1. How has the portal hit Memphis and will it impact this game?

No starter has left Memphis. The only ones that have left for the portal have been kids with limited playing time so it shouldn’t have an effect on the bowl game.

2. Memphis was 0-4 in one-possession games, what has been their issue in those close contests and coming up short?

It’s been the little things all year. A missed tackle (or a few missed tackles on one play), dropped passes, bad reads from the quarterback, missed assignments on the offensive line, I could go on for a while on this one. Special Teams haven’t been up to the standards that Memphis expects.  When all these little things start to happen, it starts to mess with your mind. You start thinking about what you’re doing instead of reacting.

First Responder Bowl: First Look At The Memphis Tigers

3. What is the biggest advantage that Memphis has over Utah State?

The easy answer would be to say that Memphis is arguably in the better conference and therefore had a tougher schedule but the Tigers strength of schedule is ranked 161st according to RealTimeRPI.com and Utah State’s is 80th. Memphis is 2-5 in their last 7 games. Utah State is 5-2. In my opinion, Memphis has the better offense and they’ll need to play all 4 quarters to win this game.

4. Who are the key players that Utah State fans need to know about?

On offense, it all starts with Seth Henigan. He became the program’s first ever true freshman starting quarterback last season and hasn’t looked back. They have a plethora of running backs on the roster but Jay Ducker has been the most productive while true freshman Sutton Smith may be the most dynamic. Keep an eye on Asa Martin though because he has the best hands coming out of the backfield. Tight End Caiden Prieskorn is one of Henigan’s favorite targets. Wide Receiver Eddie Lewis has the speed to get open.

On defense, the Tigers are led by linebacker Zay Cullens. He leads the Tigers in total tackles and fumble recoveries. He’s 2nd on the team in interceptions. Safety Quindell Johnson is a no-nonsense player that doesn’t mind laying the wood.

5. How do you see this game playing out?

I don’t think either team will blow the other out. I see a close game but exciting game. I give Memphis the edge due to them having the better offense. They average 34 points per game while Utah St averages 23. You really need to have a good passing game to open up the running game against Memphis. I don’t think Utah State’s passing game will have the success they need to outscore Memphis. I do expect Memphis to make little mistakes that’s plagued them all year and Utah State will keep it close but, in the end, I see the Tigers winning 28-21