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U*ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM BLAZERS @ MEMPHIS TIGERS -4 OVER 51.5
UAB (3-4) at Memphis (4-3) @ 7:30 PM. EST. *ESPN2 Network
FACTS & STATS: Site: Liberty Bowl (62,380) -- Memphis, Tennessee. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: UAB 2-2, Memphis 3-1. Away Record: UAB 1-2, Memphis 1-2. Neutral Record: UAB 0-0, Memphis 0-0. Conference Record: UAB 1-3, Memphis 3-2. Series Record: UAB leads, 5-2.
GAME NOTES: A couple of schools headed in opposite directions collide at the Liberty Bowl on Tuesday night, as the slumping UAB Blazers take on the streaking Memphis Tigers in Conference USA action. The Blazers come into the contest on the decline, as they have dropped three straight games, including a 37-28 setback to Southern Mississippi on October 21st. With the sudden slide, the team has fallen below .500 in both league play (1-3) and overall (3-4). As for Memphis, it has overcome a 1-2 start to the season by winning three of its last four games, including the last two. The team was last in action on October 22nd, when it slipped past East Carolina by a score of 27-24. With that victory, the Tigers improved to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play. Memphis, however, has dropped the last five encounters with UAB and now trails the all-time series with the Blazers, 5-2.
The Blazers' offense has done its job this season and is one of the more productive units in the league, averaging 27.3 ppg behind 431.3 ypg. Most of the yards have come via the pass (311.0 ypg), while just 120.3 ypg are a result of the team's ground attack. Darrell Hackney has been one of the few consistent players for the Blazers this season and has completed 66.4 percent of his throws for 2,144 yards with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions. The veteran signal caller is coming off a tremendous performance against Southern Miss in which he throw for 407 yards and three scores in a losing effort. Hackney's primary target this year has been Reggie Lindsey, who leads the team with 32 receptions for 570 yards and five scores. As for the UAB ground attack, it is paced by a pair of backs in Dan Burks and Corey White. The two have split carries this season with Burks rushing for 318 yards and White amassing 254.
Defensively, UAB has put together some good outings this season, but the unit has really struggled of late. The Blazers are currently allowing 23.3 ppg and have given up more than 25 points in four of their past five games. The defense has done a respectable job against the run (136.1 ypg), but needs to do a much better job against the pass (210.6 ypg). In their most recent bout, the Blazers gave up 177 yards on the ground and 247 more through the air in a loss to Southern Miss. Orlandus King, once again, paced the team in defeat with 10 tackles. He currently leads the club in tackles (54) and is also tied for the team-lead in sacks (three).
DeAngelo Williams has been simply sensational for the Tigers this season and that was never more apparent than in the team's 27-24 victory over East Carolina in which he rushed for 226 yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries. It was the fourth game that he has rushed for over 200 yards this season and the eighth time in his career he has turned the trick. Williams, who ranks seventh all-time in NCAA history in rushing yards and fourth all-time in all-purpose yards, currently sits first in the nation in rushing with an average of 187.0 ypg. Williams has also rushed for 12 touchdowns this season and is the main reason the Tigers are averaging a healthy 282.9 rushing ypg. What has been even more amazing about his success is the fact that Memphis has lost its top two quarterbacks and is now down to Maurice Avery, who is a converted wide receiver. Avery hasn't done much in terms of throwing the ball (40.1 passing ypg), but he has been effective with his legs, rushing for 271 yards and three scores on 54 carries. The duo of Williams and Avery help explain why the Tigers are averaging a solid 28.9 ppg despite throwing for just 131.6 ypg.
Much like UAB, the Memphis defense could stand some improvement, as the Tigers are giving up 23.3 ppg behind 418.0 total ypg. The unit yields an average of 138.0 ypg on the ground and 280.0 ypg through the air, while forcing 14 turnovers and coming up with the same number of sacks. Although the defense didn't record a sack or turnover in the win over ECU, the unit still did a good job in allowing just 343 total yards, including a mere 46 yards on the ground. Wesley Smith, who posted four tackles in the winning effort, has been the team's most consistent defender this season and leads the way with 52 tackles.
This is a big game for UAB, as its season is starting to slip away and another loss in league play would spell disaster. Memphis, on the other hand, can still make some noise in conference play and continue its quest for another bowl bid. The Tigers have the edge playing at home and with a big game from Williams they should prevail in a close one that is high scoring.
