Memphis Football: Tigers, Tulane gain Friday night exposure

With just two games total on the Friday night docket, plenty of eyes will be situated on New Orleans for the Memphis football vs. Tulane contest.

The Tigers come in with one of the more explosive offenses in all of college football, averaging almost 50 points and 593 yards per game. How will the Green Wave be able to contain them, as they allow 30 points and 492 yards per week?

Memphis has scored 52, 59 and 66 points in its three wins this year, with the lone defeat being a 22-21 setback at Navy. Brady White, a former Arizona State top recruit, has thrown for 1,064 yards with 12 touchdowns and just one interception after stepping in for the departed Riley Ferguson.

White has one of the more electrifying weapons in all of college football in Darrell Henderson, who has 709 yards rushing and eight touchdowns. He’s also hauled in six receptions for 124 yards with a score.

Damonte Coxie has 353 yards receiving , with Patrick Taylor Jr. being another dual-threat out of the backfield with 288 yards and four scores from scrimmage.

The Tigers have won 10 games twice over the past four seasons and 40 total since 2014. Mike Norvell has been in charge since taking over in 2015 for Justin Fuente, winning 21 of those.

Tulane has dropped its last two games to Ohio State and UAB, and went to overtime before falling vs. Wake Forest in the season opener. Jonathan Banks has thrown for almost 800 yards with five touchdowns, while Corey Dauphine has 289 yards on just 25 carries.

Both Banks and Dauphine are transfers, as Banks comes from Kansas State by way of “Last Chance U” featured school Independence Community College, and Dauphine Texas Tech.

The Green Wave have not had a winning season since going 7-6 in 2013, as head coach Willie Fritz is just 10-18 in two-plus years.

Here’s how you can watch Friday night’s American Athletic Conference game between Memphis and Tulane:

Date: Friday, Sept. 28
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: New Orleans
Venue: Yulman Stadium
TV: ESPN2
Live Stream: WatchESPN | Fubo TV

Keys to Victory

Memphis will look to exploit a weak Tulane defense with the arm of White and the running of both Henderson and Taylor. The Tigers should be able to make big play after big play, and as long as they avoid turnovers, will be in complete control.

Tulane must use up the clock, convert third-downs and keep the ball away from the Tigers. Banks needs to be on his best form, which he is capable of, for them to pull off the upset.

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of OddsShark

Point Spread: Memphis -14
Over/Under: 67

Prediction

There is just too much offensive firepower and talent on the Memphis sidelines to think that Tulane will have any answer to slowing them down. The Tigers will also want to make a statement in this one with it being national television and at night.

Final Score: Memphis 60, Tulane 30