CFB
(1 Pick)
FOLLOW THE UNIT INSTRUCTIONS.
7:00PM EST: Tulane/Memphis Under 54.5 (3 Units)
Both defenses have performed well up to this point. Tulane ranks 2nd in the Conference allowing 321.8 total yards per game and Memphis ranks 4th at 362.8. The Green Wave really excel against the run, limiting teams to just 86.2 yards per contest. They even held an Ole Miss offense that's averaging 183.3 rushing yards per game to just 89 yards and 2.54 yards per carry.
Memphis averages 162 rushing yards per game and they want to run the football. So far they average 35.8 rush attempts per contest. They're an incredibly balanced offense, attempting 177 passes to 179 rushes through 5 games. Even in their loss to Missouri they still ran the ball 29 times despite averaging less than 3 yards per carry. It's a big part of their offense and they won't abandon it which is good news for the Under.
On the opposite side this Tulane offense runs through 4th year QB Michael Pratt. Whether that's through the air or with his legs, they want the ball in his hands. He hurt his knee earlier this season and missed a couple weeks but did play in Tulane's last two. He'll be 100% coming off a bye week. He's completing 75.4% of his passes through 3 games this season.
This Memphis secondary has been very good though, holding teams to just 210.8 passing yards per game, 2nd best in the American conference. The Tigers are also 10th in Passing Success Rate Allowed, 12th in Passing Explosiveness Allowed and 28th in terms of a PFF coverage grade. They held Pratt to just 158 yards passing in their meeting last season and that was in Tulane. Pratt knows to take what the defense gives him and if he has to dink and dunk he will. Nothing worse than a stopped clock using the Under and Pratt's a high completion passer.
Tulane's ground game has yet to really take off but with Pratt back and healthy they'll have more success. Last season Pratt had 9+ carries in 9 of his 13 games. Those numbers also tend to tick up in the competitive games. The Memphis run defense is allowing 152 yards per game and is the clear "Weakness" of their defense so far this season. The Green Wave will look to attack that.
Both teams are coming off a Bye Week and this will have massive ramifications for the end of season standings in the American conference. May take a moment for these offenses to get going as they're feeling each other out. The extra time to prepare should have these strong defenses ready to stop what their counterparts do best.
