The Memphis Tigers return home looking to rebound in Week 6, after enduring their first loss of the season last week to No. 16 Ole Miss. The Tigers are undefeated at Liberty Bowl Memorial this year and will be sizable favorites.
Memphis takes on the 3-2 Temple Owls in a American Athletic conference matchup on Thursday. The Owls have won two in a row coming into this game and hope to ride that momentum to an upset win.
Watch this regular season Week 6 matchup live on Thursday, October 6, 2016, at 7 p.m. ET at Liberty Bowl Memorial.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Temple +9.5
Memphis -9.5
Odds Analysis
The spread is approaching double digits and the vig is up to -115 for Memphis to cover, and still the bettors are taking the Tigers heartily. Eighty percent of the money is going on Memphis on the spread.
A scoring total has yet to be released for this matchup.
Player to Watch
Memphis running back Patrick Taylor Jr. is averaging eight yards a carry. The true freshman has 30 carries for 239 yards and a touchdown so far this year, impressive numbers regardless of a player’s experience but moreso considering his age.
He only saw limited touches last week against Ole Miss with five carries for 20 yards, but can be a difference-maker for the Tigers when plugged in the backfield. Against Kansas in Week 3, Taylor had a 51-yard run, his longest of the season.
Taylor is accompanied by junior Doroland Dorceus in the backfield. Dorceus has 44 carries for 205 yards and four touchdowns so far.
Key Stat
6. Memphis’ national rank in points per game this season, putting up an average of 45.8 per contest. Taylor and Dorceus lead a potent running game, while quarterback Riley Ferguson has also been good.
Ferguson has thrown for 1,186 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions in the earlygoing. His favorite target has been Anthony Miller, who has 27 catches for 405 yards and two touchdowns.
Memphis is putting up 477 total yards of offense per game and hopes to keep rolling in this one. Temple has done a nice job defensively, giving up only 20.4 points per game, but will have a tough test in this showdown.
Free ATS Pick
Memphis started the season undefeated, notching wins over Southeast Missouri State, Kansas and Bowling Green. In their win over Bowling Green on September 24th, the Tigers dropped 77 points on the Falcons while holding their opponent to a field goal.
Memphis kept things manageable against Ole Miss last week, coming within six points late in the third quarter before the Rebels rallied back for 48-28 win. Two turnovers in the Tigers’ final four drives of the game hindered their chances of an upset, but it was still an encouraging showing.
Ferguson threw three interceptions in the loss last week and has to take better care of the ball in this one. Temple quarterback Phillip Walker has also struggled with turnovers this season. He’s thrown for 970 yards with six touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Temple started the season at 1-2 after falling to Army and Penn State, but captured back-to-back victories over Charlotte and SMU to get back above .500. The offense combined for 93 points in those two victories.
Temple is doing better recently, but this is a big step up in competition. Memphis has played really well all year and has one of the most explosive offenses in college football. The Owls don’t have the personnel to slow down the Tigers.
Memphis should win this game and also cover the spread in a relatively easy victory. Expect the over/under to be pretty high considering the Tigers’ ability to score points in bunches.
College Football Odds: Memphis 41, Temple 27
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