Watch the Auburn vs. Memphis Birmingham Bowl online: Time, TV schedule, live stream, 3 things to know
Memphis QB Paxton Lynch can bolster his case as the top pick in the 2016 NFL Draft with a big game against Auburn.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Auburn suffered through a rough start to the season that dropped the team out of the top 10 and shuffled it out of the national title conversation. Memphis worked on the opposite trajectory when it rallied to an 8-0 start and a spot in the top 15 of the College Football Playoff rankings. Now, these two programs on different roller coaster paths will meet in the Birmingham Bowl.
Memphis’ big season was enough to lure head coach Justin Fuente to Virginia Tech, where he’ll replace future Hall of Famer Frank Beamer on the Hokies’ sideline. The team hired Arizona State offensive coordinator Mike Norvell to replace him, but Norvell won’t be there for the Tigers’ season-ending showdown with the, uh, Tigers. Instead co-OC Darrell Dickey, who was a four-time Sun Belt Coach of the Year with North Texas, will lead Memphis as the team’s interim head coach.
Auburn may have to deal with some coaching instability of its own soon. Gus Malzahn burned off much of his local goodwill with a 6-6 finish and a second-straight season of diminishing returns after a National Championship Game appearance in 2014. That was enough for several publications, including ESPN, to reconsider not just his status as an elite coach, but as an SEC-caliber coach in general. Though he’ll almost certainly outlast Gene Chizik, another lackluster year on the plains could spell the end of Malzahn’s tenure at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
A win in the Birmingham Bowl would help boost his stock, but it won't be easy. Memphis has one of the nation's top passing offenses behind quarterback and probable 2016 first round NFL Draft pick Paxton Lynch. Auburn will counter with the two-headed rushing attack of Peyton Barber and Jovon Robinson. Can they create enough big plays to keep the team's boosters happy heading into a long offseason?
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: Dec. 30, 12 p.m. ET, ESPN. Beth Mowins and Anthony Becht will have the call.
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Spread: Auburn is favored by 2.5 points.
Make friends: Get to SB Nation’s team blog chats for this game at Underdog Dynasty (for Memphis fans) and College and Magnolia (for Auburn fans).
Three big things to know
1. Paxton Lynch isn’t just playing for a chance to secure back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in Memphis history. He’s also trying to lock down a spot at the top of the 2016 NFL Draft. Recent mocks have the Tiger QB all over the first round, ranging from first overall to 30th. A big showing against an SEC defense -- even if it is ranked 75th in the nation in passing yards allowed -- could be the performance he needs to erase doubts and cement his status as the NCAA’s top quarterback prospect.
2. Auburn's quarterback situation is a bit more ... dynamic. Jeremy Johnson started the first three games of the season but a 5:6 touchdown:interception ratio pushed redshirt freshman Sean White into the lead role behind center. White went 2-3 as a starter and only threw one touchdown pass before injuring his left knee. He'll be healthy for Wednesday's bowl game, which means the Tigers will have to pick between two underwhelming choices to lead their offense against Memphis.
3. Oddsmakers may have installed Auburn as a 2.5-point favorite, but the advanced stats predict a 3.5-point Memphis win. While Auburn will have the opportunity to test a Tiger defense that has been mediocre in 2015, S&P+ sees the gap between these two teams’ offenses as too much for Gus Malzahn to overcome.
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