The American Athletic Conference is back in our sights on Friday as a red-hot (23)Memphis (7-1, 4-1) team heads to Tulsa (2-7, 1-4) to play the Golden Hurricane. Tulsa plays a ton better at home, winning their last home game on 10/14 against Houston, 45-17. They headed out on the road the past two weeks, and dropped back-to-back games to Connecticut and SMU. What’s interesting to note is Tulsa has lost four games this season by less than seven points. Another interesting twist to this game is that Tulsa beat Memphis last season 59-30, so this is clearly a revenge spot for Memphis. Memphis head coach Mike Norvell was quoted this week commenting about Tulsa, saying “They’ve been very competitive in just about every game. They’ve played really well at home.” Norvell is a successful young coach, and has emerged as a name to replace Jim McElwain at Florida. Norvell held a meeting after practice Monday, assuring his players his focus will be 100% on Memphis and getting them in the best possible bowl game this season. With a revenge factor in effect here, I fully believe Memphis to be absolutely invested in this game.
Tulane vs. Memphis College Football Preview
Date/Time: Friday, November 3rd at 8:00pm EST
TV: ESPN 2
College Football Betting Odds from 5Dimes
College Football Betting Favorite: Memphis -12
Total: 78.5
Memphis:
Memphis comes into this game riding extremely high, destroying Tulane last week 56-26. That was our free pick last week and we hope you tailed us. Riley Ferguson is putting up gaudy numbers, with a 23/7 TD to INT split. WR Anthony Miller has 859 receiving yards this season, which is good for #5 in all of FBS. RB Darrell Henderson is sporting 8.1 YPC this season. These are video game numbers, and I fully expect them to continue. When you look at the extremely high total of 78.5 in this game, the books are telling you there is going to be a total shootout in Tulsa tomorrow. I expect a lions share of those yards and points to come from the arm of Riley Ferguson.
Tulsa:
Tulsa is led by Freshman Luke Skipper. The 6’2” 208 lb. QB. His TD/INT split is less than impressive at 3/3 and he’s thrown for 865 yards this season. Their top running back, Senior D’Angelo Brewer came back last week from an injury and rushed for 156 yards and a touchdown against SMU. Brewer has 199 attemps on the season, and hit pay dirt eight times for 980 yards. His status for Friday is probable. As previously mentioned, Tulsa has lost four games by a total of seven points or less. “We’ve been in several of them,” Tulsa coach Philip Montgomery said after the loss to SMU. “You can always point back to a handful of plays — whether that’s early in the game, right after half or there late. Little things make the difference. This is another one of those games that’s tough to swallow. We’ve had three like this. This is the fourth.” Friday’s tilt at H.A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa will determine if Memphis can blow them out in a revenge spot.
Sin City Sharp (@SinCitySharp on Twitter) Free Pick: Memphis -12
It’s often said revenge is a dish best served cold. Memphis lost at home 59-30 to Tulsa, which was the worst defeat of the entire season for Memphis. Suffice to say this game has been circled on the calendar hanging in the Memphis clubhouse. In addition to that, playing non-Saturday games has been traditionally fruitful for Memphis. Since 2014, the Tigers are a perfect 13-0 in non-Saturday games. Memphis is 4-0 in Thursday night contests and 9-0 in Friday night match-ups. This isn’t ATS but it does speak to the fact that Memphis loves to play in the “Friday night lights” scenario. Something about the spotlight brings out the best in the squad. This is the final non-Saturday game of the season for the Tigers. Sin City Sharp is all-in on Memphis under the Friday night lights on the road, getting their revenge against a dangerous but vulnerable Tulsa team.
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