UAB (3-4) at Memphis (4-3) @ 7:30 PM. EST. *ESPN2 Network
FACTS & STATS: Site: Liberty Bowl (62,380) -- Memphis, Tennessee. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: UAB 2-2, Memphis 3-1. Away Record: UAB 1-2, Memphis 1-2. Neutral Record: UAB 0-0, Memphis 0-0. Conference Record: UAB 1-3, Memphis 3-2. Series Record: UAB leads, 5-2.
GAME NOTES: A couple of schools headed in opposite directions collide at the Liberty Bowl on Tuesday night, as the slumping UAB Blazers take on the streaking Memphis Tigers in Conference USA action. The Blazers come into the contest on the decline, as they have dropped three straight games, including a 37-28 setback to Southern Mississippi on October 21st. With the sudden slide, the team has fallen below .500 in both league play (1-3) and overall (3-4). As for Memphis, it has overcome a 1-2 start to the season by winning three of its last four games, including the last two. The team was last in action on October 22nd, when it slipped past East Carolina by a score of 27-24. With that victory, the Tigers improved to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play. Memphis, however, has dropped the last five encounters with UAB and now trails the all-time series with the Blazers, 5-2.
The Blazers' offense has done its job this season and is one of the more productive units in the league, averaging 27.3 ppg behind 431.3 ypg. Most of the yards have come via the pass (311.0 ypg), while just 120.3 ypg are a result of the team's ground attack. Darrell Hackney has been one of the few consistent players for the Blazers this season and has completed 66.4 percent of his throws for 2,144 yards with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions. The veteran signal caller is coming off a tremendous performance against Southern Miss in which he throw for 407 yards and three scores in a losing effort. Hackney's primary target this year has been Reggie Lindsey, who leads the team with 32 receptions for 570 yards and five scores. As for the UAB ground attack, it is paced by a pair of backs in Dan Burks and Corey White. The two have split carries this season with Burks rushing for 318 yards and White amassing 254.
Defensively, UAB has put together some good outings this season, but the unit has really struggled of late. The Blazers are currently allowing 23.3 ppg and have given up more than 25 points in four of their past five games. The defense has done a respectable job against the run (136.1 ypg), but needs to do a much better job against the pass (210.6 ypg). In their most recent bout, the Blazers gave up 177 yards on the ground and 247 more through the air in a loss to Southern Miss. Orlandus King, once again, paced the team in defeat with 10 tackles. He currently leads the club in tackles (54) and is also tied for the team-lead in sacks (three).
DeAngelo Williams has been simply sensational for the Tigers this season and that was never more apparent than in the team's 27-24 victory over East Carolina in which he rushed for 226 yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries. It was the fourth game that he has rushed for over 200 yards this season and the eighth time in his career he has turned the trick. Williams, who ranks seventh all-time in NCAA history in rushing yards and fourth all-time in all-purpose yards, currently sits first in the nation in rushing with an average of 187.0 ypg. Williams has also rushed for 12 touchdowns this season and is the main reason the Tigers are averaging a healthy 282.9 rushing ypg. What has been even more amazing about his success is the fact that Memphis has lost its top two quarterbacks and is now down to Maurice Avery, who is a converted wide receiver. Avery hasn't done much in terms of throwing the ball (40.1 passing ypg), but he has been effective with his legs, rushing for 271 yards and three scores on 54 carries. The duo of Williams and Avery help explain why the Tigers are averaging a solid 28.9 ppg despite throwing for just 131.6 ypg.
Much like UAB, the Memphis defense could stand some improvement, as the Tigers are giving up 23.3 ppg behind 418.0 total ypg. The unit yields an average of 138.0 ypg on the ground and 280.0 ypg through the air, while forcing 14 turnovers and coming up with the same number of sacks. Although the defense didn't record a sack or turnover in the win over ECU, the unit still did a good job in allowing just 343 total yards, including a mere 46 yards on the ground. Wesley Smith, who posted four tackles in the winning effort, has been the team's most consistent defender this season and leads the way with 52 tackles.
This is a big game for UAB, as its season is starting to slip away and another loss in league play would spell disaster. Memphis, on the other hand, can still make some noise in conference play and continue its quest for another bowl bid. The Tigers have the edge playing at home and with a big game from Williams they should prevail in a close one that is high scoring.