Memphis’ bowl predictions after week 5

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Memphis improved to 4-1 over the weekend with a dominating win over Charlotte, and on Monday, several outlets updated their college football bowl predictions following the week 5 results. The locations are similar to what they’ve been over the last few weeks, but the projected opponents have slightly changed.

Both of ESPN's writers predict the Tigers will play in a bowl game in Frisco, while CBS Sports and On3 predict Charles Huff's team will play in the Fenway Bowl. While two outlets predict Memphis will play in the Fenway Bowl, they differ on which ACC opponent the Tigers will play.

Most Group of Six teams want to play a Power Four opponent in the bowl game, and three of the four predictions have Memphis playing a P4 opponent.

After the week 5 results, ESPN's Football Power Index gives Huff's team a 34.5 percent chance to win the conference and a 12.6 percent chance to win out, and it will be interesting to see where the Tigers will land if they're one of the top teams in the American Conference.

ESPN

Bonagura: FRISCO BOWL vs. NC State

Schlabach: FRISCO FOOTBALL CLASSIC vs. San Diego State

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach have been very consistent this year on where they thing the Tigers will be going bowling. Both writers predict Memphis will play its bowl game in Frisco, but they predict Huff’s team to be in different bowls. 

Bonagura thinks the Tigers will play a Power Four opponent in the Frisco Bowl, while Schlabach predicts they will play another Group of Six team in the Frisco Football Classic.

Memphis saw the Wolfpack in the Gasparilla Bowl last season and lost 31-7. NC State is currently 3-2 with losses in both of its road games against Virginia and Vanderbilt. 

Dave Doeren’s team led against Vanderbilt for most of the game, but starting quarterback CJ Bailey fumbled the ball in the end zone before the Commodores jumped on it for the game-winning touchdown. The Wolfpack picked up a big win over the weekend over Louisville.

The Tigers have never played San Diego State, and it will be interesting to see if the Aztecs will be bowl eligible this season. San Diego State started the season 1-3 after beating Portland State in the first game of the year, but it beat Texas State on Saturday to improve to 2-3.

According to ESPN’s matchup predictor, the Aztecs have a 50 percent or better chance to win in only three more games this season, which would put them at only five wins.

CBS Sports

FENWAY BOWL vs. North Carolina

CBS Sports predicts the Tigers will play North Carolina in the Fenway Bowl, which would be an interesting bowl game for Huff’s team. The Tar Heels have been in the headlines a ton over the last two years since hiring Bill Belichick.

North Carolina finished 4-8 last season, and it’s 2-2 through four games this year. The Tar Heels are another team that might not win enough games to be bowl eligible, and they are only predicted to win three more games, according to ESPN’s matchup predictor.

The Tigers have played North Carolina three times in program history, and UNC won both meetings in 1983 and 1984.

On3

FENWAY BOWL vs. Clemson

On3’s Brett McMurphy also predicts Memphis will play in the Fenway Bowl, but he thinks the Tigers will be matched up with Clemson. Dabo Swinney’s team got out to an ugly start, losing to LSU 51-10, before winning three straight, but they lost by 28 points on Saturday to Miami.

After a dominating stretch, the Tigers have lost four or more games in three straight years, including last year’s 7-6 campaign.

Memphis and Clemson have never met in program history.

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