Memphis Football: 2022 season preview and predictions for Tigers
By Kathryn Rose
The Memphis Tigers football schedule should be about the same strength as last year, but the team should also be better as a whole.
- Game 1 (L) at Mississippi State – Mississippi State should have a good offense, and will join that up with a great defense to beat Memphis.
- Game 2 (W) at Navy – Navy isn’t going to be as good as last year, and they were 4-8 in 2021. Should be a comfortable Memphis win.
- Game 3 (W) Arkansas State – Butch Jones is looking to improve his Red Wolves from a 2-10 mark in 2021. He’ll still be looking after this game.
- Game 4 (W) North Texas – The Mean Green have lost quite a bit, especially on defense, and Memphis should get yet another win.
- Game 5 (W) Temple – There’s nobody on the Temple roster who can really make a difference against Memphis.
- Game 6 (L) Houston – Clayton Tune and Nathaniel Dell are back, and head up a good offensive unit for Houston. Defensively, Memphis will give the Cougars problems, but Houston should survive.
- Game 7 (W) at East Carolina – Holton Ahlers and the ECU offense should keep the Pirates in the game, but Memphis will outlast them.
- Game 8 (W) at Tulane – Memphis should gain a win by putting up a terrific amount of yards against a hapless Green Wave defense.
- Game 9 (L) UCF – Should be a true American Athletic Conference shootout, but UCF should get the win.
- Game 10 (W) Tulsa – All of Tulsa’s main prospects have either transferred or gone to the NFL. There’s not much hope for the Golden Hurricane in this one.
- Game 11 (W) North Alabama – No chance for the FBS/FCS upset here. Memphis roars.
- Game 12 (L) at SMU – Rhett Lashlee’s first-year Mustang team still has Tanner Mordecai at quarterback, but there are losses at receiver. Still, though, SMU should be able to win the game.
Prediction: 8-4 (5-3 in AAC)
Eight wins would be a significant improvement, and there’s even hope for double-digit wins, should the cards fall correctly. Overall, Memphis has a relatively bright future, and Ryan Silverfield will continue Memphis’ winning ways.