West Virginia Mountaineers vs Memphis Tigers Picks and Predictions December 17th 2024

West Virginia Mountaineers vs Memphis Tigers December 17th 2024

ESPN is handling the television broadcast as the Memphis Tigers and West Virginia Mountaineers face off in the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl. Kick-off is set for 9:00 ET from Toyota Stadium in Frisco. Memphis is the slight -1.5-point favorite on the road. The over/under line is at 56.5 points. The Tigers are 10-2 on the season, while the Mountaineers are 6-6 heading into this matchup.

Memphis vs. West Virginia Key Information

• Teams: Tigers at Mountaineers
• Where: Toyota Stadium Frisco
• Date: Tuesday, December 17th
• Betting Odds MPHS -126 | WVIR +104 O/U 56.5

The Tigers Can Win If…

Memphis enters their Week 1 matchup against West Virginia with a 10-2 record. They’ve been perfect at home, going 6-0, but are 3-2 on the road. The Tigers have been favored in nine of their 12 games, holding a 7-2 record as the favorite.

Memphis has a +12.4 average scoring margin this season, and their ATS record stands at 5-5-1. They are 3-5-1 against the spread as the favorite and 2-0 as the underdog.

The over/under line for this week is 56.5 points. Memphis games have averaged 57.9 points, with their average over/under line at 57.5 points. Their over/under record for the season is 6-5.

Memphis heads into week 1 ranked 16th in points scored, averaging 35.2 per game, and they are also 16th in passing attempts, with 37.8 per game. They are 14th in completions, averaging 24.3, and 26th in passing yards, with 268.5 per game. Overall, they are 46th in our offensive power rankings.

Seth Henigan has thrown for 3,208 yards this season, completing 64.5% of his passes, with 23 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He has a passer rating of 96. Mario Anderson Jr. leads the rushing attack with 1,292 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 5 yards per carry. Roc Taylor has 834 receiving yards on 61 catches but only two touchdowns.

Memphis’s defense has been strong against the run, allowing just 106.1 rushing yards per game, ranking 17th nationally. In their recent game against Tulane, they gave up only 115 rushing yards on 29 attempts. The defense also forced an interception while allowing 209 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Opponents have averaged a 59.6% completion rate and a passer rating of 84.7 against Memphis, throwing for 251.7 yards per game. Memphis ranks 31st in the country, giving up 22.8 points per game.

• Memphis has put together a record of 3-0 over their past three games. Against the spread, the team is 2-0-1 in these same games while going 2-1 on the over/under.
• Across Memphis’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 8-2. Their record against the spread in this stretch is 4-5-1 to go along with an over-under mark of 6-4.

The Mountaineers Can Win If…

West Virginia enters their Week 1 game against Memphis with a 6-6 record. They’ve been better on the road (3-2) than at home (2-4) this season. The Mountaineers have been favored in just two of their 12 games, going 1-1 as the favorite and 4-5 as the underdog. Their average scoring margin is -2.6 points per game, and they are 5-6 against the spread.

West Virginia’s over/under record is 7-4, with their games averaging 59.6 points. The average over/under line this season has been 57.1 points, and this week’s line is set at 56.5 points.

At home, West Virginia is 1-0 as the favorite and 1-4 as the underdog. On the road, they are 3-1 against the spread as the underdog and 0-1 as the favorite.

West Virginia’s offense has leaned heavily on their run game, ranking 26th nationally with 197 rushing yards per game. They are 23rd in rushing attempts, averaging 40.1 per game. Jahiem White leads the team with 817 rushing yards, seven touchdowns, and a 5-yard average per carry. The Mountaineers are 47th in scoring, with 28.5 points per game, and we have them 35th in our offensive power rankings heading into week 1.

Quarterback Garrett Greene has thrown for 1,972 yards, with 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 79. West Virginia is 94th in passing yards per game, averaging 200.5 yards. Hudson Clement leads the receiving corps with 575 yards and three touchdowns on 40 catches.

West Virginia’s defense struggled in their recent game, allowing 52 points in a 52-15 loss to Texas Tech. The Mountaineers gave up 568 total yards, including 209 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Through the air, they allowed 359 passing yards but did manage to force one interception.

