2005 Memphis Tigers Handicapping Review

 

By Tom Wilkinson

 

Memphis entered the 2004 campaign coming off one of its best seasons in several years with a 9-4 record in 2003 and New Orleans Bowl victory. This came after a tough 2002 campaign in which they went 3-9 straight up.

To open 2004, Memphis was installed as a 3.5-point dog at Ole Miss against a depleted Rebel team playing its first game in the post Eli Manning era. Many sports betting bloggers were posting upset picks and for once they were correct and with good foresight as Memphis won 20-13. After a 52-21 win over Tennessee-Chattanooga in an unlined game, Memphis hit the road for Arkansas State and was completely over-valued as 24-point chalks. The Tigers won 47-35 but didn’t come close to getting the cash and one must wonder what would prompt any serious student of sports handicapping to lay out money in those circumstances. Memphis was ambushed in their next game at Alabama-Birmingham, losing 28-35 as 2.5-point road chalks to stand at 3-1 straight up and 1-2 against the odds.

Home cooking appeared to help potentially cure Memphis of their woes as they clobbered Houston 41-14 as 13-point home chalks and then bombed Tulane 49-24 as 23.5-point home favorites. These wins helped bring less sports handicapping value to Memphis, however, as they were next installed as 6-point chalks at Cincinnati in an embarrassing 10-49 loss.

In their next game against Conference USA powerhouse Louisville, Memphis was installed as 13.5-point home dogs by the sports betting odds makers for this Thursday Night ESPN television game. In an “Instant Classic” Memphis got the cash, but not the game in an epic 49-56 loss to the Cardinals. Memphis now stood at 5-3 straight up and 4-3 against the odds as they headed into the stretch run for bowl contention.

Memphis seemed to carry a hangover from that tough and emotional loss to Louisville. As 6-point home chalks against Southern Miss the Tigers barely escaped with a 30-26 win and then at East Carolina, as 16.5-point chalks they barely got away with a 38-35 win. In the regular season finale at South Florida, Memphis was installed as 4.5-point favorites by the sports betting odds makers and prevailed 31-15 to clinch a berth in the GMAC Bowl against Bowling Green. As 3-point bowl dogs Memphis lost 35-52 to finish the 2004 season at 8-4 straight up and 5-6 against the odds, finishing out of the black for the fifth straight season.