Birmingham Bowl
Auburn (6-6) vs. Memphis (9-3)
Birmingham, Alabama
Dec. 30, 2015
The Birmingham Bowl may be the final time we see Paxton Lynch in a Memphis uniform.
Lynch, Memphis’ 6-foot-7 junior, is considered one of the nation’s top professional prospects at quarterback. If he does decide to declare for the NFL, he can cap off the best two-season stretch – back-to-back 10 win seasons – in Memphis history with a win over Auburn.
The win would also give the program bowl wins in consecutive seasons for the first time. It’s a favorable matchup, too.
[Play Yahoo's New Year's Eve bowl contest, where everyone takes home at least a $1]
Auburn fell way short of the high expectations that surrounded the program coming into the season. The team needed a late-season win over lowly Idaho just to reach the six-win mark and make it to a bowl game.
Auburn has been inconsistent on both sides of the ball all season as it trudged to a 6-6 record. Jeremy Johnson started the season at quarterback, but was benched in favor of Sean White. White hasn’t been much better, but he hasn’t turned the ball over at the alarming rate Johnson did (six interceptions in three games), so Gus Malzahn stuck with him. But White has been dealing with a knee injury, so Johnson could get the start in this one. It’s more likely, though, that both see action.
Running backs Peyton Barber and Jovon Robinson are far more reliable options for Auburn, but the Memphis defense has been much better against the run than against the pass. Auburn’s offense becomes quite predictable when it struggles through the air.
On defense, Auburn will be forced to contain Lynch and company without defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, who left to take the head-coaching job at South Carolina. The Tigers weren’t particularly good defensively even with Muschamp, but his absence certainly won’t help.
And while this could be Lynch’s final game, it is also Memphis’ first game since the departure of head coach Justin Fuente, who left for Virginia Tech. Assistant head coach and co-offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey, who has already been announced as a member of new head coach Mike Norvell’s staff, will lead the team in an interim role.
At 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds, Lynch is a lot to handle for opposing defenses. He has thrown for 3,670 yards, 28 touchdowns (both school records) and only three interceptions while completing 69 percent of his passes. Mose Frazier (66 catches, 750 yards, 4 TDs) is Lynch’s favorite target while Anthony Miller (44 catches, 684 yards, 5 TDs) and Phil Mayhue (47 catches, 644 yards, TD) have also turned in solid seasons.
Memphis really should be able to move the ball. If that happens and Memphis forces Auburn to throw, that seems like a fairly simple recipe for success, does it not?.
Picks
Graham: This is a tough game to call because Memphis already has shown an ability to beat an SEC team. Auburn has been hit and miss all year and Memphis struggled down the stretch. I’m going to lean toward Paxton Lynch in this one. Memphis 31, Auburn 24.
Nick: There are going to be points aplenty here. I'll go with the best quarterback and Paxton Lynch. Memphis 52-45.
Sam: This is basically an Auburn home game and the spread (Auburn -3) seems to reflect that, but I think Memphis is the better team. I think. Memphis in a close one, 34-30.
- - - - - - -
Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
