Memphis vs. Tulane Prediction, Betting Pick, Latest CFB Odds for Friday, October 16th
The Memphis Tigers take a three-game winning streak to New Orleans for a Friday night American Conference matchup against the Tulane Green Wave. Can Marcus Stokes, Jaylin Carter and one of the conference’s most explosive offenses create separation against a Tulane team that has remained unbeaten at Yulman Stadium? Check out this Memphis vs. Tulane prediction and best bet for Friday, October 16.
Peter Alexis - October 16, 2026, 6:00 PM EDT
5 Minute ReadMemphis vs. Tulane Prediction: Can Tigers Roll on the Road Amid Hot Start?
Memphis visits Yulman Stadium for a 7:30 PM ET kickoff against Tulane on ESPN. The Tigers enter at 5-1 and 2-0 in the American, while the Green Wave sit at 2-3 and 0-1 after losing a tight conference opener at Army.
Memphis is favored by exactly seven points with the total at 55.5. The Tigers have outscored Charlotte and UAB 97-21 over their first two conference games, while Tulane has yet to score more than 28 points in any game this season.
Memphis vs. Tulane Recent Results
Memphis Tigers (5-1), (2-0 American)
Memphis extended its winning streak to three games with a 38-13 victory over UAB. The Tigers actually trailed 13-10 at halftime before completely taking over, scoring 28 unanswered points after the break.
Jaylin Carter was central to the turnaround. He scored rushing touchdowns of 14 and 24 yards, giving Memphis a dependable ground-game complement to Marcus Stokes and the passing attack.
Stokes added a 45-yard touchdown pass to Tychaun Chapman before finding Aidan O'Callaghan for another score in the fourth quarter. Memphis showed it can create explosive passing plays while also sustaining long possessions through the running game.
The Tigers had been even more dominant one week earlier, beating Charlotte 59-8 on the road. Memphis has therefore scored 97 points through its first two American games and enters New Orleans with considerable offensive momentum.
Tulane Green Wave (2-3), (0-1 American)
Tulane opened conference play with a 20-17 loss at Army last Saturday. The Green Wave held a 17-10 fourth-quarter lead before Army scored the final 10 points, including the winning field goal as time expired.
Kadin Semonza completed 14 of 26 passes for 158 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Tulane finished with only 280 total yards and possessed the football for just 24:26 as Army controlled the game on the ground.
That followed a 24-21 home victory over Southern Miss in which Maurice Turner delivered a huge performance. Turner rushed for 200 yards and two touchdowns on only 12 attempts, including a 74-yard game-winning score in the fourth quarter.
Tulane has shown enough rushing explosiveness to create problems, but the passing game has remained inconsistent. The Green Wave have scored 17 or fewer in two of their last three games and are averaging fewer than 20 points per contest through five games.
Memphis vs. Tulane Head to Head
Memphis leads the all-time series 25-16-1, but Tulane has controlled most of the recent meetings with three wins in the last four.
- November 7, 2025: Tulane 38, Memphis 32
- November 28, 2024: Memphis 34, Tulane 24
- October 13, 2023: Tulane 31, Memphis 21
- October 22, 2022: Tulane 38, Memphis 28
Last season’s meeting was a shootout in Memphis. Tulane built a 21-point lead before the Tigers nearly completed the comeback in a 38-32 loss.
Memphis did win its most recent trip to New Orleans, beating Tulane 34-24 in 2024. The Tigers now return with an offense operating at a significantly higher level than the Green Wave through the first half of this season.
Memphis vs. Tulane Date, Time, Where to Watch
- Date: Friday, October 16th, 2026
- Time: 7:30 PM ET
- Location: Yulman Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana
- How to Watch: ESPN
Memphis vs. Tulane Odds
- Spread: Memphis -7 (-105), Tulane +7 (-110)
- Total Points: Over 55.5 (-108), Under 55.5 (-105)
- Moneyline: Memphis (-265), Tulane (+220)
Click here for the latest Memphis vs. Tulane Odds
Memphis vs. Tulane Line Movement and Betting Splits
Memphis has remained around a touchdown favorite, with the broader market generally sitting between -6.5 and -7. The current -7 keeps the Tigers directly on one of the most important key numbers in football.
The betting splits are extremely one-sided. Memphis is receiving roughly three-quarters of spread tickets but more than 90% of the handle at -7, meaning the average wager on the Tigers is substantially larger than the average Tulane bet.
The moneyline is even more lopsided, with Memphis attracting more than 90% of both tickets and handle. The total has also received overwhelming Over support, with approximately 70% of wagers but more than 90% of the money backing Over 55.5.
Memphis vs. Tulane Prediction
The first concern with laying seven is Tulane’s home record. The Green Wave are 2-0 at Yulman Stadium this season and have won nine consecutive home games dating back to last year. Memphis is walking into an environment where Tulane has consistently found ways to survive.
The offensive matchup still heavily favors the Tigers. Memphis is averaging more than 500 total yards per game and has developed one of the American’s deepest attacks. Stokes has already thrown 16 touchdowns, while Carter has rushed for more than 600 yards with eight scores.
That balance creates a major problem for Tulane. The Green Wave have been vulnerable against the run, and Memphis does not need to ask Stokes to throw 40 times to generate points. Carter can punish lighter boxes before the Tigers attack vertically once Tulane commits additional defenders.
Tulane’s rushing game is dangerous enough to keep this competitive early. Turner already produced a 200-yard performance, while Jaylin Lucas has also shown game-breaking ability. Memphis cannot allow either back to create the explosive runs that have carried the Green Wave offense.
The difference is consistency. Tulane has struggled to sustain drives through the air, and Semonza has thrown for fewer than 160 yards in each of his last two games. If Memphis contains the explosive rushing plays, the Green Wave may not have enough passing production to consistently answer touchdowns.
Memphis has also demonstrated an ability to separate after halftime. The Tigers trailed UAB at the break before scoring four unanswered touchdowns, showing the type of depth and offensive versatility that becomes increasingly valuable over four quarters.
Tulane can keep this within one possession for stretches, particularly with its home-field advantage and rushing attack. The matchup becomes much more difficult if Memphis reaches the upper 20s by the third quarter and forces the Green Wave away from their preferred run-heavy approach.
Memphis vs. Tulane Best Bet
- Best Bet: Memphis -7 (-105) Check out these best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Tulane’s home winning streak and recent success in the series create legitimate reasons for caution, but Memphis enters with the significantly stronger offensive profile. Stokes and Carter give the Tigers multiple ways to create points against a Green Wave defense that has struggled to stop the run.
The betting handle strongly supports the same side, with more than 90% of spread money backing Memphis despite a smaller share of individual tickets. At exactly -7, a one-touchdown victory pushes rather than loses, while Memphis has enough offensive firepower to create the additional late score needed to cover.
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