Houston vs Memphis will face off in an American Athletic Conference matchup on October 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. The Tigers are looking to extend their three-game home winning streak.
Memphis easily defeated the Temple Owls last week, winning 24-3. The score was tight at halftime, but Memphis pulled away with 24 points in the second half. Memphis didn’t have a stellar offensive performance, but they did get touchdowns from RB Brandon Thomas and TE Cade Prieskorn.
Meanwhile, Houston fought hard in an overtime game against the Tulane Green Wave last Friday but came short, losing 27-24. At halftime, the score was 7-7, but Houston outplayed the rest of the way. Despite the loss, they had good performances from WR Nathaniel Dell, who had two receiving touchdowns, and QB Clayton Tune, who passed for two touchdowns and 208 yards on 33 attempts while also gaining 56 yards on the ground.
This upcoming clash is projected to be close, with the Tigers favored by only 2.5 points. Those who got lucky against the spread last week may want to hold off on making bets this week because the team has yet to win back-to-back games against the spread.
Memphis’ win improved their record to 4-1, while the Cougars’ loss dropped them to 2-3. Memphis is 3-0 after victories this season, while Houston is 1-1 after defeats.
When, Where and How to watch Houston vs Memphis:
- Game Day: Friday, October 7, 2022
- Game Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Memphis, Florida
- Stadium: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream: fuboTV (Watch for free)
Houston vs Memphis Odds
According to the most recent college football odds, the Tigers are a 2.5-point favorite over the Cougars.
The oddsmakers had a solid feel for the line in this one, as the Tigers entered as a 3.5-point favorite.
Under/Over: -111
History of the Series Houston vs Memphis
Memphis has won five of their last seven meetings with Houston.
October 19, 2017 – Memphis 42 against. Houston 38 Nov 25, 2016 – Memphis 48 vs. Houston 44 Nov 19, 2021 – Houston 31 vs. Memphis 13 Dec 12, 2020 – Memphis 30 vs. Houston 27 Nov 16, 2019 – Memphis 45 vs. Houston 27 Nov 23, 2018 – Memphis 52 vs. Houston 31
Houston 35, Memphis 34, November 14, 2015
Read More: Nebraska vs Rutgers Preview: How to watch live, start time, predictions, odds, spread, and more
Houston vs Memphis Prediction:
One thing is inevitable based on Houston’s performance against Tulane. And it has more to do with the Green Wave’s defense than Houston’s attack. Though Tulane boasts the nation’s best pass defense, Houston’s passing offense has not met their or even Dana Holgorsen’s expectations this year.
Memphis’ pass defense, on the other hand, is the polar opposite of Tulane’s. The Tigers allow 288 yards per game, ranking them 123rd out of 131 teams this season. Despite this, they’ve shown vulnerability to big shots downfield and underneath routes. Their defensive backs have played well at times, but they’ve also lost contain and been beaten deep by far too many quarterbacks early in the season.
The AAC will be wholly transformed if the Tigers defeat the Cougars in this game. However, the way things are shaping out stylistically, it appears that we will regress to where we expected to be in the preseason. Houston’s aerial assault attacks defenses from all sides. Clayton Tune targets his peripheral receivers very effectively. While struggling with progressive reads this season, he has repeatedly demonstrated that he can find his top target in Nathaniel Dell.
Memphis is a terrific team that can score many points, but their defense is too weak to stop this Houston attack for the entire game. If Seth Henigan wants to keep up with the elder statesman in this one, he’ll have to play lights out – something he clearly can do.
Caden Prieskorn, on the other hand, is a player to keep an eye on. If Memphis’ big man can get open in the red zone, the Tigers will benefit, but he’ll need to be highlighted in more than just scoring situations. Keeping the ball out of Houston’s hands will be critical, so Prieskorn’s impact should extend beyond the Houston 20. Prieskorn should be the primary point on every passing down since Houston has demonstrated an inability to handle tight-end leaks all season.
Prieskorn puts up massive numbers, Houston turns it into a shootout, and Henigan rises to the occasion. Conversely, Tune makes one play too many for the Tigers to overcome their defensive troubles.
Houston 38, Memphis 35, Prediction
