Tennessee-Martin @ Memphis preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 1, 2012 ) Tennessee-Martin 20, Memphis 17

Memphis doesn’t need to be reminded that taking FCS opponent Tennessee-Martin lightly is a bad idea when the Tigers host the Skyhawks on Saturday. UT Martin had never defeated an FBS opponent prior to posting a 20-17 victory over Memphis last season courtesy of Cody Sandlin’s 43-yard field goal with four seconds left. The Tigers enter on a four-game losing streak and can’t afford to stumble against the Skyhawks for a second consecutive season.

UT Martin played a major-college program earlier this season and got walloped 63-14 by Boise State. The Skyhawks play in the Ohio Valley Conference and are tied for third in the league race. Memphis’ lone victory was over Arkansas State on Sept. 21 as second-year coach Justin Fuente attempts to resurrect the program. “We’re getting close, and that’s not what we’re aiming for,” Fuente said at his weekly press conference. “When you’re climbing that mountain, it’s a tall mountain and we started at the bottom. We have to find some solace in the fact that it is going to continue to get better.”

TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3. LINE: None

ABOUT TENNESSEE-MARTIN (6-3): The Skyhawks feature a dominating linebacker in Tony Bell, who tied the OVC record with 4.5 sacks in last Saturday’s victory over Murray State. Bell, who recorded a career-best 16 tackles in the win, is second on the squad with 61 stops and first with 8.5 sacks. Running back DJ McNeil (954 yards) is having a solid season and quarterback Jarod Neal (1,256 yards, seven touchdowns) played well while Dylan Favre (828 yards, eight touchdowns), the nephew of the legendary Brett Favre, was sidelined with a knee injury.

ABOUT MEMPHIS (1-6): Defensive end Martin Ifedi is having a superb campaign with 8.5 sacks as the headliner of an improving defense that allows an average of 346.1 yards. The run defense (100.3, sixth nationally) has been particularly stout, and linebacker Tank Jakes also is performing well with 7.5 tackles for loss. Quarterback Paxton Lynch (1,333 yards) battles consistency issues – six interceptions against five touchdowns – and Brandon Hayes (520 yards) and Marquis Warford (302) share the ball-carrying duties.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Tigers have an 8-4-1 advantage in the series, winning five of the seven games played in Memphis.

2. UT Martin WR Jeremy Butler has caught 70 passes for 914 yards and nine touchdowns.

3. Ifedi is tied for fifth in Memphis history with 17 career sacks. The school record is 21 by Tramton Lawless (1996-99).

PREDICTION: Memphis 27, Tennessee-Martin 23