Friday, November 25, 2016

Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Houston Cougars take on the Memphis Tigers on Friday, November 25, 2016 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The opening line for this game has Houston as 8 point favorites. This season the Cougars are 5-6-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 4-7-0. The Tigers have an over/under record of 6-5-0 and they are 4-7-0 against the spread.

Greg Ward finished with 233 yards through the air for Houston last week. He completed 25 passes out of 44 attempts for a 57% completion percentage. The Cougars were led in rushing by Duke Catalon, who finished with 39 yards on 14 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 3 yards per carry. Chance Allen was the team leader in receiving with a total of 105 yards and 4 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 26 yards per reception. As a team in that game Houston got a total of 21 first downs. Of those first downs, 5 came on the ground while 15 came through the air. They ran 79 total plays for 362 yards for the game. The Cougars ran for 64 yards on 33 attempts.

Jason Stewart finished with 138 yards passing for Memphis last week. He went 13 for 15, resulting in a 87% completion percentage. The Tigers were led on the ground by Doroland Dorceus, who finished with 66 yards on 13 carries. He ended the game with an average of 5 yards per rush. Phil Mayhue led the team in receiving with 42 yards and 3 catches. He finished the game with an average of 14 yards per reception. Memphis had 20 first downs total. 9 came from running the ball and 10 came from a pass. They ran 73 total plays for 331 yards for the contest. The Tigers ran for 172 yards on 53 carries as a team.

Houston scores 37.5 points per game on offense this season, which ranks 21st in Division 1. In the passing department, they average 25.5 passes on 38.2 attempts for a 66.7 percent completion percentage this season. They throw for a total of 285.1 yards per game through the air as well, which ranks them 24th in college football. The Cougars run for an average of 159.1 yards per game on 44.4 attempts for an average of 3.6 yards per carry. That ranks them 88th in the nation. They also run 82.5 plays per contest and average 5.4 yards per play for an average of 444.2 yards per game, ranking their offense 46th overall this season. The Cougars average 24.1 first downs per game which ranks them 24th in the country. They accumulate 43.2 penalty yards per game via 4.3 penalties, which ranks 109th in the nation.

Houston allows 210.5 passing yards per game, ranking 45th in D-1, and they allow 20.3 points per contest on defense, which ranks 19th. They give up 17.7 completions on 32.7 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 54.2. The Cougars allow 93.5 rushing yards per game on 34.2 carries for an average of 2.7 yards per carry, which ranks their rush defense 2nd in the country. Houston allows 304.1 total yards per game including 4.5 yards per play, which ranks their overall defense 10th in terms of yards per game. They force 1.6 turnovers per contest and get flagged for 5.5 penalties for 46.6 yards per game, ranking them 38th among D-1 teams.

Memphis averages 38.7 points per game this season on offense, which ranks them 17th in the country. In the passing department, they complete 22.4 passes per game on 34.8 attempts for a 64.2 percent completion percentage. They throw for 284.5 yards through the air per game, ranking them 25th in Division 1. The Tigers run for an average of 168.8 yards per game on 38.2 attempts for an average of 4.4 yards per carry this season, which ranks them 72nd on the ground. They also run 73 plays per game and average 6.2 yards per play for a total of 453.4 yards per game, ranking them 36th in the country on offense. The Tigers get an average of 22.5 first downs per game, which ranks 45th in the nation. They average 56.7 penalty yards per game via 6.1 penalties, ranking them 53rd in college football.

Memphis allows an average of 220.3 passing yards per game, which ranks 58th in Division 1. Their defense overall allows 25.5 points per contest, which has them ranked 50th in the nation. They give up 21.5 completions on 36 attempts for a completion percentage of 59.8 per game. The Tigers allow 205.9 rushing yards per contest on 40.9 carries for a 5 average per rush, ranking their overall rush defense 95th in the country. Memphis allows 426.2 total yards per game for an average of 5.5 yards per play, which ranks 80th in D-1. They force 2.4 turnovers per contest and 6.2 penalties for 56.7 yards in each contest, ranking 82nd in the nation.

Houston Betting Trends

Houston is 4-7-0 against the over/under this season

Houston has an ATS record of 5-6-0 this season

Memphis Betting Trends

Memphis is 6-5-0 against the over/under this season

Memphis has an ATS record of 4-7-0 this season

Injuries to Watch

Houston

No key injuries to report

Memphis

11/20/16 QB Riley Ferguson Head injured last game, "?" Friday vs. Houston U
11/16/16 RB Sam Craft Back out for season
11/15/16 DB B.J. Ross Neck out indefinitely
10/28/16 WR Jae'Lon Oglesby Suspension out indefinitely
10/28/16 DB Kam Prewitt Suspension out indefinitely
10/26/16 DL Michael Edwards Personal has left team
09/22/16 LB Jackson Dillon Knee out for season
09/12/16 WR Hunter Hill Knee out indefinitely
09/12/16 WR Mechane Slade Leg out indefinitely
08/30/16 QB Brady Davis Knee out for season

Guy's Pick: Take Memphis

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Guy Bruhn