The Memphis Tigers (-12.5) are set to pay a visit to their AAC rival East Carolina Pirates at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The daytime game kicks off at 12:00 p.m. ET and ESPNU is scheduled to have the TV rights.
Memphis Tigers vs. East Carolina Pirates Betting Preview
East Carolina is getting picked as the underdog and is currently getting 12.5 points in this Saturday AAC matchup. The Tigers are also receiving -525 moneyline odds while the Pirates are +360. Should one squad can find paydirt early it will create a decent in-game betting opportunity. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 67.5 points.
The line initially opened at 13.5 and the total was originally set at 66.5, so the general public is favoring both the Pirates and the over.
The disappointing Tigers have lost 12.2 units so far and are 4-4 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an O/U record of 3-4. The Pirates are down 2.0 units this season. The team is 2-5 ATS and also has an O/U record of 3-4.
The Tigers are 4-4 straight up (SU), including 1-3 SU against AAC opponents. The Pirates are 2-5 SU overall and 0-4 SU in conference play.
The Tigers hope to get back in stride after a 65-33 loss to Missouri on October 20 where Brady White completed only 15-of-37 passes for 208 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Patrick Taylor Jr. (115 yards on 26 rushes, two TDs) and Tony Pollard (75 yards on eight carries) spearheaded the ground attack while Damonte Coxie (eight receptions, 111 yards, one TD) and Pop Williams (three catches, 18 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Back on October 20, UCF knocked off this East Carolina crew by a score of 37-10. The Pirates defense allowed the Knights to run for 316 yards on 55 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. Darriel Mack Jr. put up a good showing in the win, recording 120 rushing yards and a score on 22 attempts for UCF. For East Carolina, Holton Ahlers completed 29-of-53 passes for 406 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Ahlers (69 rushing yards on 27 attempts) mounted the running game as Trevon Brown (10 receptions, 145 yards, one TD) and Deondre Farrier (five catches, 109 yards) led all East Carolina pass-catchers in the loss.
Memphis has run the ball on 56.5 percent of its offensive possessions this year while East Carolina has an overall rush percentage of 42.4 percent. The Tigers have produced 266 rush yards/game (including 231 per game versus American Athletic Conference opponents) and have 26 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Pirates are totaling 119 rush yards per game (91 in conference) and have eight total rushing TDs.
The Tigers offense has averaged 257 yards in the air overall (214 per game versus conference opposition) and has 18 passing scores so far. The Pirates have recorded 296 pass yards per game (289.0 in the AAC) and have eight total pass TDs.
Defensively, Memphis has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 184 yards and pass for 216 yards per game. The East Carolina defense has allowed 215.6 yards per game to opposing passers and 146.4 yards per game on the ground. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Tigers have given up an ANY/A of 6.61 to opposing QBs, while the Pirates are allowing an ANY/A of 6.66.
Offensively, White has amassed 1,757 passing yards this season. The signal-caller has connected on 64 percent of his 193 attempts with 17 scores through the air and only three interceptions. He has a 9.11 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 5.04 over the last two games.
On the other sideline, Holton Ahlers has completed 31-of-63 passes for 413 yards, one TD and one INT. Ahlers’ ANY/A sits at 5.31 for the year and 6.92 over his last two outings.
When these two programs faced one another a year ago, Memphis knocked off East Carolina soundly 70-13.
RELATED: Week 10 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Free Pick: Memphis Tigers at East Carolina Pirates
SU Winner – Memphis, ATS Winner – Memphis, O/U – Under
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Trends
The O/U for Memphis’ last game was set at 70.5. The over cashed in the team’s 65-33 defeat to Missouri.
As a team, Memphis has rushed for 6.4 yards per attempt over its last three outings and 5.1 over its last two.
East Carolina has averaged 2.1 yards per carry over its last three matchups and only 1.9 over its last two.
Both teams have lost six fumbles this year.
In its last three matchups, Memphis is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
Memphis has lost four of its last five games SU, with a 41-point victory over Connecticut on October 6th representing the only win over that span.
The O/U for East Carolina’s last match going into it was 65. The under cashed in the team’s 37-10 loss to UCF.
Over its last three games, East Carolina is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
East Carolina has lost five of its last six games SU, with a two-point win over Old Dominion on September 29th representing the one victory over that stretch.
The Tigers offense has produced seven pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Pirates have put up three such plays.
The Memphis defense has allowed eight pass plays of 40 or more yards, while East Carolina has given up five such plays.
The Memphis offense has created 29 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while East Carolina has created seven such runs.
The Tigers defense has allowed 15 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Pirates have given up 11 such runs.
The East Carolina D has tallied 24 sacks on the year while Memphis has just 17.
*****
