Opponent Preview: Memphis

Is it just me or does the Memphis helmet look like a box of Frosted Flakes?

Either way, the Memphis football team is one of the nation’s most high-powered offenses, averaging better than 38 points per game.

Their defense, on the other hand, is a bit suspect, giving up more than 33 points per game.

Expect this game with the 3-1 Memphis Tigers to be a high-scoring affair.

The Tigers’ offense is downright bodacious.

Starting quarterback Brady White is piling up the yardage, posting 1,375 yards and 17 touchdowns in just 4 games. He is not particularly big or particularly fast but he can sure throw the football accurately. He has completed nearly 65 percent of his passes and thrown just 4 interceptions.

When the Tigers feel like moving the ball on the ground, they do so with aplomb, handing the ball off to a pair of squat, speedy backs, sophomore Rodrigues Clark and junior Kylan Watkins.

Memphis, as usual, has a cadre of dangerous weapons on the perimeter. 5’9 junior receiver Calvin Austin III may be the most exciting player in the AAC. He has a highlight reel full of fantastic catches already this year and has scored 5 touchdowns while gaining 424 yards on 24 grabs. Tight end Sean Dykes is also a genuine threat as a receiver as well as full-time pass catchers Damonte Coxie and Tahj Washington.

Junior center Dylan Parham leads a robust Memphis offense line, which has provided quarterback White with plenty of time all season.

Defense is where the question marks remain for Memphis.

Aside from the one-man wrecking crew that is defensive lineman O’Bryan Goodson (a 300 pounder with 19 tackles and 4 sacks in just 4 games), the Tigers defense has proven, at best, ordinary and awfully susceptible to giving up big plays.

Expect the Bearcats to exploit this on Saturday afternoon as Desmond Ridder makes use of the array of targets that emerged in Cincinnati’s passing game last Saturday.