Memphis @ Tulane preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 31, 2015 ) Tulane 13, Memphis 41

Tulane hopes to use the extra week of preparation to take a step forward when it hosts Memphis on Friday night in a key American Athletic Conference matchup. The Green Wave put up a total of 72 points in two straight victories before the scheduled game at UCF last week was postponed because of the effects of Hurricane Matthew and can top their 2015 win total by ending a nine-game losing streak against Memphis.

“It’s always good to have a few days off in the middle of the season,” Tulane coach Willie Fritz told the team’s website. “These days off probably matched a little better with the season than when we had our original bye week scheduled. So hopefully we got some guys healthy.” The Green Wave's defense, ranked 13th in the country in yards allowed per game, faces a challenge against an offense that is 11th in the nation at 43.4 points. The Tigers followed up their first loss of the season to Ole Miss by rallying past Temple 34-27 last week to open the AAC campaign, despite giving up 531 yards of offense. “It shows that we have a good football team,” Memphis coach Mike Norvell told reporters. “Are we where we need to be? No, we’re not. Not even close. We’ve got to continue to build.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Memphis -11.5

ABOUT MEMPHIS (4-1, 1-0 AAC): Junior quarterback Riley Ferguson completes 66.3 percent of his passes overall, but tossed three interceptions against Ole Miss and was held to a season-low 174 yards by Temple. The Tigers have plenty of weapons with running back Doroland Dorceus (346 yards, 6.7 per carry, five touchdowns), along with fellow juniors Anthony Miller (28 catches, 406 yards, two TDs) and Phil Mayhue (20, 280). Senior defensive end Latarius Brady was cleared to play Friday less than six months after tearing the ACL in his right knee.

ABOUT TULANE (3-2, 0-1): The Green Wave’s defense gets its stiffest test after giving up an average of 309 yards in its first five games, led by senior linebacker Nico Marley (38 tackles, three sacks). The triple-option offense has been improving with sophomore Glen Cuiellette seizing the No. 1 job after throwing five touchdown passes and one interception in the last two games. Junior Dontrell Hilliard (384 yards) and senior Josh Rounds (266) combined for nine touchdowns on the ground and sophomore Terren Encalade has 19 receptions for 252 yards and four scores.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Tigers rolled up 581 yards in a 41-13 victory over Tulane last year and lead the all-time series 20-11-1.

2. The Green Wave forced 12 turnovers this season - seven fumble recoveries and five interceptions.

3. Memphis senior K Jake Elliott, who is 6-for-6 from 40 yards and beyond this year, became the program’s all-time leading scorer (371 points) last week.

PREDICTION: Memphis 34, Tulane 21