This Friday night, college football fans will be treated to a compelling American Athletic Conference (AAC) showdown as Jon Sumrall’s Tulane Green Wave visit Ryan Silverfield’s Memphis Tigers. Both coaches have garnered attention as potential candidates for Power 4 conference head coaching vacancies, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this matchup. The game takes place at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee, with kickoff scheduled for 9 p.m. Eastern Time.
Heading into this contest, Tulane holds a 6-2 overall record and sits at 3-1 in conference play. The Green Wave recently saw their three-game winning streak snapped on October 30, when they suffered their first AAC loss of the season at the hands of UTSA, falling 48-26. Tulane’s season has been characterized by solid performances, highlighted by the addition of former BYU standout quarterback Jake Retzlaff. Retzlaff is one of the most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation, standing among just six FBS signal-callers with at least 1,500 passing yards and 500 rushing yards this season. Over his last three games, he has accounted for seven total touchdowns, showcasing his ability to impact the game both through the air and on the ground.
Defensively, Tulane has shown marked improvement, especially against the run. Over their last four games, the Green Wave have limited opponents to under 3.9 yards per carry. This success stems largely from the disruptive presence of two transfer defensive linemen, Santana Hopper and Harvey Dyson III, who have combined for 10.5 tackles for loss during this stretch. Their aggressive play has been pivotal in stifling opposing ground attacks and forcing offenses to become one-dimensional.
On the other side of the field, Memphis enters this Week 11 matchup with an impressive 8-1 overall record and a 4-1 mark in AAC play. The Tigers are nationally recognized, ranked No. 22 in the latest AP Poll, and earned a spot in the initial College Football Playoff (CFP) bracket as the top Group of Five team. Their confidence is high after a commanding 38-14 win over Rice on October 31. However, Memphis may be dealing with a key injury concern, as starting quarterback Brendon Lewis is listed as questionable following an injury sustained in the Rice game.
Lewis has been a pivotal figure in Memphis’ offensive success this season. He leads the conference with a 69.1% completion rate and contributes significantly in the running game as well, averaging over 60 rushing yards per contest. His dual-threat capabilities have been critical for the Tigers’ balanced attack. Moreover, Memphis’ ground game is one of the most productive in the country, with 30 rushing touchdowns — tied for the most in FBS this year. Impressively, four different Tigers have scored at least six rushing touchdowns each, underscoring the team’s depth and versatility on the ground.
Memphis also excels in the turnover department, boasting a 13-game streak during which they have not lost the turnover margin. This statistic reflects both their ability to protect the football and force turnovers, a factor that often correlates strongly with winning outcomes. The Tigers have been particularly strong against the spread (ATS), going 8-1 this season and undefeated 4-0 at home, continuing a streak that extends to 10-1-1 ATS dating back to last year. Their strong home-field advantage and consistent execution make them a formidable opponent.
From a historical perspective, Tulane has had some success against Memphis in recent years, covering the spread in four of the last five meetings and even winning outright the last time these teams met in Memphis. However, when facing ranked opponents on the road, Tulane has struggled to cover, posting a 2-9 ATS record over the last decade, including three straight losses both straight-up and against the spread in such high-profile games. This trend suggests that stepping up in competition level has been a challenge for the Green Wave.
Regarding betting odds, Memphis is favored by 3.5 points at most sportsbooks, including DraftKings, where the moneyline stands at -171 for Memphis and +143 for Tulane. The over/under for total points scored is set at 53.5, indicating expectations for a moderately high-scoring affair. The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every FBS game 10,000 times and has a proven track