The Houston Cougars will travel to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium for a matchup against the Memphis Tigers on Friday, October 7. This is an important matchup for the AAC, as these two teams were projected to finish in the top half of the league this season.
Houston hasn’t been an overly successful team early this season. The Cougars are only 2-3 through five games, but their only “bad” loss was in overtime against Tulane. Memphis boasts a strong 4-1 record with their only loss coming to a ranked Mississippi State team.
In this article, I’ll break down the odds for this game, and you’ll find my favorite Houston vs. Memphis predictions.
Houston vs. Memphis Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | +3 (-110) | +130 | O 57.5 (-110) |
| @ Memphis | -3 (-110) | -150 | U 57.5 (-110) |
Odds via Betway Sportsbook as of 2 p.m. on Oct. 4.
Game Info
- Date: Friday, Oct. 7
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium – Memphis, TN
- TV: ESPN2
Houston vs. Memphis Trends
Let’s take a look at some relevant betting trends for the Houston vs. Memphis game:
- Houston owns a 1-4 ATS record in 2022.
- Memphis has struggled with a 2-3 ATS record this season.
- As of Tuesday afternoon, 70% of the bets and 37% of the handle were on Memphis -3 spread.
- DraftKings also reports that 69% of the bets and 89% of the handle is on over 57.5 points.
- Houston boasts a 4-1 record to the Over this season.
- Memphis also has a 4-1 record to the Over in 2022.
Offensive Versatility For Both Teams
Both of these teams have offensive versatility. Houston ranks 79th in the NCAA in passing yards per completion (11.4) through five games. They also rank 69th in rushing yards per attempt (4.0) this season. Although neither of these numbers are elite numbers, their combination allows them to rank 45th in the nation in points per game (31.0) this season.
Clayton Tune is the focal point of the Houston offense. He has a solid arm and comes with plenty of rushing potential. Their versatility is based heavily on his talents. They come with a trio of other running backs that have the ability to contribute to the offense. Finally, Nathaniel Dell is the clear leader of the receiving group.
Ultimately, this group makes up an offense that has posted 30+ points in four of their five games this season.
What a beauty!🤩
Tune ➡️ Dell for the 2nd time today to take the lead with 3 minutes left to play!#AmericanFB x @UHCougarFB pic.twitter.com/TX61AHr4Xj
— American Football (@American_FB) October 1, 2022
Memphis has a similar offense to Houston. They rank 55th in the country in passing yards per completion (12.2) this season. They also rank 69th in yards per carry (4.0). Overall, they’re averaging 34.4 points per game, which ranks 26th in the NCAA through five games.
Similar to Tune, Seth Henigan is a focal point of the Memphis offense. He can find success with his arm or legs, and that’s been the case throughout the season. They feature a trio of running backs that can contribute as well. The biggest difference is that Memphis doesn’t have one dominant receiver, although you could argue Caden Prieskorn is the top option with his five touchdowns.
Memphis has posted 37+ points in three of their five games so far.
Both Squads Play Fast
The biggest key to this game is that both teams could push the pace. When two teams play at a higher tempo, it increases the margin for error in scoring. They have more possessions and more opportunities to find the end zone.
Houston’s averaging 73 plays per game this season. This ranks 46th in the NCAA thus far. Memphis’ plays per game currently rank 43rd (73.6) in the league.
Both of these teams will push the pace in this game, similar to how they have done in the past. Both of these teams have seen plenty of offensive success, and they’ve sometimes struggled defensively.
With each team playing at a faster pace, the defenses will have less time to rest, meaning the offenses will have an even larger advantage than normal. It’s a recipe for plenty of points between these teams.
Houston vs. Memphis Predictions
Both of these teams feature better offenses than defenses. They’re versatile enough to find success against each defense as well. Sure, it’s a conference game, but it’s a conference game that should quickly turn into a shootout.
The pace of play will be a major edge for the offenses as well. The speed will keep the defenses off of the sidelines, and both teams should see plenty of opportunities to find success in this game. We should see fireworks in the AAC on Friday.
Pick: Over 57.5 total points | -105 at Betway Sportsbook
