Our Memphis vs Tulane prediction starts with a stark contrast. Memphis arrives at Yulman Stadium on Friday night at 5-1 and unbeaten in American Conference play. Tulane, meanwhile, sits at 2-3 and is still sorting out its quarterback room. Memphis is a 7-point favorite with a total of 55.5. The market has moved in a direction that deserves a closer look, however. Below, we break down the matchup, the numbers behind it and the two plays that stand out for the 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
Last Updated: October 16, 2026
Memphis vs. Tulane — Game Info
| Where | Yulman Stadium, New Orleans Louisiana |
| When | October 16 – 7:30 PM ET |
| TV | ESPN |
Memphis vs. Tulane Betting Preview
The quarterback matchup is the clearest gap in this game. Memphis has a settled answer in Marcus Stokes, a transfer from Division II West Florida. He has thrown 16 touchdown passes against three interceptions and completes 70.1% of his throws. Tulane has no such certainty. Will Hall opened the season with Zeon Chriss-Gremillion, then turned to Kadin Semonza after a Week 1 loss at Duke. Semonza has completed 53.8% of his passes for 804 yards and four touchdowns. Even so, Hall said this week the quarterback job remains open, so Tulane’s starter is not confirmed.
Memphis has won three straight, each by at least 24 points. That run includes a 38-13 home win over UAB last week. For more on that conference opponent, see our East Carolina vs. UAB prediction. The only Memphis loss came 38-20 at Boise State. First-year coach Charles Huff came over from Southern Miss after one season there. His offense averages 516.7 total yards and 247 rushing yards per game. Running back Jaylin Carter leads the ground game with 645 yards, eight touchdowns and 7.2 yards per carry.
Tulane is 2-3 and 0-1 in league play after a 20-17 loss at Army. It led that game 17-10 in the fourth quarter before Army won it with a field goal on the final play. Hall is also in his first season, and the offense has struggled under him. Tulane averages 18.4 points per game and has not topped 28 points in any game. Meanwhile, opponents are running for 218.6 yards per game and converting 49.4% of their third downs against Tulane. The defense has yet to intercept a pass.
Neither team appears in this week’s AP Top 25. Memphis leads the all-time series 25-16-1, but recent history tilts the other way. Tulane won last season’s meeting 38-32 in Memphis, and Memphis is 2-4 against Tulane since 2020. Memphis has also lost three of its last four games in New Orleans. Its lone win in that stretch was a 34-24 result at Yulman in 2024.
Memphis vs. Tulane Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | -7.0 (-105) | -260 | O 55.5 (-110) |
| Tulane | +7.0 (-115) | +215 | U 55.5 (-110) |
Odds accurate as of October 16, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NCAAF Odds – Futures – Props
Memphis vs. Tulane — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Memphis | 73% | 27% | Tulane |
See the latest College Football Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Memphis vs. Tulane Prediction — 247 Rushing Yards a Game Against a Defense Allowing 218.6?
The cleanest way to bet on Memphis’s biggest edge may not run through the side at all. Memphis runs for 247 yards per game, and Tulane gives up 218.6 on the ground. That is a strength meeting a weakness head-on. Third downs tell the same story. Opponents convert nearly half of them against Tulane, which keeps drives alive and adds carries for whoever is toting the ball. Tulane has also generated little disruption, with no interceptions through five games.
Jaylin Carter is the engine of that attack. He has 645 rushing yards through six Memphis games at 7.2 yards per carry. At that efficiency, he needs only a moderate workload to produce a big night. Game script should help as well. As the favorite, Memphis ought to be in position to lean on the run and burn clock in the second half. In contrast to the side, this play does not need Memphis to win by a specific margin. It needs Carter to keep doing what he has done all season against a defense that has struggled to stop anyone on the ground.
The risk is volume. Stokes has thrown 16 touchdown passes, so Memphis is far from one-dimensional, and short-yardage or red-zone work can go elsewhere. Hall also noted that Stokes can hurt a defense with his legs. A lopsided score could cost Carter late carries if Memphis rests him. Still, a run defense this leaky gives the featured back the clearest path to production on the board.
The Pick: Jaylin Carter 90+ Rushing Yards (-105)
Memphis vs. Tulane Prediction — Why Has New Orleans Been So Unkind to Memphis?
The matchup data points toward Memphis, but the market is telling a different story. The spread has held at the opening number all week. However, the price on Tulane has risen from -110 to -115 while Memphis has dropped to -105. That shift came even though 73% of spread tickets are on Memphis. The moneyline shows the same lean, with Memphis easing from -270 to -260 despite drawing 93% of moneyline tickets. When the price moves away from the popular side, it suggests the larger money sits on the other team. History adds weight to that read. Memphis is 2-4 against Tulane since 2020 and has lost three of its last four trips to New Orleans. Tulane is also 2-0 at Yulman this season, and its two covers came in road losses at Kansas State and Army. Memphis’s run-heavy approach can also shorten the game, and fewer possessions tend to help the side getting points.
The case against is real. Tulane failed to cover in either home game as a favorite, its quarterback situation is unresolved, and Memphis is 4-2 against the spread. If Stokes and Carter build an early lead, Tulane lacks the offense to chase. This is a thinner edge than the first play, built on market confirmation and situation rather than matchup data. The read is also provisional until Tulane names its starter.
The Pick: Tulane +7.0 (-115)
Our Final Word on Memphis vs. Tulane
Both plays run through the Memphis ground game, so they are not fully independent. A steady Memphis rushing attack can deliver Carter’s yardage while also draining the clock and keeping the margin within reach. The main threat to both is the same one: a fast Memphis start through the air that turns the night into a rout. Jaylin Carter 90+ Rushing Yards at -105 is our top play because a 247-yard rushing attack meets a defense allowing 218.6 per game. Tulane +7.0 at -115 is our second play, backed by a price that has moved toward Tulane while most tickets land on Memphis.
NCAAF Memphis vs. Tulane FAQ: October 16, 2026
What time does the Memphis vs. Tulane game start?
Memphis and Tulane kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, October 16, 2026, which is 6:30 p.m. local time in New Orleans. The American Conference matchup is played at Yulman Stadium on the Tulane campus and airs nationally on ESPN.
What channel is the Memphis vs. Tulane game on?
The Memphis vs. Tulane game airs nationally on ESPN, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday night from Yulman Stadium in New Orleans. Mike Monaco has the play-by-play call, Jordan Rodgers is the analyst and Dana Boyle reports from the sideline.
What conference are Memphis and Tulane in?
Memphis and Tulane both play in the American Conference, so Friday’s game counts in the league standings. Memphis is 2-0 in conference play and 5-1 overall, while Tulane is 0-1 in the league and 2-3 overall after its loss at Army.
Who won the last meeting between Memphis and Tulane?
Tulane won the last meeting 38-32 in Memphis during the 2025 season. Memphis still leads the all-time series 25-16-1, but Tulane has won four of the six meetings since 2020. Memphis last won in New Orleans in 2024, beating Tulane 34-24 at Yulman Stadium.
Who is starting at quarterback for Memphis?
Marcus Stokes is the starting quarterback for Memphis, and he has held the job since the season opener at UNLV. The transfer from Division II West Florida has thrown 16 touchdown passes and three interceptions this season while completing 70.1% of his attempts.