Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders @ Memphis Tigers Football Preview
Kick-Off: 6:00 PM (CDT)
Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
All-Time Series: Middle Tennessee leads 14-7
Last Meeting: Middle Tennessee 31, Memphis 14 (Sept. 12, 2009)
Vegas Says: Middle Tennessee -3.5
Put simply, coach Larry Porter’s Memphis Tigers are in team in trouble.
The Tigers have conceded 98 points and 994 total yards of offense in beginning the 2010 season with 49-7 and 49-27 losses to Mississippi State and East Carolina. Saturday’s matchup with a confident and high-powered Middle Tennesse Blue Raiders’ squad coming off a momentum-building 56-33 thumping of FCS-based Austin Peay offers no break for the defensively-challenged Tigers. Memphis’ senior linebacker Jamon Hughes, who had 17 tackles versus East Carolina, might need to equal that effort versus a Blue Raiders’ rushing attack that has ground out 499 yards and six touchdowns in two games so far this season.
Fortunately for the Memphis faithful, the offense showed plenty of spunk in last Saturday’s loss to surging East Carolina. True freshman quarterback Ryan Williams completed 18-of-25 passes for 293 yards and three touchdown passes to lead a Tigers’ offense that fought back after turning the rock over three times in the first quarter. Williams played only half the game versus East Carolina, leading scoring drives on four of the seven series he was under center for. Don’t be surprised if Porter puts the rock in the frosh’s hands for the entire game Saturday.
Tim Coyne
DFN Sports Staff Writer
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