Tulane vs. Memphis College Football Week 9 Preview, TV Schedule, Prediction

By Hannah Fields
getty images
getty images

TV Schedule: Saturday, October 31, 7:00 p.m. ET, CBSSN

Stadium: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tenn.

Line: Memphis (-30.5)

Last season, Tulane finished 3-9 and in a tie for eighth place in the American Athletic Conference. This year isn’t going much better despite Tanner Lee’s 1,178 passing yards on the season. Fourth year coach Curtis Johnson knows a lot about having a good QB after serving as an assistant coach with the New Orleans Saints until landing the head position at Tulane, but it doesn’t seem to be enough.

The Green Wave are 2-5 after losses to Duke, Georgia Tech, Temple, Houston and Navy. Their only two wins came against Maine and fellow AAC member UCF.

Behind their 152nd ranked defense, the Green Wave have been allowing 37.4 points per game. Against ranked opponents, they have fared even worse, giving up 65 points against a 15th-ranked Georgia Tech and 42 against 24th-ranked Houston.

Unfortunately for Tulane, Memphis’ season couldn’t be going any better. The Tigers are 7-0 behind Paxton Lynch’s 9.74 yards per attempt. Making matters worse for Tulane, two Tigers rushed for 100 yards (Doroland Dorceus and Jamarius Henderson) in last week’s 66-44 win over Tulsa.

Hopefully Memphis’ O-line can protect Lynch from a Tulane defense that has been averaging 2.29 sacks per game. The Tigers have been averaging 199.3 rushing yards per game though, so Lynch should feel comfortable handing the ball off to Dorceus or Henderson.

After finishing last season 10-3, head coach Justin Fuente hasn’t let Memphis lose any of that momentum. Fuente jumped into the national spotlight and quickly became the newest high-demand coach after the Tigers’ stunning upset of a 13th-ranked Ole Miss that catapulted Memphis into the polls for the first time this season.

Memphis has been averaging 48.9 points per game (third in the FBS) and 557.3 yards per game (7th). Last season’s matchup resulted in a 38-7 victory for Memphis. If Ole Miss couldn’t stop the Tigers, it is doubtful Tulane can.

Prediction: Memphis 53, Tulane 24

Hannah Fields is a Tennessee Titans and SEC Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter @hanfran7, “Like” her on Facebook or add her to your network on Google.

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