AAC Game of the Week: Memphis at Tulane Prediction & Preview

At the beginning of the season, this game was considered a key matchup in the race for an AAC Championship berth. 

However, the AAC title game is already set – Army will face Tulane. Still, this contest has plenty of relevance as the Green Wave are still in the running for a potential College Football Playoff berth. 

Who Will Host The AAC Championship?

Here are the potential scenarios for hosting the AAC title game:

• If Army and Tulane both win, then the higher-ranked team in the Nov. 26 College Football Playoff rankings would host the championship game. Army hosts UTSA on Saturday.
• If Army and Tulane both lose, then the home team would be determined by an average of computer metrics after the conclusion of all games on Nov. 30.
• If one team wins and the other loses, then the outright regular season champion would host the championship game.
• As for Memphis, this will sheerly be for pride. The Tigers were the preseason AAC choice in the media poll, but losses to Navy and UTSA eventually dropped them out of the race.

Both Memphis and Tulane should be well rested after byes this past week. 

How To Watch Memphis-Tulane

Memphis plays Tulane at 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday on ESPN.

Records: Memphis (9-2, 5-2 AAC); Tulane (9-2, 7-0)

Memphis-Tulane Betting Odds

Tulane is a 13.5-point college football betting odds favorite. The Over/Under is 55.5 total points.

Memphis-Tulane Coaches

Memphis: Ryan Silverfield (40-20)

Tulane: Jon Sumrall (9-2 at Tulane; 32-6 overall)

Last meeting: Oct. 13, 2023; Tulane won 31-21 at Memphis

Trailing 21-10 early in the third quarter, Tulane closed the game with 21 unanswered points. This was Tulane’s first win at the Liberty Bowl in 25 years. That win occurred during Tulane’s 1998 unbeaten season. Tulane’s Makhi Hughes rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. Tigers quarterback Seth Henigan completed 24 of 43 passes for 321 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. He was also sacked three times. 

Why The Memphis-Tulane Game Is Important

Tulane has so much to play for. In addition to competing for home-field advantage in the AAC title game, the Green Wave need a win to stay in contention for the College Football Playoff. The Green Wave’s two losses were to bowl-eligible Power Four teams – 34-27 at home to Kansas State and 34-19 at Oklahoma. A third loss, even if Tulane wins the AAC title, will likely eliminate the Green Wave from consideration by the CFP Selection Committee as the top Group of Five school. 

Memphis-Tulane Preview

For Memphis

Despite the 9-2 record, this has been a disappointing season for Memphis. In the two AAC losses to Navy and UTSA, the Tigers allowed 100 points, losing 56-44 to Navy and 44-38 to UTSA. The Tigers have won two in a row, both at home, beating struggling Rice 27-20 and winning 53-18 over UAB. Memphis is second in the AAC in scoring (35.3 points per game) and third in scoring defense (22.6 PPG), but that defensive figure is misleading. Excluding Navy and UTSA, of the other eight FBS teams that Memphis has faced, seven have losing records. 

Memphis has the edge at quarterback with Henigan, a fourth-year starter. He has completed 63.7% of his passes for 2,990 yards, 21 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Roc Taylor has a team-high 54 receptions for 738 yards and two touchdowns. 

Memphis’ rushing attack is led by South Carolina transfer Mario Anderson, who has rushed for 1,115 yards and 16 touchdowns. DeMeer Blankumsee has 40 receptions for 545 yards and five scores. 

Linebacker Chandler Martin has a team-high 90 tackles. 

For Tulane

Tulane will take the nation’s longest active regular season winning streak in conference games into this contest against Memphis. The Green Wave have won 17 consecutive regular season games against AAC opponents, tying UCF (2017-19) and Cincinnati (2020-22) for the longest streak in conference history. The Green Wave lead the AAC in scoring (40.5 PPG) and are second in scoring defense (17.5 PPG allowed). 

Makhi Hughes is second in the AAC in rushing yards. He has run for 1,291 yards and 15 touchdowns. Arnold Barnes III has rushed for 391 yards and five touchdowns. 

Redshirt freshman quarterback Darian Mensah has completed 65.9% of his passes for 2,197 yards, 18 touchdowns, and four interceptions. USC transfer Mario Williams is the leading receiver with 41 catches for 701 yards and three touchdowns. Tight end Alex Bauman has caught 13 passes for 143 yards and has a team-high six touchdown receptions. 

The defense is balanced with 13 players having recorded 19 or more tackles. Leading the way is linebacker Tyler Grubbs, who has 45 tackles. 

Memphis-Tulane Prediction

I like Memphis getting the points. 

While the game is more important for Tulane, Memphis would like to close the disappointing regular season on a high note, not to mention avenge last year’s loss. In addition, Henigan is likely the best quarterback that Tulane will face and is coming off a game where he threw for 299 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. Granted, it was against UAB, but that was a good game to gain some momentum. 

One key aspect of the matchup is how well Memphis will do stopping the run. Tulane is third in the AAC in rushing offense, averaging 227.1 yards per game, while Memphis is third in rushing defense, allowing 108.2 yards per contest. Tulane may likely be the winner, but that is a lot of points to give a potent offense such as Memphis.