On the season, West Virginia is allowing 31.1 points per game. Opponents are averaging 144.1 rushing yards per game on 33.5 attempts. Through the air, the Mountaineers rank 159th nationally, giving up 268.9 passing yards per game, with quarterbacks completing 63.4% of their passes.

• Through their last three regular season contests, West Virginia has a record of 1-2. Their record vs the spread sits at 1-2 in these matchups, while posting a 2-1 over-under mark.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the West Virginia Mountaineers have gone 6-4 straight up. Against the spread, West Virginia went 5-5 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 5-5.

The Lean

West Virginia is the slight underdog at +1.5 in their week one matchup against Memphis. We have a projected score of 30-29 in favor of West Virginia, making them a good bet to cover the spread.

With the over/under line set at 56.5 points, our projection of 59 total points suggests that taking the over is the best play for this game.

Memphis and Henigan Seek Milestone Finish vs. WVU in Frisco Bowl

The Frisco Bowl presents an exciting showdown between the No. 25 Memphis Tigers (10-2) and the West Virginia Mountaineers (6-6). For Memphis, it’s a chance to punctuate an impressive season, while West Virginia eyes redemption after a rocky campaign.

All eyes will be on Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan, a quietly prolific playmaker who seeks to close his college career with another dominant performance.

Henigan’s Legacy and Memphis’ Explosive Offense

Henigan’s Underrated Greatness

Seth Henigan’s production is staggering: four consecutive 3,000-yard seasons and a school-record 13,972 career passing yards. Yet, despite these numbers, Henigan often flies under the radar in discussions about elite college quarterbacks.

This season, Henigan threw for 3,208 yards with 23 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He’s just two touchdowns shy of tying the American Athletic Conference career record (104).

“Individual accolades will come and go,” Henigan said. “It’s all about wins and team goals.”

With no AAC titles during his tenure, Henigan’s career is bittersweet, but a Frisco Bowl victory would solidify his legacy as one of Memphis’ greatest quarterbacks.

Key Offensive Weapons

The Tigers boast a well-rounded offense, highlighted by:

• Mario Anderson Jr.: The first-team All-AAC running back rushed for 1,292 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. Anderson is a consistent workhorse with eight 100-yard games.
• Receiving Corps: Henigan has plenty of targets, including dynamic wideouts capable of stretching the field.

Memphis’ Defensive Standouts

All-AAC Talent

• Chandler Martin (LB): Leads the defense with 94 tackles, seven sacks, and 15 tackles for loss.
• Davion Ross (CB): A ballhawk with three interceptions, anchoring a capable secondary.

The Tigers’ defense aims to contain a West Virginia team that struggled with consistency this season.

West Virginia: A Team in Transition

Coaching Shake-Up

West Virginia enters the bowl game in flux after the firing of head coach Neal Brown. Former Mountaineers coach Rich Rodriguez was rehired to revive the program. Offensive coordinator Chad Scott is serving as the interim coach for the Frisco Bowl.

Garrett Greene’s Rollercoaster Season

Quarterback Garrett Greene has struggled with turnovers, throwing 11 interceptions compared to 13 touchdowns. While he’s flashed potential, Greene will need a clean game against a disciplined Memphis defense.

Defensive Star

• TJ Jackson II (DT): The first-team All-Big 12 selection compiled 13.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, making him a force in the trenches.

Key Matchups

Memphis Offense vs. WVU Defense

The Henigan-Anderson combination could create havoc for West Virginia’s defense, which gave up 52 points to Texas Tech in the regular-season finale. If Memphis controls the tempo, they’ll be hard to stop.

WVU Offensive Line vs. Memphis Front Seven

With first-team All-Big 12 tackle Wyatt Milum anchoring the line, West Virginia will try to establish the run and protect Greene from Memphis’ pass rush led by Chandler Martin.

Get the latest insights in College Football Week 16 Odds & Predictions!

Game Outlook

The Memphis Tigers bring a balanced attack and momentum after a 10-win season. West Virginia’s instability, both offensively and on the sidelines, puts them at a disadvantage, though their defense could keep it close early.

Prediction: Memphis 34, West Virginia 20

Henigan caps his career in style, Anderson grinds down the WVU defense, and the Tigers claim the Frisco Bowl in convincing fashion.