Memphis is dangerous and Penn State has a strong counter punch in its arsenal

Some are calling this Cotton Bowl game with the Memphis Tigers, a New Year’s Six Bowl Game by the way, a trap game for Penn State.

Somehow the Nittany Lions fell out of favor with the College Football Playoff Committee and slipped down in the rankings and the consolation prize was this second-tier bowl game match-up.

Based on its on-field performance in the final month of the regular season – posting a 2-2 mark including a lackluster final four quarters against Rutgers – Penn State is right where it should be.

And that’s why this game is so very important. There’s a lot on the table right now for this Penn State team. And Memphis is no pushover despite its perceived status as a second-rate opponent because the Tigers are a Group of Five program.

That tired and inaccurate “this is a game where Penn State loses out no matter what the final result might be” is short-sighted on so many fronts.

Losing this game would stunt the growth of this team for sure. In August, a 10-3 final record would have been perceived as a slightly exceeding expectations season. Based on the way the 2019 campaign played out, finishing 10-3 would now be easily viewed as underachieving.

Here’s why this game matters a lot for Penn State: James Franklin has a losing bowl record, 11 wins is exceeding expectations on all fronts – the difference between 10 and 11 is slight in numbers but huge in perception.

Remember the Rutgers game? This team does not want to be remembered for that performance then falling short in its bowl game to close with a losing record down the stretch.

And most importantly, with almost all of its talent coming back this team heads into 2020 well inside the Top 10 and a solid College Football Playoff contender. Lose this game and that all goes away.

Penn State has to be sharp, have a dog in the fight for this game and play desperate. Because Memphis has a huge key match-up advantage and literally has nothing to lose in this game.

Despite losing its head coach and offensive coordinator to Florida State, and a couple key players already ruled out, Memphis is a talented and dangerous squad.

The Tigers’ conference was deeper and more competitive than a couple of the Power Five conferences, Memphis scores a ton of points and Group of Five teams are 3-2 in these New Year’s Six bowl games.

Memphis averages nearly 500 yards and 40 points a game. Quarterback Brady White is a transfer from Arizona State who has thrown for more than 3,500 yards with 33 touchdowns. He has a crew of wideouts that are tall and have speed in the open field. And redshirt freshman running back Kenny Gainwell is a dual-threat stud.

As this offense is constructed when the teams take the field on Saturday, I believe this is the second best offense the Penn State defense will face in 2019.

And the match-up nightmare is good, or even slightly above average, quarterbacks have torched this Nittany Lions secondary.

There is a counter punch the Nittany Lions have available and it plays right into the strength of this team. Memphis will give up some points defensively and against the run the Tigers are not very good.

Penn State’s well-seasoned and vastly improved offensive line, that stable of four running backs and a healthy Sean Clifford at quarterback can own this game.

I’d take that match-up advantage any Saturday. It’s right in the Nittany Lions’ wheelhouse.

Memphis is still very dangerous offensively and has nothing to lose. I’ll be curious to see the intensity the Lions bring to the table. My expectation is the players know what’s at stake and will respond. This isn’t Rutgers and another effort like that will be punished.

Finish with 10 wins and it raises a lot of questions for Penn State moving forward. Get win No. 11 and the reality is all those questions melt away.