Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Boca Raton Bowl

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Memphis Tigers take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Tuesday, December 20, 2016 in the Boca Raton Bowl. The opening line for this game has Western Kentucky as 6.5 point favorites. This season the Tigers are 5-7-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 7-5-0. The Hilltoppers have an over/under record of 7-6-0 and they are 6-7-0 against the spread.

Riley Ferguson finished with 409 yards through the air for Memphis in his last game. He completed 30 passes out of 45 attempts for a 67% completion percentage. The Tigers were led in rushing by Doroland Dorceus, who finished with 82 yards on 15 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 5 yards per carry. Anthony Miller was the team leader in receiving with a total of 169 yards and 15 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 11 yards per reception. As a team in that game Memphis got a total of 28 first downs. Of those first downs, 6 came on the ground while 19 came through the air. They ran 79 total plays for 555 yards for the game. The Tigers ran for 146 yards on 34 attempts.

Mike White finished with 421 yards passing for Western Kentucky in his last contest. He went 21 for 31, resulting in a 68% completion percentage. The Hilltoppers were led on the ground by Anthony Wales, who finished with 209 yards on 36 carries. He ended the game with an average of 6 yards per rush. Taywan Taylor led the team in receiving with 194 yards and 7 catches. He finished the game with an average of 28 yards per reception. Western Kentucky had 31 first downs total. 13 came from running the ball and 15 came from a pass. They ran 72 total plays for 656 yards for the contest. The Hilltoppers ran for 235 yards on 41 carries as a team.

Memphis scores 39.5 points per game on offense this season, which ranks 17th in Division 1. In the passing department, they average 23 passes on 35.7 attempts for a 64.5 percent completion percentage this season. They throw for a total of 294.9 yards per game through the air as well, which ranks them 20th in college football. The Tigers run for an average of 166.9 yards per game on 37.8 attempts for an average of 4.4 yards per carry. That ranks them 78th in the nation. They also run 73.5 plays per contest and average 6.3 yards per play for an average of 461.8 yards per game, ranking their offense 33rd overall this season. The Tigers average 23 first downs per game which ranks them 37th in the country. They accumulate 59.8 penalty yards per game via 6.4 penalties, which ranks 33rd in the nation.

Memphis allows 242.5 passing yards per game, ranking 81st in D-1, and they allow 27 points per contest on defense, which ranks 55th. They give up 23.7 completions on 38.8 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 61.1. The Tigers allow 200.2 rushing yards per game on 40.2 carries for an average of 5 yards per carry, which ranks their rush defense 85th in the country. Memphis allows 442.7 total yards per game including 5.6 yards per play, which ranks their overall defense 90th in terms of yards per game. They force 2.3 turnovers per contest and get flagged for 6.4 penalties for 57.8 yards per game, ranking them 90th among D-1 teams.

Western Kentucky averages 45.1 points per game this season on offense, which ranks them 2nd in the country. In the passing department, they complete 21.9 passes per game on 34 attempts for a 64.5 percent completion percentage. They throw for 336.8 yards through the air per game, ranking them 5th in Division 1. The Hilltoppers run for an average of 180.5 yards per game on 33.8 attempts for an average of 5.3 yards per carry this season, which ranks them 62nd on the ground. They also run 67.8 plays per game and average 7.6 yards per play for a total of 517.4 yards per game, ranking them 7th in the country on offense. The Hilltoppers get an average of 24.3 first downs per game, which ranks 20th in the nation. They average 65.4 penalty yards per game via 6.5 penalties, ranking them 18th in college football.

Western Kentucky allows an average of 268.5 passing yards per game, which ranks 110th in Division 1. Their defense overall allows 24.1 points per contest, which has them ranked 41st in the nation. They give up 23.1 completions on 39.1 attempts for a completion percentage of 59.1 per game. The Hilltoppers allow 99.1 rushing yards per contest on 32.6 carries for a 3 average per rush, ranking their overall rush defense 4th in the country. Western Kentucky allows 367.5 total yards per game for an average of 5.1 yards per play, which ranks 37th in D-1. They force 1.4 turnovers per contest and 7 penalties for 55.9 yards in each contest, ranking 80th in the nation.

Memphis Betting Trends

Memphis is 7-5-0 against the over/under this season

Memphis has an ATS record of 5-7-0 this season

Western Kentucky Betting Trends

Western Kentucky is 7-6-0 against the over/under this season

Western Kentucky has an ATS record of 6-7-0 this season

Injuries to Watch

Memphis

12/04/16 DB Austin Hall Leg "?" Tuesday vs. Western Kentucky
11/22/16 DL Jared Gentry Foot out for season
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

Western Kentucky

11/25/16 WR Nacarius Fant Knee out for season
10/18/16 WR John Brunner Personal left the team
10/01/16 RB D'Andre Ferby Shoulder out for season
10/01/16 DB Marcus Ward Knee out for season
09/06/16 RB Leon Allen Knee out indefinitely
08/27/16 QB Nelson Fishback Pectoral out for season

Tony's Pick: Take Western Kentucky -6.5

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 Tony Sink