The Memphis Tigers meet the Mississippi State Bulldogs Saturday in Week 3 college football action from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Mississippi State played NC State in their second game last weekend. In that game, the Bulldogs secured a 14-point win. As for Memphis, they’re coming off a game against Arkansas State. The Tigers bagged a five-point win in that one. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place.
Mississippi State opened their season versus Louisiana Tech, ultimately taking a 35-34 win. The Bulldogs scored 21 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the comeback. QB Will Rogers had 370 yards with three touchdowns and a pick, and Jo’quavious Marks had 71 yards and two rush scores. Dillon Johnson led the receivers with 70 yards from six catches.
In game two versus NC State, the Bulldogs scored in every quarter on the way to a 24-10 victory. Rogers had a solid game with 294 yards and two scores on 33-of-49 passing, and
Over on the Memphis side, they didn’t have much trouble against Nicholls State in their first game, cruising to a 42-17 blowout win. Tigers QB Seth Henigan put up 265 yards and a TD, and Brandon Thomas led the rush with 147 yards and a score from 16 carries.
The Tigers played Arkansas State this past weekend. In that one, Memphis scored 34 points in the first half alone but still had to hustle for a 55-50 win. Henigan managed 417 yards with five scores in the victory, and Thomas led the rush again with 191 yards and two TDs.
The Bulldogs are 4-1 ATS versus a team with a winning record and 5-2 ATS in their last seven overall. Mississippi State is also 5-11 ATS in their last 16 road games.
Meanwhile, the Tigers are 17-8-1 ATS in their last 26 at home and 5-11 ATS in their last 16 overall. Memphis is 2-9-1 ATS in their last 12 versus the SEC as well.
PICK: I’m sticking with Memphis. The Tigers do have a lot of things to work on for this week, though. Memphis posted 680 yards of total offense in their week two victory, with 417 coming through the air and a 9.7 yards-per-play average. Thing is, the Tigers also gave up 680 yards on the other side with a whopping 582 coming through the passing game.
Mississippi State put up 294 pass yards in their last outing, so we’re going to see plenty of air attacks from both sides in this matchup. Ultimately I think Memphis will outlast and nab the cover here, though.