East Carolina (3-8, 2-5 American) at No. 18 Memphis (9-1, 6-1, CFP No. 20), Saturday, noon ET (ESPNU)
Line: Memphis by 28.
Series record: East Carolina 15-6.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
A seventh straight win for Memphis that keeps the Tigers cruising into the AAC title game and keeps alive a chance at a New Year’s Day bowl berth.
KEY MATCHUP
Memphis QB Riley Ferguson vs. Pirates defense. Ferguson is why Memphis ranks ninth nationally averaging 329.6 yards passing per game. Ferguson tied a school record with his 12th 300-yard passing performance in his 23rd game at Memphis. The East Carolina defense ranks 127th out of 129 FBS programs giving up 295.6 yards passing per game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
East Carolina: WR Trevon Brown. The wide receiver set a league record with 270 yards receiving on just nine catches with two touchdowns last week against Cincinnati. His performance ranks as the second-best receiving game in the FBS this season.
Memphis: WR Anthony Miller. He has just about every receiving record possible from game to season to career, and he currently has 217 career catches for 3,196 yards and 32 TDs.
FACTS & FIGURES
Memphis has nine wins or better for the fourth time in program history, first since 1963 team went 9-0-1. … These teams have not met since 2012. … Memphis can finish 7-0 at home for first time since moving into Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Tigers went 6-0 at home in 1938. … Memphis is coming off the first game in program history with at least 300 yards passing and rushing in the same game after piling up 664 yards total offense last week in win over SMU. It was 10th game in Tigers’ history with 600 yards or more total offense. … Memphis ranks fourth nationally scoring an average of 44.7 points per game. … Memphis ran for seven TDs last week against SMU. … East Carolina has won seven straight in the series. … East Carolina is 13-56-1 all-time against ranked opponents and has lost four straight against Top 25 teams. … East Carolina ranks 13th nationally averaging 314.9 yards passing per game. … East Carolina ranks 128th in scoring defense up 42.7 points per game.
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