No. 22 Memphis (7-1, 4-1 American, CFP No. 23) at Tulsa (2-7, 1-4), Friday, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Line: Memphis by 12
Series record: Memphis, 16-11.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
For Memphis, a victory will set up a showdown next week with SMU for the American West Division lead. After back to back one-possession road losses to UConn and SMU, Tulsa is just trying to salvage some positivity at this point in what has been a disappointing season.
KEY MATCHUP
Tulsa’s rushing offense, which ranks 12th in the nation with an average of 260.2 yards per game, against Memphis is 104th in rushing defense at 201.4 yards per contest.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Memphis: WR Anthony Miller. With six receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown in last week’s win over Tulane, the senior became the Tigers’ all-time leader in receiving yards with 2,987. He ranks fifth in the nation with both 61 receptions and 859 yards this season and is second with 10 receiving touchdowns. He is 15 catches shy of Memphis’ all-time receptions record, held by Duke Calhoun (2006-09).
Tulsa: RB D’Angelo Brewer. After missing a game due to injury, the senior returned last week against SMU, gaining 156 yards and one touchdown on 33 rushes. Even after sitting out a game, Brewer’s 980 yards ranks 11th in the nation, and he is on pace to become Tulsa’s all-time career rushing leader by the end of the season. With 3,380 career yards, Brewer is fourth on the list, 271 back of record-holder Tarrion Adams (2005-08).
FACTS & FIGURES
Memphis is 4-0 this season in non-Saturday regular season games and 13-0 since the start of 2014, with seven of those wins coming on the road. . Tulsa has had 21 different players start at least one game on defense, with only two - senior DE Jeremy Smith and senior LB Craig Suits - starting all nine contests. . Memphis’ seniors have compiled a 34-13 record since the start of 2014, the most by any senior class in Tigers history, surpassing the 1963 seniors who went 33-5-1.
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