I like the Hilltoppers in what should be a very high scoring and exciting game here tonight. This one is taking place in Florida and should be high scoring. WK's head coach Jeff Brohm moved onto Purdue, but I don't see it impacting this team like Houston's move with Tom Herman. A defensive coordinator takes over in the interim and I expect Western Kentucky to try to control this game on the ground with their senior stud Anthony Wales. Western Kentucky also has the better QB in Mike White who was lucky enough to be throwing to two future NFL receivers in Taywan Taylor and Nicholas Norris.
The fact is these teams are very similar in a lot of ways. Both have top 10 special teams, both have top 30 offenses, and two top 25 QB's. Western Kentucky however seems to be able to control the trenches better as they are +28 tackles for loss on the season compared to Memphis who is -20. They are +13 sacks on the season compared to Memphis who is -13. That's a huge advantage and Western Kentucky holding opponents to nearly 3 yards per carry can force Memphis into some long third down plays. Memphis is allowing nearly 5 yards per carry and have to go up against a better running team.
Memphis can claim the better passing defense, but there were 4 games this season where they faced a high rated passing attack and they gave up 44, 49, 48, and 59 points. Memphis has a shot if they are +2 or +3 TO's in this one, but Mike White has just 6 interceptions all year. As I mentioned he's throwing to two future NFL receivers, and a senior RB in Wales who wants to go out and get this team to 11 wins. I predict they will.
