Is it too early to start thinking about Memphis winning the American Conference? Is it too far fetched to think they could do it?
The Tigers have destroyed Austin Peay and Cincinnati. They handled MTSU with ease. Just barley lost to a top 10 UCLA team. Played top 10 Ole Miss close on the road. The Tigers are battle tested this season.
The Tigers have an opportunity to win a conference championship for the first time since 1971.
Who's left on the schedule that posse a serious threat?
Houston is up next and they have a 17th ranked defense but UTSA even beat them. UTSA is only in, what, their 2nd year of FBS football?
The game will be in Memphis. There should be 45,000+ at the Liberty Bowl. Memphis should be favored to win.
After Houston is an away game at the winless SMU Mustangs. Then Tulsa with 1 win so far rolls into town.
Again, Memphis should be favored to win those games.
Then there's Temple. This is the last "threat" on the schedule. Temple, just like Memphis, is much improved but the Tigers have more depth and talent.
The last three games are at Tulane, and then they have USF and UConn at home to finish the season. Those 3 teams have a combined 3 wins so far on the year.
Assuming they win out the Tigers would win the AAC outright unless UCF or ECU run the table as well.
Lets suppose Memphis and ECU run the table, both would be 8-0 in the league.
The tiebreaker would be whoever is ranked higher would get the better bowl and crown. They'd still be considered co-league champions.
Worse case scenario I see is they lose to Houston and Temple. That still puts Memphis at 8-4 on the year. I don't see that happening. I feel they win out and win the league.
Why?
It's their mission. The Tigers are playing to prove a point. NO ONE gave them a chance to win the league. I had them 4th and that's the highest preseason projection I saw.
The players have mentioned over and over that this will be a statement year.
Tank Jakes said after the Cincinnati game that people would start to notice that they would be a serious threat to win the league.
Who would have thought just 3 years ago the Tigers would be in the drivers seat for the conference championship?
The championship is the Tigers to lose. Destiny is in their hands.
The Tigers have destroyed Austin Peay and Cincinnati. They handled MTSU with ease. Just barley lost to a top 10 UCLA team. Played top 10 Ole Miss close on the road. The Tigers are battle tested this season.
The Tigers have an opportunity to win a conference championship for the first time since 1971.
Who's left on the schedule that posse a serious threat?
Houston is up next and they have a 17th ranked defense but UTSA even beat them. UTSA is only in, what, their 2nd year of FBS football?
The game will be in Memphis. There should be 45,000+ at the Liberty Bowl. Memphis should be favored to win.
After Houston is an away game at the winless SMU Mustangs. Then Tulsa with 1 win so far rolls into town.
Again, Memphis should be favored to win those games.
Then there's Temple. This is the last "threat" on the schedule. Temple, just like Memphis, is much improved but the Tigers have more depth and talent.
The last three games are at Tulane, and then they have USF and UConn at home to finish the season. Those 3 teams have a combined 3 wins so far on the year.
Assuming they win out the Tigers would win the AAC outright unless UCF or ECU run the table as well.
Lets suppose Memphis and ECU run the table, both would be 8-0 in the league.
The tiebreaker would be whoever is ranked higher would get the better bowl and crown. They'd still be considered co-league champions.
Worse case scenario I see is they lose to Houston and Temple. That still puts Memphis at 8-4 on the year. I don't see that happening. I feel they win out and win the league.
Why?
It's their mission. The Tigers are playing to prove a point. NO ONE gave them a chance to win the league. I had them 4th and that's the highest preseason projection I saw.
The players have mentioned over and over that this will be a statement year.
Tank Jakes said after the Cincinnati game that people would start to notice that they would be a serious threat to win the league.
Who would have thought just 3 years ago the Tigers would be in the drivers seat for the conference championship?
The championship is the Tigers to lose. Destiny is in their hands.
