Memphis and SMU 2022 Previews

Coach Andy Mac · June 30, 2022

Upcoming AAC Realignment

In one of the biggest conference “trades” in NCAA history, three current American Athletic Conference teams – Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF – will be leaving for the Big 12 before the 2023 academic year.

Six C-USA teams replacing them (FAU, UAB, Charlotte, Rice, North Texas, and UTSA) would do so at the same time, to prevent the AAC from dropping to just eight teams.

The buyout for the AAC schools is going to be $18 million each. That’s the standard $10 million buyout fee, plus another $8 million each to leave early. The buyout will be paid over 14 years.

Meanwhile, lawyers with billable hours are still working out further details on the new incoming schools.

With it, the American will compete as a 14-team league in football after the transition next summer.

MEMPHIS – ATTRITION MISSION – 7.5 W – *7 / 6

The Tigers’ 7-year bowl streak came to an end last season. The culprit was the Tigers’ shoddy 5-7 mark ‘In The Stats’ (ITS) as they now stand 10-13 ITS in all games under Ryan Silverfield, including 2-7 away. This pales in comparison to the 34-20 ITS mark in the Mike Norvell years from 2016-2019. Thus, you can see where erosion is occurring. Despite seniors making 145 of the 260 overall team starts last season, they will line up with a good amount of returning experience this season. With four of its first five games this campaign against foes with losing records in 2021, a fast start is imperative if Memphis is to revisit the alleys this season.

PLAY AGAINST: at Mississippi State (9/3) – *KEY

STAT YOU WILL LIKE: The Tigers are 0-9 ATS away under head coach Ryan Silverfield.

SMU – 50 LASHES – 7 W – *6 / 7

New head coach Rhett Lashlee led what should have been a mess of a Miami offense to a top-50 rank in points-per-drive last season while developing young star Tyler Van Dyke in the process. His reward was landing the top spot with an SMU squad that has gone 25-10 the past three seasons under Sonny Dykes, who now takes over the reins at TCU – an hour down I-30 in Dallas. Lashlee was a quarterback at Arkansas from 2002-05 where the Hogs won 23 games and played in two bowl games. He’s worked under Gus Malzahn for a good portion of his college coaching career and looks to be a good fit for the Ponies.

PLAY ON: at Tulsa (10/29)

STAT YOU WILL LIKE: The Mustangs are 10-2 ATS at home versus greater than .600 opponents the past five seasons.

read more: https://www.wagertalk.com/news/college-football/2022-aac-football-betting-preview-marc-lawrences-playbook/