati Bearcats host the 2-2 Memphis Tigers this Saturday at 7:00 PM on the CBS Sports Network. As Scott and I discussed on Tuesday, this has the real possibility of being a trap game of sorts for UC. Memphis, while just .500 on the season, lost to a pair of ranked teams UCLA and Ole Miss who are expected to finish near the top of their respective conferences this year. The Tigers played them tough as they did the Bearcats last season, which has me slightly concerned heading into this game.

On the surface, Memphis is Ohio State-lite, with head coach Justin Fuente utilizing a strong running game coupled with a suffocating front seven to guide them to victory. The schemes are different between the Buckeyes and Tigers but the fundamental premise is similar. If UC utilizes the same strategy they did last week, they could be in a world of hurt this Saturday.

OFFENSE

As mentioned, Memphis is a run-first football team. Their run-to-pass ratio is 56% which slightly more than the average team who attempts the keep the ball on the ground 54% of the time.

The Tigers’ workhorse this Saturday will be sixth year senior Brandon Hayes, who’s averaging 4.6 yards per carry with 197 yards and a touchdown to his name. He rush for 76 yards and a score against Cincinnati last year. Typically Memphis would split carries with Hayes and sophomore Doroland Dorceus but unfortunately the young man was lost for the season with a leg injury. So the Tigers will lean on their senior to shoulder the load.

At quarterback Memphis is lead by 6’7″ Paxton Lynch who’s basically been asked to be a game manager this season and has performed well in this role, throwing five touchdowns to three interceptions. His favorite targets appear to be the 5’11” 155 lbs Keiwone Malone and the 5’11” 185 lbs Mose Frazier. Cincinnati did a nice job keeping them in check last season, as the pair combined for just two receptions, 15 yards, and no touchdowns, but the jury’s still out if this year’s Bearcat secondary can do the same.

DEFENSE

This is where the Tigers make their money. Memphis’ front seven is excellent and arguably the best in the AAC. The heart and soul of the defense is linebacker Tank Jakes. He boasts a team leading 33 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and four sacks thus far this season. With a name like “Tank”, he better be putting up those kinds of numbers.

Along the defensive line, senior Martin Ifedi should have been the one to keep an eye on. He’s had a slow start this year, Silverberry Mouhon can empathize, but he’s poised for a break out game. The big setback has been a nagging knee injury. There’s no word yet on if Ifedi will be ready to play against Cincinnati but that would be a huge break for the Bearcats if he’s still sidelined.

Regardless of his absence, Memphis’ defense is still solid, averaging three sacks (26th nationally), 132 rushing yards (50th nationally), and 228 passing yards (55th nationally) per game. Remember, two of the Tigers’ games this year were played against Ole Miss and UCLA, the 24th and 34th best offenses in the country. Overall, this will be one of the better defenses Cincinnati faces this season.

FINAL THOUGHTS AND PREDICTION

The Tigers gave Cincinnati fits last year and I’m envisioning the same happening this time around. This is virtually the same Memphis team from last season except they’re a year more experienced and much better all around. The Bearcats have enough firepower to score on the Tiger defense but I don’t think it’ll come as easily as in the first three games. Plus UC’s run defense, and the defense in general, is fast approaching dumpster fire status. This will be a close, hard fought game but I think the Bearcats can pull it off.

Cincinnati: 27

Memphis: 20