Houston Cougars vs. Memphis Tigers Picks, Predictions, Odds

Daniel Dobish Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

The Houston Cougars and Memphis Tigers renew acquaintances in an American Athletic Conference game Friday at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tenn. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on ESPN2.

Updated on 12/22/2024

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HOUSTON COUGARS vs. MEMPHIS TIGERS BETTING PREDICTION

Houston is looking to rebound from a stunning 27-24 loss in overtime against Tulane, falling in the AAC conference opener. The Cougars were favored by five points in that one, and Houston has failed to cover the past three games, while going 1-4 ATS overall this season. This will be the third road game for UH, and first since a 33-30 overtime loss at Texas Tech on Sept. 10. The UNDER result against Tulane was the first of the season after a 4-0 OVER run to start.

Memphis opened the season with a 49-23 loss at Mississippi State, but it has rattled off four consecutive victories, including a pair of wins in the AAC, topping Navy 37-13 in Annapolis on Sept. 10, and Temple at home on Oct. 1 by a 24-3 count. The Tigers are also 2-0 ATS in its two conference games this season, too.

Houston won last season's meeting on the Gulf Coast by a 31-13 count, covering as 9.5-point favorites. But Memphis has covered six of the previous seven in this series, with the OVER going 4-2 in the previous six in the series.

This should be another high-scoring affair, with the home side coming out on top. The home team is 5-2 ATS in the past seven in the series, and traditionally, Houston hasn't really fared well in the Liberty Bowl.

Score Prediction: Memphis 34, Houston 29
Best Bet: Memphis -3 (-108)
Best Bet: OVER 57 (-110)

HOUSTON COUGARS vs. MEMPHIS TIGERS BETTING ODDS

More Odds | Futures Odds | CFP Central

HOUSTON COUGARS vs. MEMPHIS TIGERS BETTING RESOURCES

Date: Friday, Oct. 7, 2022
Matchup: AAC
Venue: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Time-TV: ESPN2, 7:30 p.m. ET
Expert Picks

HOUSTON COUGARS BETTING ANALYSIS

Dana Holgorsen's group won 12 games last season, including a bowl victory over a Power 5 team, Auburn. However, it's going to be a tall order for the Cougars to replicate that success with loss already against Kansas and Tulane, both at home.

Houston's offense has stumbled, ranking just 79th overall with 391.4 total yards per game, scoring 31.0 PPG to rank middle of the pack at 69th. On the defensive side of the ball, Houston has been torched. It's passing defense is allowing a staggering 273.8 yards per game through the air, 114th in the nation. The Cougars are also coughing up 34.0 PPG, which is good for a dismal 117th out of 131 FBS teams. That simply will not do.

The Cougars have covered just one of five games overall this season, and Houston has covered just one of its past five games against winning teams, too. If it can hang its hat on anything, it's the fact Houston is 12-5 ATS in its past 17 appearances on a Friday, while going 5-1 ATS in the past six games on a field turf surface. In addition, the Cougars are 18-8 ATS in the past 26 games following a non-cover.

For totals, it's all OVER all the time for UH, going 4-1 in five games overall this season, thanks in large part to its shoddy defense. The OVER is 18-7-1 in the past 26 games on the road, while going 19-7 in the past 26 against winning teams, too.

MEMPHIS TIGERS BETTING ANALYSIS

The Tigers have also struggled mightily on the defensive side of the ball, so you can expect plenty of fireworks in this Friday night battle. The Tigers are allowing 400.2 total yards per game (90th in the nation), while allowing an awful 288.0 passing yards per game (123rd). If Memphis does anything well, it's stopping the run, but why would anyone run on the Tigers when it can pass its way to victory with relative ease?

On offense, the Tigers rank 53rd with 255.2 passing yards per game, and it will look to move the ball early and often against the struggling Cougars. QB Seth Henigan has completed 63.3% of his passes for 1,276 yards, 9 TD and 1 INT, while running for 148 yards and 2 TD, too.

Memphis hasn't fared well against the number, going 2-6 ATS in the past eight games overall, while hitting against the number in just one of the past five home outings. It's just 6-14 ATS in the past 20 conference games for the Tigers, too. For totals, the OVER has connected in five of the past six games overall for Memphis, while going 4-1 in the previous five inside the Liberty Bowl, too.

HOUSTON COUGARS vs. MEMPHIS TIGERS BETTING TRENDS

• Houston is 1-4 ATS in the past five games overall
• Houston is 1-4 ATS in the past five vs. winning teams
• Houston is 12-5 ATS in the past 17 Friday games
• Memphis is 2-6 ATS in the past eight games overall
• Memphis is 1-4 ATS in the past five home games
• Memphis is 6-14 ATS in the past 20 conference games
• OVER is 4-1 in the past five games for Houston
• OVER is 18-7-1 in the past 26 road games for Houston
• OVER is 19-7 in the past 26 vs. winning teams for Houston
• OVER is 5-1 in the past six games for Memphis
• OVER is 4-1 in the past five home games for Memphis
• Houston is 1-6 ATS in the past seven meetings vs. Memphis
• Houston is 2-5 ATS in the past seven trips to Memphis
• OVER is 4-1 in the past five meetings in Memphis

Daniel Dobish

Dan is a handicapper and sports betting expert for VegasInsider with years of experience writing for a number of top publications in the industry. More from Daniel Dobish