Editor-to-editor: Memphis
Omer Abdulahi Yusuf- The Daily Helmsman
It’s finally here.
When Memphis’ 2015 football schedule was released in February, the Ole Miss game was the one almost everyone had circled.
The Tigers’ and Rebels’ fantastic starts to the season have only upped the ante, as both are currently ranked in the top 25 of the Amway Coaches Poll (Memphis 22nd, Ole Miss 12th) ahead of their big clash at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Saturday on ABC.
While Memphis fans may be encouraged by last year’s performance against Ole Miss, there simply isn’t much to take away from the Rebels’ 24-3 win against the Tigers in Oxford. The Tigers are a completely different team now.
Paxton Lynch and the Memphis offense weren’t playing at the high level we’re now used to seeing them play every week then, and the Tiger defense, which kept Memphis in the game for as long as it could last season, is far more experienced.
That should create a high scoring matchup this weekend, especially since Ole Miss now has a high-powered offense led by junior quarterback Chad Kelly. Kelly and junior wide receiver Laquon Treadwell.
For Memphis to stay competitive in this game, Lynch and the Tiger offense will have to probably score at least 40 points. While Ole Miss’ defense isn’t quite the same force it was last season, it remains a top 40 defense nationally, which is far better than Memphis’.
Though the Liberty Bowl will probably see a crowd it hasn’t seen a long time Saturday, it won’t be enough to make up for the Tigers’ poor defense and an offense that will be slowed down just enough by the Rebel defense. I predict Ole Miss will win Saturday, but if there was ever a time for Memphis to beat Ole Miss, given they are on a program record 12-game winning streak, now would be the time.
Prediction: Ole Miss 41, Memphis 27
Dylan Rubino- The Daily Mississippian
It’s no secret that Ole Miss has a strong connection with the city of Memphis.
Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze does a large part of his recruiting throughout the Memphis area with players such as running backs Jaylen Walton and Jordan Wilkins. Offensive lineman Ben Still and kicker Gary Wunderlich also hail from the area.
For that reason and many more, this game means everything for the city of Memphis. Freeze started his coaching career at Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis, where he coached current NFL offensive lineman Michael Oher. Freeze always has high praise for the area and great respect for the Memphis program and head coach Justin Fuente.
Both offenses like to score a lot of points, so expect a shootout Saturday afternoon at the Liberty Bowl. The Tiger offense averages 48 points per game and show no signs of slowing down with quarterback Paxton Lynch running the show. Lynch averages 335 passing yards per game and is a threat on the ground with his legs as well. Lynch is a towering figure, standing tall at 6 feet 7 inches and 245 pounds.
What drags down Memphis is their defense. The Tigers gave up 752 total offensive yards in their 53-46 shootout victory over Cincinnati, including 557 yards and four scores to the Bearcats’ backup quarterback. The Tiger defense gives up 28 points per game to opposing offenses.
The Rebels seem to be getting healthy at the right time, returning numerous players to their starting lineup on both sides of the ball. That will be the difference-maker in the end as the Rebel offense will out-score Memphis in a high-scoring affair.
The Rebel defense will give up the points, but they’ll make key stops on critical drives.
Prediction: Ole Miss 38, Memphis 24
