Memphis didn’t play a game this weekend after playing four games to start the season, including a week zero game against UNLV. The Tigers will start conference play on the road on Saturday against Charlotte, so it’s time to ask some questions for Charles Huff’s team as they enter conference play.
Memphis is 3-1 with wins over the Rebels, Arkansas State and UT Martin, but it lost on the road to Boise State. The Broncos are currently the favorite to make the College Football Playoffs as the Group of Six representative, but the Tigers haven’t been eliminated.
If they take care of business and win the conference championship, they will be in the mix, but that’s a big ask with eight games left in the regular season. Memphis will be focused on competing for the top of the conference, so here are three questions for the Tigers as they enter conference play.
What will the defense be?
Most people thought that the defense would lead the Tigers this season, but it has been up-and-down at times. Opposing teams are averaging 440.8 yards per game and 26 points per game through the first four games of the year.
The defense came up massive against UNLV in the first game of the season, and they recorded four interceptions in the first home game against Arkansas State. The Tigers rank No. 8 in opponent points per game, No. 13 in total yards, No. 11 in rushing defense and No. 11 in passing defense.
Memphis’ defense needs to be better, especially in a conference where six teams are averaging 400 or more yards per game. The group has the talent, but it will be interesting to see if they can come together and play consistent football during the conference slate.
Can the run-game dominate?
Memphis was a run-first team through the first two games of the season and dominated, but that changed in week two against Boise State. The Tigers were held to just 135 yards on the ground, but 80 of those yards were on a touchdown run from Jaylin Carter.
The next week against UT Martin, Huff’s team threw the ball a ton before using the ground game in the second half when the game was decided.
Teams will be game planning for Jaylin Carter moving forward, and it will be interesting to see if the Tigers will be able to effectively run the ball during conference play.
It’s not like Memphis is one dimensional. Marcus Stokes rans in the top 30 in passing yards, touchdowns and quarterback ranking.
The Tigers will be able to keep defenses on their toes, and it will be interesting to see what the defense looks like through the rest of the year.
How will the Tigers fare in conference play?
Memphis went 3-1 in non-conference play, which is what most people predicted before the season started, but the uncertainty started when Huff’s team got into conference play. The American seems wide open this year with several teams already exceeding or not meeting preseason expectations.
Navy, who most predicted to win the conference, are 0-2 in conference play with losses against FAU and UAB. USF is off to a 4-0 start with a win in conference over Army, while FAU, Army, Tulsa and UTSA are all 3-1.
The Tigers currently have the third-best odds to make the conference championship game behind USF and UTSA, and they’re +425 to win the conference.
According to ESPN Analytics’ matchup predictor, Memphis has a 50.3 percent or better chance to win every game the rest of the regular season.
