In years past or even earlier this season, I would say that this game could come down to who has the ball last.

A high scoring event in which a turnover and stealing of a possession could determine the outcome.

I just don't know anymore.

Everything about this game points to a high scoring affair.

But the numbers have said the same thing before and things have not turned out that way.

How far off is this season compared to previous years.

It is Houston who has a massive advantage on special teams with kick off and punt returns.

Something the Tigers have dominated the past 6 years.

One thing that may be constant is that turnovers could be a factor.

Both teams have a habit of turning it over too much this season.

I just hope that White and his receivers can hook up early and get the 56 yards he needs to become the Tigers all-time passing leader out of the way quickly.

Then the team can focus on getting a win over Houston and put Silverfield in a position to match Norvell's first season win total of 8 with a win this week and a win in the bowl game.

I personally would be disappointed with going to a lesser bowl against a lesser opponent.

As great as Tigers football has been the past half dozen years, 6 straight bowl losses are starting to get under my skin.


Total Offense
Memphis 22nd
Houston 40th

Total Defense
Memphis 104th
Houston 89th

Passing offense
Memphis 15th
Houston 34th

Rushing Offense
Memphis 78th
Houston 71st

Passing Defense
Memphis 122nd
Houston 80th

Rushing Defense
Memphis 52nd
Houston 93rd

Red Zone Offense
Memphis 58th
Houston 28th

Red Zone Defense
Memphis 23rd
Houston 68th

Net Punting
Memphis 32nd
Houston 34th

Punt Returns
Memphis 31st
Houston 3rd

Punt Return Defense
Memphis 37th
Houston 1st

Blocked Punts
Memphis 12th
Houston n/a

Blocked Punts Allowed
Memphis 1st
Houston 1st

Kick Off Returns
Memphis 90th
Houston 11th

Kick Off Return Defense
Memphis 9th
Houston 114th

Turnover margin
Memphis 59th
Houston 113th

Fumbles
Memphis 101st
Houston 64th

Fumbles Recovered
Memphis 31st
Houston 85th

Passes Had Intercepted
Memphis 88th
Houston 68th

Passes Intercepted
Memphis 16th
Houston 105th

Sacks
Memphis 45th
Houston 13th

Sacks allowed
Memphis 44th
Houston 44th

ToP
Memphis 78th
Houston 52nd

Scoring Offense
Memphis 39th
Houston 31st

Scoring Defense
Memphis 104th
Houston 92nd

Thanks

There are lots of scary numbers on the defensive side, but maybe even scarier...

KICK RETURNS
2020
24
442 yards
18.4 average
32 longest
0 touchdowns

2019
46
1,206 yards
26.4 average
99 longest
3 touchdowns

2018
54
959 yards
17.8 average
97 longest
1 touchdown

2017
48
1,249 yards
26.0 average
100 longest
4 touchdowns

The numbers are also skewed by the fact that teams would squib kick against us, and we would have a lot of returns for almost no yards where we got the ball between the 30-45 yard line. Gabriel Rogers had one return all of last year for a 99 yard touchdown. He has 5 this year for 92 yards.