A couple of teams that prefer to run the football, Head Coach Philip Montgomery and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (+10.5) are set to play host to their conference nemesis Memphis Tigers (-10.5) at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium. The matchup will get underway at 7:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch it live by tuning in to CBS Sports Network.
Betting Preview: Tulsa Golden Hurricane vs. Memphis Tigers
In this Saturday American Athletic Conference game, Memphis is projected as the big favorite and is currently giving up 10.5 points. The Tigers are also receiving -425 moneyline odds while the Golden Hurricane are +315. If one team can find paydirt early it would create a worthy betting opportunity in-game. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 56 points.
The surprising Tigers have gained 2.1 units so far and are 5-2 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an O/U record of 5-2.
The Golden Hurricane have lost 2.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 4-3 ATS and have an O/U record of 2-5.
The Tigers are 6-1 straight up (SU), including 2-1 SU against AAC opponents. The Golden Hurricane are 2-5 SU overall and 0-3 SU in conference play.
The Tigers hope to make it two in a row 47-17 victory over Tulane last week. Brady White completed 21-of-29 passes for 358 yards and five touchdowns. Kenneth Gainwell (104 rushing yards on 18 attempts, one TD) propelled the ground attack while Gainwell (nine receptions, 203 yards, two TDs) and Antonio Gibson (three catches, 28 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Tulsa just fell 24-13 to Cincinnati. The team’s defense allowed the Bearcats to kill the clock by running for 145 yards on 41 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. Gerrid Doaks had a productive outing in the win for Cincinnati, posting 91 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 17 attempts, along with 28 yards on one catch. For Tulsa, Zach Smith completed 21-of-43 passes for 243 yards and two interceptions. Shamari Brooks (68 yards on 16 rush attempts) and Corey Taylor II (56 yards on 12 carries) spearheaded the running game as Keylon Stokes (eight receptions, 99 yards) and Josh Johnson (five catches, 58 yards) led the receiving attack in the loss.
Memphis has run the ball on 57.5 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 50 percent across possessions in conference play. Tulsa has an overall rush percentage of 50.8 percent, and has carried the ball 44.6 percent of the time against AAC opponents. The Tigers have produced 187.6 rush yards per game (including 115.3 per game versus American Athletic Conference opponents) and have 14 scores on the ground this year. The Golden Hurricane are logging 111.6 rush yards per game (119 in conference) and have eight total rushing TDs.
Based on the results this season, it seems like the Tigers could hold an edge in all aspects of the ground game. Their running backs has produced 4.9 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 4.1 YPC to opponents. The Golden Hurricane have rushed for 2.8 yards per carry and allowed 4.6 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Tigers offense has averaged 279.1 yards in the air overall (305.7 per game versus conference opposition) and has 18 passing scores so far. The Golden Hurricane have recorded 267.3 pass yards per outing (281 in the AAC) and have 10 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Memphis seems to have the upper hand in both facets. The team has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 176.4 yards and throw for 168.7 yards per game. The Tulsa defense has given up 189.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 195.1 yards per game to opposing runners. The Tigers are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.66 to opponents, while the Golden Hurricane have allowed a 6.67 ANY/A.
White probably has the edge over Smith in this one, as his adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at 10.93for the year and 10.67 over the past two games. Smith’s ANY/A is 5.69 for the year and 3.70 over his past two games.
These two schools faced off last year with the final outcome being a 47-21 win for Memphis.
Memphis Tigers vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane Free Pick
SU Winner: Memphis, ATS Winner: Memphis, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- The Memphis defense has 13 sacks on the year while Tulsa has just seven.
- Tulsa has lost six fumbles this season while Memphis has lost seven.
- The Tigers offense has created 12 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Golden Hurricane have put up seven such plays.
- The Memphis defense has allowed two pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Tulsa has given up four such plays.
- The Memphis offense has created 11 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Tulsa has created four such runs.
- The Tigers defense has allowed 10 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Golden Hurricane have given up 16 such runs.
- The O/U for Tulsa’s last matchup was set at 46.5. The under cashed in the 24-13 loss to Cincinnati.
- Over its last three games, Tulsa is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- Over its last three contests, Memphis is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- Tulsa has lost five of its last six games SU, with a three-point triumph over Wyoming on September 21st accounting for the one win over that span.
- The O/U for Memphis’ previous game was 60.5. The over cashed in the team’s 47-17 win over Tulane.
- As a team, Memphis has averaged 5.1 yards per carry across its past three contests and 3.6 over its last two.
- Tulsa has averaged 3.3 yards per carry over its last three outings and 2.8 over its last two.
