Game 96 - Auburn vs. Memphis

Birmingham Bowl
December 30 at Legion Field in Birmingham, AL
ESPN

Memphis had pulled even at 10-10 late in the first half, yet never scored again as Auburn won 31-10.

It was an excellent day on the defensive side of the ball for Auburn, which held Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch to a 16-for-37, 108 passing yard and one-interception night. Lynch had a 69% completion percentage and a 28-to-3 touchdown-to-INT ratio coming into the game.

This was my first, and I suppose last time seeing Auburn in 2015, but apparently Jeremy Johnson lost his starting job at quarterback at some point in the season.

Sean White wasn't very good at all on Wednesday and Johnson came on in relief and was the difference offensively.

The junior threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jason Smith late in the third quarter that gave Auburn the lead for good at 17-10, then on the first play of the fourth, scored on a five-yard run and that pretty much put the game away.

Memphis had 205 total yards & its best second-half drive ended in Lynch's third quarter interception.

In fact, other than an interception return for a touchdown and another pick leading to a field goal, both in the second quarter, Memphis' other 10 possessions ended in:

1 missed FG
1 INT
6 punts
2 turnovers on downs

* Also, commentator Anthony Becht said some things:

- A second quarter pass by Lynch went incomplete and Becht said "two referee eyes were watching". I'm pretty sure he meant two referees were watching (four eyes), but it's much funnier to think of it the first way.

- If Lynch forgoes his senior season and enters the NFL Draft, he's expected to be one of the first handful of quarterbacks taken. But some scouts are unsure if he's capable of making NFL throws.

I'm not sure how those throws will be any different than the ones he's had to make in college other than they'll be made in places like Jacksonville and Buffalo instead of Greenville, North Carolina.

Anyway, Becht said "NFL throws" five times and "NFL-type throws" once.

And when talking about Lynch, Becht also said "I'll put my GM cap on" twice, so he wasn't going to get away with that.

Game 20 - Cincinnati at Memphis

September 24 at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, TN
ESPN

Sometimes you watch a game, see a ton of points being scored and think "wow! these offenses are excellent!" Then you have a few Cheetos, take a few steps back and realize "wow! these defenses really stink!"

There were 11 lead changes and the teams combined for over 1,300 yards in Memphis' 53-46 victory. Cincinnati had 752 of the yards, including backup quarterback Hayden Moore throwing for 557.  

He was the backup.

Anyway, let's get to some Football Phrases, shall we?

Jesse Palmer never disappoints. Take it, "Jess"

"Working through his progressions"
"Eye candy" (said twice)
"Controlling traffic"
"Hurting you with his feet"
"Shoot out" (2)
"Out-numbered at the point of attack"
"Haymakers"
"All of his arsenal on display"
"Wholesale changes"
"Ebbs and flows"
"That's a bullet, it's coming in hot"
"The teeth of the Cincinnati defense"
"Walk out of the Liberty Bowl with a 'dub'"
"Leave it all out on the field"
"Timeouts in their back pocket"

We'll close with THIS YOUNG MAN: