Tigers Set to Face 9-0 Houston

While Memphis and Houston feature the American Athletic Conference's top two scoring offenses, Saturday's West Division showdown may come down to plays on defense.

Memphis leads the conference in scoring average at 44.8 points per game and ranks second in total offense at 546.7 yards an outing. Houston averages 44.4 points per game and 525.1 yards of offense. But for the Tigers, one key will likely be ball protection.

Kickoff for Saturday night's game is set for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2. The game can also be seen online through the WatchESPN.com app.

Heard locally in Memphis on Rock 103 FM, the UofM/Houston game can also be heard regionally on WAMB-AM 1160 in Nashville and WJAK-AM 1460 in Jackson, Tenn. For fans living outside of those radio markets, the game will be broadcast to subscribers through Memphis All-Access at www.GoTigersGo.com/Watch. Pregame begins on the Memphis Tigers Network at 4 p.m.

Saturday's game is also available throughout the world to service men and women on the Armed Forces Network. The broadcast can also be heard on SiriusXM Channel 81.

Houston leads the nation in both turnovers gained (25) and turnover margin (+1.78). Over their first nine games of the season, the Cougars have intercepted 14 passes and recovered 11 fumbles.

Led by junior strong safety Adrian McDonald's four interceptions and senior cornerback Will Jackson's three for 90 yards and two touchdowns, Houston has had a total of eight players account for the 14 interceptions. Wilson also has returned a fumble 85 yards for a touchdown.

Memphis has turned the ball over only nine times this season – seven fumbles and two interceptions – which ranks 12th in the country. The Tigers, however, are coming off a loss to Navy in which the team turned the ball over a season-matching-high three times. Memphis has been turnover free in four games this season and turned the ball over just once in three other games.

"Houston is a good, explosive football team offensively and combine that with a defense which continues to put pressure on quarterbacks," Memphis head coach Justin Fuente said. "They are good against the run and can give you different looks. We have to find a way to keep the game close and see if we can pull it off at the end."

Last year the Cougars forced five turnovers in the 28-24 win over Memphis in the Liberty Bowl. It was the Tigers last loss of the season as the team rebounded to win its final seven games of the year en route to a share of the conference championship and a Miami Beach Bowl victory.

Now, after having a 15-game win streak, which began the week following the loss to UH, the Tigers have a chance to begin another streak on Saturday. But a win will have to come against the second nationally-ranked opponent the Tigers have faced this season and one of just six remaining undefeated teams in the country.

Houston (9-0, 5-0) is ranked No. 16 in both the AP and Amway Coaches Poll and is No. 24 in this week's College Football Playoff Selection Committee Rankings. Memphis (8-1, 4-1) is ranked No. 25 in both polls and No. 21 by the selection committee

Offensively, the two teams feature similar offenses.

Memphis junior quarterback Paxton Lynch enters the game needing just 207 yards to set a Memphis season passing record. For the year, Lynch has completed 226-of-327 passes (69.1 percent) for 3014 yards and 19 touchdowns. He has thrown for 300+ yards in eight straight games and has thrown for at least one touchdown pass in each of the Tigers' last 14 games dating back to last season.

With a reception against Houston, senior Mose Frazier can extend his current streak to 23 straight games with a catch and take sole possession of the sixth-longest streak of games with at least one catch. For the year, Frazier leads the team with 52 receptions for 626 yards.

Sophomore running back Doroland Dorceus leads the Tigers with 449 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

Defensively, Memphis is led by sophomore linebacker Genard Avery who leads the squad with 49 tackles including 6.5 tackles for loss and three quarterback sacks. Senior linebacker Wynton McManis has 46 tackles on the year.

Houston's offense is led by Greg Ward Jr., who was named the Cougars' starting quarterback ahead of last year's game against Memphis. Last year Ward completed 17-of-28 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 95 yards and a score on 17 carries.

Ward has been a dual threat in 2015. He has ran for 16 touchdowns, which ranks tied for third in NCAA FBS Football, and is third in completion percentage at 70.4 percent. For the year, Ward has completed 164-of-233 passes for 2,116 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has ran for 829 yards.

"Houston is a very talented football team, explosive offensively, and Greg Ward is playing as good as anybody in America," Fuente said. "They have good wide receivers and good running backs."

UH senior running back Kenneth Farrow has ran for a team-leading 857 yards and 10 touchdowns. Junior receiver Demarcus Ayers leads the Cougars with 61 receptions for 769 yards and five touchdowns.

"I do not know how easy it will be cause of the kind of team we are getting ready to play. I will use the words I used last week – more comfortable – because last week was so uncomfortable," Fuente said in reference to preparing for Houston following a week in which the team prepared for a Navy's option offense. "I would not go as far as to say it is easier. We are playing an undefeated team and you start comparing games across the country.

"You see what they did to Vanderbilt. Then Vanderbilt and Florida play to a 9-7 game. You start to understand the level Houston is playing at and it is pretty impressive."

University of Memphis Athletics

Players Mentioned

Genard Avery

Doroland Dorceus

Mose Frazier

Paxton Lynch

Wynton McManis

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