Memphis vs. Missouri 2018: Time, TV listings, preview

Ah, Homecoming.

A forgotten ESPN show of the 2000s hosted by Rick Reilly, an average Kanye West song, and one of the best traditions in the entire college experience.

I gave the University of Missouri hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for education and a degree, so I’m legally required to tell you that Mizzou started the tradition of homecoming all the way back in 1911 when Athletic Director Chester Brewer invited all alumni to “come home” for Missouri’s game against Kansas (which ended in a 3-3 tie), a spirit rally, and a bonfire.

(NOTE: According to Wikipedia, Baylor University actually hosted a homecoming celebration in 1909, but it doesn’t have nearly as much lore or history behind it and I’m not a Baylor alum, so we’ll just roll with that Mizzou story.)

Anyway, fast forward 107 years, and the Missouri Tigers are once again inviting all alumni to “come home” for a football game and a parade, as Mizzou hosts the Memphis Tigers on Saturday afternoon.

How to watch, listen, or stream

Time: 3 p.m. CT

TV: SEC Network (Mike Morgan, DJ Shockley and Dawn Davenport)

Radio: Missouri Tigers Network | Memphis Tigers Network

Stream: WatchESPN

After starting the season 3-0, SEC play has taken its toll on Missouri. The Tigers have dropped their first three games of conference play to fall to 3-3, Drew Lock has looked average at best, and Barry Odom looks like a man who isn’t long for his job, as bowl eligibility starts to look like an uphill climb.

Is a win against Memphis the difference between going to a bowl game and not going to a bowl game for Mizzou? It’s starting to look likely. After Memphis, Missouri has Kentucky, Florida, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Arkansas on its schedule. If they lose to Memphis and drop to 3-4, it’s hard to imagine Odom and the Tigers rallying to win three of those final five games.

Memphis is one of the best group of five teams, as well. Though they blew a big lead in a loss to UCF last week, running back Darrell Henderson has been nothing short of incredible this season, leading the nation with 1133 rushing yards, 183 more than second-place rusher Jonathan Taylor. Mizzou has been pretty good against the run this year, but allowed 5.3 yards per carry to De’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield against Georgia, and 4.4 per carry to Damien and Najee Harris in last week’s loss to Alabama. Henderson comes into the game averaging 10 yards per carry, so it’s clear that if Mizzou can stop him, they’ll win the game.

This should be a shootout, as neither team has a particularly good defense, but both have good offenses.

Prediction: Missouri 45, Memphis 42