NCAA Football Betting – In-state rivalry is renewed in Memphis
Before College Football Gambling fans turn their attention to other sports betting events this week, we have the Thursday NCAA game of the day pick for you. It’s time for our weekly Football picks for online ncaa football betting action.
Team records:
Tennessee: 2-6 SU, 2-4-1 ATS
Memphis: 1-7 SU, 2-6 ATS
Tennessee Volunteers vs. Memphis Tigers
The Tennessee Volunteers are not having a very good season. Yet, the Memphis Tigers are making them look good by comparison.
NCAA football betting: Tennessee Volunteers @ Memphis Tigers
Online Betting Odds: Tennessee -20
Why To Bet On Tennessee
The team the Vols will be facing this week is one of the 10 worst teams in the 120-member Football Bowl Subdivision. If anything, that might be a generous statement, too. Memphis coach Larry Porter likely has very modest goals for his Tigers heading into Saturday’s scrap with Tennessee. For example, he probably is counting on his team not to concede 49 unanswered points as it did in last Saturday’s 56-17 loss to Houston. Unfortunately for Porter and the Memphis faithful, even that may be a bridge too far, as the Tigers have been outscored 201-43 in losing their last four games.
Bright spots for Memphis this season have been tough to find. Running backs Gregory Ray (108 carries, 497 yards, three touchdowns) – who rushed for 176 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries in last week’s loss – and Jerrell Rhodes (102 carries, 383 yards, one touchdown) have had their moments, but the offense hasn’t really moved the rock at all this season.
The Vols may be averaging just 21.8 points per game, but the Tigers’ defense is not really renowned for its sturdiness, especially on the back line. Tennessee’s electric playmaker, senior wideout Denarious Moore (24 receptions, 485 yards, five touchdowns), should have a field day versus a Memphis secondary that has given up an eye-popping 25 passing touchdowns and 277.8 passing yards per game. No matter who’s throwing him the ball, Moore should dominate the Memphis corners and will produce points for a Tennessee offense that has struggled against the Southeastern Conference.
Why To Bet On Memphis
Tennessee is the reason Memphis can still hope for good things in this game. The Volunteers are winless in the SEC and have shriveled in the second halves of games this season. Tennessee got outscored 35-0 by Oregon in the second half of a game played in September. A few weeks ago, Tennessee got outscored 28-0 by Alabama in the second half. Last weekend, the Vols – after playing South Carolina to a 10-all tie in the first half, got smoked 28-14 in the second half. This is a thin team, which is the result of a number of player suspensions and arrests, plus the negative fallout that emerged when first-year coach Lane Kiffin abruptly bolted to USC and left the Tennessee program in disarray. First-year coach Derek Dooley was not Tennessee’s first choice, but he’s the man who wanted the job, which remained vacant for a number of weeks. Tennessee’s football operations are an embarrassment right now, so if any team doesn’t deserve the benefit of the doubt against Memphis, it really is the Vols.
How The Game Will Play Out
Tennessee isn’t very good, but Memphis is far, far worse. The 20-point spread might seem like a lot, but Memphis is a team that will make the number look very small. Expect Tennessee to win by a good 35 to 38 points, if not more.
Tennessee Memphis Betting Pick: Tennessee -20
Go back to school and be a player – at Bodog.
START COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAMBLING TODAY AT BODOG SPORTSBOOK & CASINO….CLICK HERE TO JOIN!!!
Poolside Rants hails from beautiful Bozeman Montana by way of Toronto, Canada. (Blame his wife for the move). He’s a Dallas Cowboys football honk. But please….don’t hold that against him. The man knows his sports and has uncanny knowledge when it comes to picking games.
