Memphis vs. Tulsa Betting Odds – Friday Night College Football

Written by:
Carrie Stroup
Published on:
Oct/23/2015
Memphis vs. Tulsa Betting Odds – Friday Night College Football

Carrie Stroup here with your Memphis vs. Tulsa betting odds for Friday night College Football.  This is a big game with Memphis coming in undefeated.  Memphis -10.5, Total: 76.5

MEMPHIS TIGERS (6-0) at TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE (3-3)

No. 18 Memphis tries to improve to 7-0 on the season when it visits double-digit underdog Tulsa on Friday night.

Dating back to last year, the Tigers are riding a 13-game win streak, and none of those victories were more impressive than its 37-24 win over then-No. 13 Ole Miss last week.

The Golden Hurricane have lost three of their past four games SU, but are 2-1-1 ATS during this stretch with the most recent defeat coming Saturday at East Carolina (30-17).

These schools are meeting for just the second-time as American Athletic Conference foes with Memphis rolling to a 40-20 victory last year. But since 1992, Tulsa holds the 7-2 ATS advantage (5-4 SU) in this series, including a 2-2 split (SU and ATS) at home.

There are strong betting trends for both AAC schools for Friday, as the Tigers are 28-11 ATS versus good offenses (31+ PPG) since 1992 and 14-4 ATS facing terrible rushing defenses (230+ YPG allowed) in this same span. The Hurricane have also been a strong wager against great offensive teams (34+ PPG) with a 25-12 ATS mark since 1992 and college football home underdogs of 10.5 to 21 points, after allowing 8+ YPA with 8+ starters (including QB) returning from last year are 86-41 ATS in this 23-year time period.

Neither team has many new injuries to contend with, as Memphis OL Trevon Tate (legal) is questionable and Tulsa RBs D'Angelo Brewer and Ramadi Warren are both questionable for Friday with undisclosed ailments.

Memphis has shown off a powerful offense all season with 46.0 PPG and 533 total YPG. The team had no problems moving the football against a talented Ole Miss defense last week with 491 total yards, including 384 through the air.

Junior QB Paxton Lynch has completed 71% of his throws this season for 1,919 yards (9.6 YPA), 13 TD and only 1 INT. He has topped 300 yards in five straight contests and has kept all his receivers interested with multiple TD throws to six different players in 2015. Lynch didn't have to do much in the romp over Tulsa last season when he threw for only 183 yards (5.9 YPC) and zero touchdowns, but he did run for 47 yards and a score. Sophomore WR Anthony Miller has been his top target in 2015 with 436 receiving yards, including 324 yards and 2 TD over the past three games.

But for the Tigers to remain unbeaten, they have to invigorate a rushing attack that has just 114 YPG in the past two games after running for more than 150 yards in each of the first four contests. Sophomore RB Jarvis Cooper was able to run for 76 yards on 17 carries (4.5 YPC) and hopes to perform like departed teammate Brandon Hayes did last year against the Hurricane with 199 yards on 6.9 YPC with three touchdowns.

Defensively, Memphis has given up 26.3 PPG on 445 total YPG, including a jaw-dropping 536 total YPG in the past three contests. The pass defense has been horrendous all season in surrendering 329 YPG on 8.0 YPA and 61% completions, but the run-stop unit has held its own by limiting teams to 116 YPG on 3.4 YPC. The Tigers have also forced six turnovers in the past three weeks and will continue to pressure their opponent as frequently as possible.

Tulsa failed to reach 24 points this season for the first time last week when it scored only 17 points at East Carolina, but the offense is still averaging 33.3 PPG on a potent 551 total YPG this season. Although the team loves to throw the football with 354 YPG on 8.6 YPA, it also averages 50 carries per game for 196 YPG on 3.9 YPC.

Junior QB Dane Evans started off the season with 8 TD throws in three games, but has just three touchdown passes in the past three contests combined. The team is hoping he won't have to throw 54 times like he did in Memphis last season when he completed 28 passes for 349 yards (6.5 YPA) and two touchdowns.

But the Golden Hurricane had to throw so much because RB Zack Langer wasn't going anywhere with 20 carries for 43 yards (2.2 YPC). Langer has been consistently good as a senior though with at least 60 yards and a touchdown in all six games, totaling 596 yards (3.9 YPC) and 11 touchdowns.

The Tulsa defense has been mostly terrible all season (34.8 PPG, 525 total YPG allowed) both on the ground (248 YPG on 5.3 YPC) and through the air (276 passing YPG, 7.9 YPA). It will certainly have its hands full with Memphis, but after allowing 220+ rushing yards in each of the first four games, the Golden Hurricane have held the past two opponents to 158 rushing YPG on 4.4 YPC. Tulsa also helps itself out with nine forced turnovers in the past five weeks, but the Tigers have only two giveaways in the past four games combined.

- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter

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