Miami Beach Bowl 2014: BYU vs. Memphis TV Info, Spread, Injury News, Time, More
The BYU Cougars and Memphis Tigers meet for the first time at the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl.
Both teams enter with potent offenses and gaudy win streaks. Bronco Mendenhall's Cougars are winners of four straight and in the process overcame some serious injury woes that would have derailed most seasons.
The Tigers and coach Justin Fuente ride a six-game winning streak, which includes a 41-10 shellacking of Connecticut to take home part of the American Athletic Conference title.
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The Miami Beach Bowl has the potential to be one of the year's most underrated encounters between a potent offense and one of the nation's best defenses. Great coaching and a war of wills are on the slate.
When: Monday, December 22, 2 p.m. ET
Where: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida
Television: ESPN
Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):
- Over/Under: 55
- Spread: Memphis (-1.5)
Answering the Call One Last Time
Some stuck the proverbial fork in the Cougars back in October, when starting quarterback Taysom Hill went down with a season-ending injury.
After all, there were whispers about Hill's name in the early Heisman race one season removed from throwing for 2,938 yards and 19 scores with another 1,344 yards and 10 scores on the ground.
Mendenhall's team persevered behind the arm of senior Christian Stewart, though. While not quite the runner Hill is, the Orem, Utah, native has thrown for 2,273 yards and accounted for 26 total touchdowns in his brief time as starter.
Stewart seems to have saved his best for last, as he has thrown 14 touchdowns to one interception over the course of his team's season-ending, four-game winning streak. He also sounds quite confident given the circumstances, as captured by Jarom Jordan of BYU Sports Nation:
The task is not that simple, though.
Memphis is in the bowl game in large part thanks to the nation's fifth-ranked defense, which allows an average of just 17.1 points per game. The unit has held seven of its 10 opponents to 10 or fewer points this year.
The leader of the unit is Tank Jakes, who has 83 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for a loss and six sacks on the season.
If Stewart is to etch his legacy in stone as the man who saved BYU's season, what may be his biggest test of the year awaits in Miami.
Creating a Shootout
Most of the talk that surrounds Memphis dials in on a strong defense, and rightfully so.
That in no way permits observers from sleeping on a potent offense.
The Tigers rank 30th in the nation with an average of 34.7 points per game thanks to the efforts of quarterback Paxton Lynch. The sophomore has thrown for 2,725 yards and 18 touchdowns but is also quietly a great dual-threat player thanks to 282 yards and 10 scores on the ground.
As Greg Wrubell of BYUCougars.com points out, Lynch has also turned his game up a notch over the course of the past month and change:
The Tigers have also overcome a serious loss on that side of the football this year. Doroland Dorceus was lost for the season, but in his place stepped Brandon Hayes, who now leads the team in rushing with 900 yards and five scores on a 5.2 per-carry average.
A sufficient level of offensive potency is the last thing the Cougars want to hear about at this point. Mendenhall's defense has allowed a minimum of 23 points in two of its last four outings. Before that, four consecutive opponents scored 31 or more points, all losses.
The blueprint for a Tigers win is apparent. As long as the offense continues to play its game, a win is certainly within the realm of possibility.
Team Injury Reports
| Kevan Bills | DE | 08/02/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | knee |
| Craig Bills | S | 12/17/2014 | will miss the Miami Beach Bowl Monday against Memphis | Out | neck |
| Taysom Hill | QB | 10/04/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | leg |
| Jordan Johnson | CB | 10/10/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | arm |
| Brayden Kearsley | G | 12/18/2014 | has decided to transfer | Out | personal |
| Nick Kurtz | WR | 08/28/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | foot |
| Dallin Leavitt | S | 12/18/2014 | has decided to transfer | Out | personal |
| Drew Reilly | S | 08/02/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | knee |
| Brett Thompson | TE | 08/02/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | eye |
| Fred Warner | LB | 11/27/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | back |
| Jamaal Williams | RB | 11/03/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | knee |
| Doroland Dorceus | RB | 09/29/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | knee |
Injury reports per The Sports Network, via USA Today.
Prediction
This game, just the seventh bowl in program history and first since 2008, will be a success for the Tigers.
Fuente's team plays strong defense that can keep its offense in most games. Motivational factors such as national respect weigh heavy in pre-Christmas bowl games such as this, and the Tigers have plenty to fight for in a rare bowl appearance.
Simply put, Memphis is a more complete team and can limit Stewart and the Cougars offense. How BYU accounts for the versatile approach put on by Lynch and the Tigers will decide the game.
Look for the Tigers to hold on late as a ball-control offense and strong defense stand tall.
Prediction: Memphis 28, BYU 24
Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.
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