Army plays on Halloween for the first time in 34 years at Memphis tonight.
Bob Sutton was Army’s coach the last time the Black Knights kicked off on October 31. Army defeated Eastern Michigan 57-17 at Michie Stadium. Seven players scored touchdown including linebacker Pat Zeoli’s pick six.
Army (5-2, 4-1 American) is currently a 6-point road underdog at the Liberty Bowl. The Black Knights have won three straight games, all in the American Conference. A fourth consecutive win would improved Army’s stock for American Conference championship berth.
Memphis (6-2, 3-1 American) lost to Tulane 31-17 two weeks ago and needed overtime to defeat East Carolina 41-34 last week.
Memphis leads the series 4-1. This is the first meeting between the teams since 2002 when both were members of Conference USA. Army’s last win over Memphis was 49-7 in 1985, in the first game of the series.
Sal Interdonato (Black Knight Nation): Army 34, Memphis 31. Army has seven touchdowns of 30 yards or more during its three-game winning streak. Know it goes against Army’s ball control principles but if quarterback Cale Hellums and/or running backs Godspower Nwawuihe, Samari Howard and Zach Mundell can break off multiple big plays, the Black Knights will find a way to slow down Marcus Stokes and Memphis’ offense enough to pull this game out. Perhaps, on another Dawson Jones’ game-winning field goal.
Seth Mendelson (Black Knight Nation): Memphis 41, Army 24. Perhaps the most important game of the year and I hope that I’m 100 percent wrong. But the Tigers are loaded on offense and good enough on defense. How does Army win? Ball control and winning the turnover battle by a lot.
Cuthbert Hutton (Sidelines Army): Army 41, Memphis 34. For an Army team that hasn’t been particularly predictable since Temple, this may be the least predictable. Memphis has serious size and talent, but has had a bit of a bumpy road, as of late. Expect the Tigers to crowd the box on defense and spread the field on offense. Army will need its most creative play calling on both sides of the ball. Can’t predict how, but when the dust settles, Army comes home with a win.
Predictions from across the college football universe
Jonah Dylan (Memphis Commercial Appeal): Army 24, Memphis 21
Steve Helwick (Underdog Dynasty): Army 38, Memphis 31
