A couple of schools that prefer to run the football, Coach Major Applewhite and the Houston Cougars (+8) are gearing up to take on the Memphis Tigers (-8) at Liberty Bowl Memorial. Fans are able to tune in to the action on ABC and this vital conference game is scheduled to kick off at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Memphis Tigers vs. Houston Cougars
In this Friday American Athletic Conference matchup, Memphis is getting picked as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 8 points. The Cougars are also receiving +250 moneyline odds while the Tigers are -330. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) pretty highly at 75.5 points. If the favorite gets behind early, it’ll probably generate a nice in-game betting opportunity.
Sharp bettors have been siding with the Tigers, as the line opened at -7. The total has not moved after it was set initially at 75.5.
The Cougars are 6-5 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 3.9 units so far in 2018. The team has posted an O/U mark of 7-4.
The Tigers have been a disappointment to moneyline bettors this season, losing 9.2 units. The team is 7-4 ATS and has an even O/U record of 5-5.
The Cougars have gone 8-3 straight up (SU), including 5-2 SU against AAC opponents. The Tigers are 7-4 SU overall and 4-3 SU in conference play.
When these two teams faced each other a year ago, Memphis earned the win 42-38.
The Cougars are coming off a resounding 48-17 win over Tulane last week where the Cougars completed 17-of-30 passes for 190 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Clayton Tune went six-for-15 for 108 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while D’Eriq King completed 11-of-15 for 82 yards and one touchdown. Patrick Carr (139 yards on 18 rush attempts, two TDs) and D’Eriq King (82 yards on 10 carries, one TD) led the ground attack while Marquez Stevenson (five receptions, 38 yards) and Romello Brooker (five catches, 57 yards, one TD) manned the receiving duties in the win.
Memphis just earned a 28-18 win over SMU. Brady White completed 18-of-31 passes for 226 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Patrick Taylor Jr. (112 yards on 20 rush attempts, two TDs) and Darrell Henderson (75 yards on 16 carries) spearheaded the running game while Joey Magnifico (five receptions, 43 yards, two TDs) and Kedarian Jones (four catches, 48 yards) led the receiving corps in the win.
Houston’s run the ball on 53.2 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Memphis has a rush percentage of 58.8 percent. The Cougars have produced 235.8 rush yards per game (including 226.0 per game against American Athletic Conference opponents) and have 28 scores on the ground this year. The Tigers are totaling 264.5 rushing yards per game (243.6 in conference) and have 36 total rush TDs.
The Cougars offensive scheme has logged 305.0 yards/game through the air overall (276.1 per game against conference opposition) and has 41 passing scores so far. The Tigers have produced 258.5 pass yards per contest (235 in the AAC) and have 25 total pass TDs.
Houston has allowed opponents to run for an average of 178.5 yards and pass for 298.9 yards per game. The Memphis D has allowed 241.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 156.0 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to the opposition, as the Cougars have given up an ANY/A of 6.50 to opposing QBs, while the Tigers are yielding an ANY/A of 6.29.
Offensively, King is up to 2,660 passing yards this season. He’s completed 64 percent of his 299 attempts with 31 scores through the air and only five interceptions. King has a 9.68 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 6.62 over the past two outings.
As a group, D’Eriq King, Patrick Carr and Bryson Smith have combined for 549 total yards and eight touchdowns over the last couple of outings.
Brady White has connected on 179-of-283 passes for 2,554 yards, 22 TDs and five INTs for Memphis. His ANY/A sits at 8.89 for the season and 7.84 over his last two games.
We’re thinking the Tigers will control tempo by feeding their ball-carriers early and often. Damonte Coxie (929 receiving yards, seven TDs this season) has stepped up lately, but Darrell Henderson (1,355 rush yards, 15 rush TDs, three receiving TDs) and Patrick Taylor Jr. (670 rush yards, 11 rush TDs, one receiving TD) have brought significant production to the Tigers’ recent offensive strategies.
Houston Cougars vs. Memphis Tigers Free Pick
SU Winner: Memphis, ATS Winner: Memphis, O/U: Under
Betting Notes
- The Memphis offense has lost seven fumbles this season while Houston has let eight get away.
- The Memphis defensive unit has sacked opposing quarterbacks 29 times this year. Houston has recorded just 21 sacks.
- Houston, as a team, has averaged 5.0 yards per carry over its last three contests and 5.5 over its last two.
- Memphis has averaged 5.2 yards per carry over its last three games and 5.2 over its past two.
- In its last three contests, Memphis is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Houston’s last game going into it was 68. The under cashed in the team’s 48-17 triumph over Tulane.
- Over its last three games, Houston is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Memphis’ last outing going into it was 75. The under cashed in the team’s 28-18 victory over SMU.
