
Memphis of the AAC and Wake Forest of the ACC will play in the Jared Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 22. Here is the 2018 Jared Birmingham Bowl preview.
Mike Norvell has kept Memphis’ program steady during his tenure and has helped them reach their fifth straight bowl game. Only one of their eight wins came over a bowl-eligible team, with their win over Houston. They had two losses to UCF, one in the AAC Championship Game, but also lost to a three-win Navy team.
Memphis has the seventh-best scoring offenses in the country at 43.6 points per game. They pass for 248.8 yards per game (ranked 49th) and run 285.5 rushing yards per game (ranked third).
Darrell Henderson (Photo by underdogdynasty.com)
Brady White has operated the offense for Memphis this season. He has thrown for 3,125 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 63.3% completion. While five pass catchers are productive, Damonte Coxie has been the biggest star. He has 66 receptions for 1,104 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Tigers have one of the best running backs in all of college football in Darrell Henderson. He has rushed for 1,909 yards and 22 touchdowns this season, but will now skip this game to prepare for the NFL Draft. Patrick Taylor Jr. has given Memphis two 1,000 yard rushers, as he has run for 1,012 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Their defense isn’t great, allowing 31.5 points per game (ranked 98th). They are average against the run giving up 169.5 yards per game (ranked 73rd) and bad against the pass allowing 250.8 yards per game (ranked 99th). Linebacker Bryce Huff is one of the best in the nation at tackles for loss with 19.
The Demon Deacons qualified for a bowl game in style by destroying Duke 59-7 with a backup quarterback in the game. Of their six wins, three came against bowl-eligible teams in Tulane, NC State and Duke. Only one of their losses came to a non-bowl-eligible team at the hands of Florida State.
Wake Forest averages 32.5 points per game as a solid offensive unit (ranked 39th). They pass for 228.4 yards a game (ranked 67th) and rush for 214.8 yards per game (ranked 24th).
Greg Dortch (Photo by richmond.com)
Freshman Sam Hartman started the year at quarterback for the Demon Deacons, but had a season-ending injury. Jamie Newman has taken over and thrown for 755 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions on 61.2% completion. Greg Dortch has led the team with 89 receptions for 1,078 yards and eight touchdowns. Sage Surratt has also done well with 39 receptions for 568 yards and three touchdowns.
Cade Carney and Matt Colburn both contribute to the running game. Carney leads the team with 954 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Colburn has amassed 698 yards and five touchdowns, which helps take some of the load off of Carney.
Their scoring defense has held them back this season as they allow 33.3 points per game (ranked 102nd). The Demon Deacons give up 191.3 yards on the ground per game (ranked 91st) and are horrible against the pass, allowing 271.2 yards per game (ranked 120th). Junior cornerback Essang Bassey has some of the most passes defended in the country with 15.
With Darrell Henderson out for this game, Memphis will be without their biggest playmaker. Wake Forest is riding high, even without their starting quarterback, after destroying Duke in their last regular season game. The Demon Deacons should be able to contain Memphis’ offense without Henderson and win the game.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons 33 Memphis Tigers 29
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