One of the most important games of the college football season takes place on Friday night when No. 22 Memphis hosts Tulane.
The Green Wave may have had their College Football Playoff hopes dashed last week by UTSA, but they’re still alive in the hunt for the AAC title.
With a win, Memphis would put itself in the driver’s seat for the Group of 5’s bid into the big dance.
The Tigers are 4.5-point home favorites on Friday evening.
Tulane vs. Memphis odds, prediction
There is plenty to like about the Memphis Tigers. They are a balanced, well-coached team that has quite a high ceiling thanks to an offense that averages nearly 37 points per game. The defense lags behind, but you don’t need to be the 2000 Baltimore Ravens when you’re offense is scoring as often as Memphis does.
Betting on College Football?
The Tigers can beat you in a number of ways. They’ve got a two-headed monster in the backfield with Greg Desrosiers Jr. and Sutton Smith, and quarterback Brendon Lewis can also air it out.
Memphis ranks 22nd in yards per carry (5.0), 36th in yards per pass (8.1), and 29th in yards per play (6.1). According to SP+, the Tigers boast the 13th-best offense in the country.
There are not many teams in the country, and perhaps none in the Group of 5, that can claim to have as balanced an attack as the Tigers.
Tulane’s offensive numbers are fine, but they just don’t stack up to their opponents on Friday. Things don’t look much better on defense.
The Green Wave ranks 76th nationally in yards per play allowed (5.6) and is 100th in yards per pass (7.9). Things are slightly better against the run, but it’s still a clear advantage for Memphis in that battle.
Tulane is a good team by Group of 5 standards. Memphis just happens to be much better.
Keep an eye on Lewis’ status, but if he’s good to go, I’m betting on a statement from the Tigers in front of a raucous crowd on Friday night.
The Play: Memphis -4.5 (-110, FanDuel)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
