AAC Championship Game preview: #20 Cincinnati vs. #17 Memphis

If it seems like it was just the other day that Cincinnati and Memphis faced off—that’s because it was. The Bearcats and Tigers squared off in Memphis on Saturday for their final conference game of the season, and Memphis blew a 17-3 halftime lead before a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns pushed the Tigers to a 34-24 win.

The two teams will face off again this Saturday in Memphis for the AAC championship, and both teams have been on a roll. Cincinnati won nine straight prior to its loss to the Tigers, while Memphis has won its last six games. Both teams are ranked, and it’s likely the winner will crash one of the New Year’s Six bowls, but this weekend’s game may be quite different from the one we witnessed a week ago.

#20 Cincinnati at #17 Memphis, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

Ridder is expected to return on Saturday

Cincinnati starting quarterback Desmond Ridder was out with a shoulder injury last week, and he is expected to give the offense a huge boost if he returns this weekend. All signs point to him being ready for the game, especially if you ask him.

“I say I’m pretty close to 100 (percent),” he said Tuesday, and Memphis head coach Mike Norvell indicated his team is preparing for Ridder. It would be a big improvement over Ben Bryant, who turned the ball over three times and was sacked five times in his first college start on Saturday.

The Bearcats posted their fourth-highest passing yardage game of the year without Ridder, and with stud cornerback TJ Carter going down early in the game for Memphis, they should be able to improve on that number with their experienced signal caller taking snaps. Running back Michael Warren will continue to be the focal point of the Cincinnati offense, however, as he was last week, when he helped lead a rushing attack that went for 178 yards.

White has no shortage of weapons to choose from

Memphis showed a clear speed advantage last week, and the Tigers will look to utilize that in every aspect of the game Saturday. It starts with their return game, which played a key role in the win, as Chris Claybrooks returned the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown.

Speed is also more than apparent on offense, where wide receiver Damonte Coxie continues to run wild in the passing game and running back Kenneth Gainwell has gained almost 1,400 yards on the ground this season. Quarterback Brady White has multiple weapons to sling the ball to, along with a 32-8 touchdown-interception ratio that is among the best in the nation. The Tigers will look to turn this game into a high-tempo affair, which will allow their defensive speed to be unleashed. Memphis has held teams to the 27th fewest passing yards in the nation this season.

Three of Cincinnati’s last four wins have come by a field goal or less. The Bearcats played Memphis close last week, but it was not enough to come away with the win. Now they'll get their starting QB back, a week to make adjustments and a chance at revenge. Memphis was able to overcome a blown lead but also utilized three turnovers to pull away. Look for the Bearcats to take care of the football, utilize their running game and keep the game close enough to cover the spread, something Cincinnati has managed each of the last six times it has played in Memphis.

Pick: Cincinnati +9.5

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