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Birmingham Bowl: Auburn vs Memphis TV info, live stream, betting odds, prediction

By Mark Rogers

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Tigers are taking over Birmingham as Auburn and Memphis clash in the Birmingham Bowl. Will Memphis ride its decided quarterback advantage to a 10th win or is Auburn’s SEC size and depth too much?

Coaching upheaval and motivational concerns surround both teams playing in the Birmingham Bowl as Auburn looks for a new defensive coordinator after a disappointing season and Memphis plays its first game without head coach Justin Fuente who left for Virginia Tech.

  • Date: Tuesday, December 29
  • Time: 12:00 PM ET
  • Location: Birmingham, AL
  • TV Channel: ESPN
  • Live Stream: WatchESPN
  • Spread: AUB -2.5

The Auburn football program looked much different 15 weeks ago. SEC media tabbed the Tigers as the conference favorite and College Football Playoff participant. Auburn’s No. 6 preseason ranking seemed justified with preseason Heisman candidate Jeremy Johnson at quarterback, D’haquille (Duke) Williams in place as his main target, and defensive genius Will Muschamp in the fold to whip the Tigers into a championship caliber defense.

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The season unraveled quickly as Johnson clearly couldn’t grasp the offense, Williams was kicked off the team and Leonard Fournette wrecked the defense’ psyche for the rest of the season in Week 3. Meanwhile, Muschamp has left the Plains after just one season for another SEC East coaching chance at South Carolina.

Now redshirt freshman Sean White (57 percent, one touchdown, two interceptions, 1,064 yards) leads the attack. He and Johnson accounted for 10 touchdown passes this season. Despite the numbers, White runs the offense efficiently and has the arm to make all the throws.

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Auburn says goodbye to its major playmakers on the outside with Ricardo Louis (45 receptions, 699 yards, three touchdowns) and Melvin Ray (18-229-2) playing their final games in Birmingham.

Hope for the future of the offense abounds in the backfield with Peyton Barber (976 yards, 13 touchdowns) and Jovon Robinson (513-2). Barber is a big back who gives it all he’s got, but won’t run away from anyone. Robinson excites the Auburn fan base with his big play ability.

Carl Lawson may be playing his final game for Gus Malzahn. Despite an injury-riddled three years, the talented defensive end has shown enough to pique the interest of NFL scouts. Lawson played just six games this year after missing all of 2014. The Tigers defense is a different unit with Lawson on the field, though. Otherwise, Montravious Adams and Dontavius Russell see the double teams and Auburn is missing that potential game-changer.

Blake Countess (65 tackles, 2 interceptions) was a welcome addition as a transfer from Michigan. He stars in the defensive backfield along with Johnathan Ford (team-leading 113 tackles, two interceptions) and Jonathan Jones (67 tackles). Kris Frost is one of the SEC’s top linebackers (90 tackles).

Memphis loses its identity and face of the franchise with the departure of coach Justin Fuente to Virginia Tech.

Memphis won five of 36 games prior to the Fuente’s era. The current Tigers have done little to resemble that bunch. Fuente leaves the program in solid shape, but new head coach Mike Norvell won’t have 6’7”, 245 pound quarterback Paxton Lynch (69 percent, 3,670 yards, 28 touchdowns, three interceptions) who makes his final bid as the nation’s top pro prospect vs Auburn.

Memphis fans are pumped about four-star recruit Jae’Lon Oglesby who could be a game-breaker. This could be his coming out party after catching 20 passes this season.

Jackson Dillon is the heart and soul of the defense at “Dog” linebacker.

NFL draftniks watch out for All-AAC first teamer Taylor Falin (OL), Ryan Mack (OL), linebackers Leonard Pegues (65 tackles, seven tackles for loss) and Ricky Hunter.

Prediction

Auburn expected so much more out of this season. Are the 6-6 Tigers disappointed in its Birmingham Bowl destination or have the players adjusted their sights since the season headed downhill so early?

Auburn may have actually played its best football down the stretch in knocking off Texas A&M and competing with Georgia and Alabama into the fourth quarter.

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Memphis shot out of the gate with eight consecutive wins including an impressive 37-24 upset of Ole Miss. The Tigers were the talk of the Group of Five and the most likely team to break the big boy party in the College Football Playoff.

Aside from beating up a hapless SMU team, the Tigers have tumbled ever since. Minus the architect of the program and much of his coaching staff, will the Tigers feel let down by a trip to Birmingham or will the team’s leaders take hold and remind many of them that they were snubbed in recruiting by the SEC. I expect the latter.

If the game comes down to a field goal, pick whichever teams gets the shot. Daniel Carlson (Auburn) and Jake Elliott (Memphis) are both first-team all-conference selections after matching 22 for 26 seasons. Carlson also bombed a 56-yarder. Elliott has hit from 52.

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When in doubt, go with the Tigers, from Auburn.

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