Week 1: Mississippi State vs Memphis 9/3/22 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Mississippi State Bulldogs and Memphis Tigers square off in week 1 of college football action at Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday. The Memphis Tigers are coming off a 6-6 season and enter year 3 under coach Ryan Silverfield. The Mississippi State Bulldogs won 7 games last year and enter year 3 under coach Mike Leach.

The Memphis Tigers averaged 30.1 points and 263.8 yards per game last season. Memphis allowed an average of 29.3 points and 451.8 yards per game last season. Seth Henigan returns at quarterback after throwing for 3,300 yards, 25 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Javon Ivory and Eddie Lewis are a returning receiving duo that combined for 700 yards and 7 touchdowns, while Brandon Thomas led the Tigers with 600 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. Defensively, Quindell Johnson returns after 104 tackles, Jaylon Allen led Memphis with 5 sacks and Rodney Owens had 2 interceptions. Even with losing their star pass catchers in Calvin Austin III and Sean Dykes, Memphis is in good hands at the quarterback position, and that’s enough to make a contender in the AAC. The Memphis Tigers are also experienced defensively, and Johnson is one of the best defensive backs in the conference. Memphis should have a winning season this year. 

The Mississippi State Bulldogs averaged 29.1 points and 441.6 yards per game last season. Mississippi State allowed an average of 25.9 points and 345.2 yards per game last season. Will Rogers returns at quarterback after throwing for 4,700 yards, 36 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Jaden Walley and Austin Williams are a returning receiving duo that combined for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Dillon Johnson led the Bulldogs with almost 500 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns. Defensively, Jett Johnson returns after leading Mississippi State with 87 tackles, Tyrus Wheat had 6 sacks and Emmanuel Forbes had 3 interceptions. The Mississippi State Bulldogs return the majority of their key players from a year ago, and it makes them a sneaky team in the SEC. Rogers is a playmaker at the quarterback position, and he has playmakers all around him. If Mississippi State can be more consistent defensively, this is a team that could pull off some upsets and surprise some folks overall. Miss State is a team I’ll be watching closely this season.

The Tigers are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 road games and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The Bulldogs are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall. The under is 11-5 in Tigers last 16 games overall. The under is 13-5 in Bulldogs last 18 home games. The Tigers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 meetings.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs are the better, deeper team and should have the edge at home especially, but they can also be hit or miss defensively, and their pass happy offense leads to giving the ball back quickly when they’re not successful. The Memphis Tigers are capable of scoring early and often, and they have a roster with lots of guys who have played in hostile spots. I don’t think Memphis is going to be intimated, and the Tigers may actually enjoy s shootout approach. Too many points for my taste. I’ll take a shot with Memphis and the free touchdowns.