Teams across the country are wrapping up spring practice, including the Tigers. Memphis was set to end spring practice with “Spring Fest”, but it was postponed due to weather, and Charles Huff’s team finished spring ball indoors.
With spring wrapping up around the country, multiple outlets are posting their post-spring practice bowl predictions. On Wednesday, CBS Sports and On3 both posted updated bowl projections, including the 12-team college football playoff.
Following an 8-5 season, the Tigers brought in a completely new coaching staff and overhauled a majority of the roster. A handful of players followed the coaching staff from Southern Miss to Memphis, but it’s unclear how the mostly new roster will mesh.
With so many new pieces, it’s hard to predict how the team will play, and most of the predictions vary on where the Tigers will play in their bowl game.
CBS
Fenway Bowl: Memphis vs. Georgia Tech
CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford updated his bowl projections, and he predicts that the Tigers will meet Georgia Tech in the Fenway Bowl. Memphis has played the Yellow Jackets three times in program history, but the two teams haven’t met since 1982.
The Fenway Bowl has been a popular destination in recent years, but the Tigers have yet to appear in Boston’s bowl game.
In Crawford’s first bowl projections story, he tabbed Memphis to represent the Group of Six in the playoffs, but he moved the Tigers out and UNLV in. Huff’s team will open the season in week zero in Las Vegas against the Rebels.
Crawford’s story highlights the early-season matchup even more because the winner will have an advantage in the playoff race. The Tigers also play Boise State on the road this season, which should be another important non-conference game for both teams.
On3
Armed Forces Bowl: Memphis vs. Cal
Brett McMurphy also released his “post-spring college football bowl projections” on Wednesday, and he thinks the Tigers will land in the Armed Forces Bowl against Cal. Memphis has never played the Golden Bears in football.
On3 predicts North Dakota State, which is making the jump to FBS this season, will represent the G6 in the bowl games. While it isn’t official, McMurphy expects that both the Bison and Sacramento State will be eligible for bowl games.
Both bowl predictions have the Tigers playing Power Conference opponents, which would be a positive for Memphis, but neither has Huff’s team in the college football playoffs. Between the non-conference opponents and conference slate, Memphis will have plenty of opportunities to put themselves into a position to make the playoffs, but it must execute, which could be tough with so many new pieces.