Mercer @ Memphis preview

Memphis opens its 2018 football season as a heavy favorite when it hosts Mercer on Saturday evening. The Tigers have become perennial contenders in the American Athletic Conference and are coming off a 10-win season that culminated in a 21-20 loss to Iowa State in the Liberty Bowl.

Memphis finished second in the AAC last season to Central Florida and has put together four consecutive seasons of eight or more wins. Coach Mike Norvell enters his third season at the helm and has an 18-8 record with the Tigers, including a 12-4 mark in conference play. Mercer is coming off a 5-6 season in the Southern Conference of the FCS. However, there is optimism that coach Bobby Lamb can get the Bears to seven wins for the first time as a member of the SoCon.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN3. LINE: None

ABOUT MERCER (2017: 5-6): Mercer had some impressive moments in 2017 with highlights that included being within a touchdown of Auburn in the fourth quarter, losing by only one point to SoCon champs Wofford and winning at Western Carolina late in the season, knocking the Catamounts out of the playoff picture. The Bears return some key players on offense, including quarterback Kaelan Riley (2,030 yards passing, 13 TDs, four rushing TDs), running back Tee Mitchell (626 yards rushing, seven TDs) and receiver Marquise Irvin (536 yards receiving, four TDs). Defensively, Mercer is led by first-team All-SoCon defensive lineman Isaiah Buehler, who had 38 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for a loss last season.

ABOUT MEMPHIS (2017: 10-3): Memphis will miss the dynamic playmaking duo of quarterback Riley Ferguson and receiver Anthony Miller, but the running game figures to step up this season with Darrell Henderson and Patrick Taylor, a pair who combined for 2,020 yards on 287 carries last season. Adding to the potential of the rushing game is the fact that the offensive line returns four starters. The quarterback position has been tight between Brady White and David Moore all camp, and Norvell hasn’t ruled out both quarterbacks seeing the field against Mercer.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Memphis has hit the over in six of its last seven non-conference games and 11 of its last 13 games at home.

2. In 2017, the Tigers averaged 45.5 points and allowed 32.5.

3. Mercer was the only non-SEC team to play both Auburn and Alabama in 2017.

PREDICTION: Memphis 55, Mercer 28