Memphis vs Nicholls State 9/4/21 College Football Picks, Odds, Predictions

The Memphis Tigers face the Nicholls State Colonels Saturday in week 1 2021 college football action from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. This will be the first game of the 2021 campaign for both teams. Nicholls State is coming off a 4-3 record last year, finishing in fourth place in the Southland Conference standings. As for the Tigers, they posted an 8-3 record last year with a third-place AAC finish and a bowl victory. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place. 

Nicholls State managed to play seven games last year, going 4-3 overall and 3-3 in Southland Conference play. That result put the Colonels behind Sam Houston State, Southeastern Louisiana and Incarnate Word in the final standings. 

The Colonels started out well last year, winning four of their first five games (with a notable 71-17 blowout loss to Sam Houston State). After that came a 43-31 loss to McNeese State and a 52-45 loss to Southeastern Louisiana in the River Bell Classic to end the season. 

Over on the Memphis side, they had a decent campaign last year, going 8-3 overall and 5-3 in American Athletic Conference play. The Tigers would finish behind Cincinnati and Tulsa in the standings. Memphis also was able to avoid consecutive losses for the duration of the season. 

The Tigers started out the 2020 year with a 3-2 run, but had just one loss (35-21 to Tulane) over their final half-dozen games. Memphis earned an invite to the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, where they took out Florida Atlantic 25-10 to end the year on a high note. 

The Colonels are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 on turf and 0-4 ATS in their last four overall. Nicholls State is 0-4 ATS in their last four road games and the over is 5-1 in their last six on turf. 

Meanwhile, the Tigers are 4-10 ATS in their last 14 overall and 4-10 ATS in their last 14 on turf. The under is 4-0 in Memphis’ last four overall and 4-0 in their last four on turf. 

PICK: I’m going to take Memphis in this one. Nicholls State has their own share of impact players who should deliver some success this year, however. QB Lindsey Scott started all seven games last year, posting 2,241 yards of total offense. Wide receiver Da’Jean Dixon (514 yards; seven scores last year) should take a step forward in 2021 as well. 

As for Memphis, they’ll be losing a few key names themselves—namely QB Brady White and receiver Tahj Washington—but they’ve got lots of talent coming in through transfers. Look for Calvin Austin to have another nice season as well. It may take the Tigers a couple of quarters to get moving, but I think they’ll cover here.