Miami Beach Bowl: BYU will have a challenge against Memphis' defense

Miami Beach Bowl

BYU (8-4) vs. Memphis (9-3)

Miami

Dec 22, 2014

Both Memphis and BYU could be considered success stories this season considering the obstacles they’ve overcome to get into this bowl game.

Memphis had not had a winning season since 2007 and had not been to a bowl game since 2008. In fact, the Tigers were 4-31 in the three years prior to coach Justin Fuente taking over, and this season, the Tigers finished in the three-way tie for the American Athletic Conference title.

BYU had a stellar start to the season before star quarterback Taysom Hill suffered a season-ending knee injury during the fifth game of the year. The Cougars stumbled a bit as they tried to get their footing with new quarterback Christian Stewart, but managed to finish the regular season on a four-game winning streak.

This contest is a classic strong offense versus strong defense matchup. BYU is 19th in the country in scoring offense with 36.2 points per game and averages 463.4 yards per game. Memphis is fifth in the country allowing just 17.1 points per game. Only UCLA scored more than 28 points on the Tigers this season and only two teams in the past six games managed 20 points.

BYU has not faced a defense this strong all season and it especially hasn’t faced a defense this good during its winning streak. The key for BYU will be for special teams and perhaps some turnovers to put the Cougars in good field position. It also will have to get its running game going to allow Stewart to keep Memphis off balance with the pass.

Memphis will lean on linebacker Tank Jakes, who leads the team in sacks and tackles, defensively, but don't discount the Memphis offense. Running back Brandon Hayes leads the team with 900 yards and five touchdowns. Memphis averages 34.7 points per game, but the competition in the AAC wasn’t exactly some of the toughest in the country.

If Memphis wins, it will finish with 10 wins for the first time in program history. It’s only had nine wins two other times.

BYU hasn’t had a nine-win season since winning 10 games in 2011.

Vegas odds: Memphis (-1.5)

FUN FACT

While BYU is playing in its 10th consecutive bowl game, no Memphis player has ever played in a bowl game and only one player, receiver Keiwone Malone, has ever been to one. Malone was redshirting with Alabama when it beat Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl at the end of the 2010 season.

PREDICTIONS

Graham: What’s the old adage, defense win championships? Well, it also wins bowl games and that’s what’s going to happen here. Memphis’ defense is really good, just ask Ole Miss’ Bo Wallace. BYU hasn’t seen a defense this multiple or talented and it’s going to have a hard time keeping up. Memphis 28, BYU 13.

Nick: This is a game where the better quarterback determines the outcome. The better QB is Memphis' Paxton Lynch. Ten wins happen for the Tigers, and Justin Fuente becomes an even hotter commodity. Memphis 23, BYU 17.

Sam: BYU, with Christian Stewart filling in for an injured Taysom Hill at quarterback, played pretty well down the stretch, but it was mostly against bad teams. Stewart hasn't seen a defense as good as Memphis, and the Tigers will force a few second half turnovers and pull out a win. Memphis 27, BYU 20.

From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - Miami Beach Bowl: BYU will have a challenge against Memphis' defense