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The Iowa State Cyclones and the Memphis Tigers meet for the Liberty Bowl. The matchup is at 3:30 PM ET on December 29, 2023, and airs on ESPN.
The Tigers are expected to lose (currently +8.5) versus the Cyclones (with an over/under of 57.5 points).
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Game Info for Iowa State vs. Memphis
- Game Day: Friday, December 29, 2023
- Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Location: Memphis, Florida
- Stadium: Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium
| Favorite | Spread | Favorite Spread Odds | Underdog Spread Odds | Total | Over Total Odds | Under Total Odds | Favorite Moneyline | Underdog Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State | -8.5 | -110 | -110 | 57.5 | -110 | -110 | -337 | +263 |
Iowa State Pick Insights
- Iowa State’s ATS record is 6-5-0 this season.
- Iowa State games with a set total have hit the over five times this season (45.5%).
Iowa State Stats & Insights
- Iowa State ranks 88th in total offense (358.2 yards per game) and 41st in total defense (349.3 yards allowed per game) this season.
- Iowa State ranks 73rd in scoring offense (26.3 points per game) and 35th in scoring defense (21.7 points allowed per game) this year.
- Iowa State is compiling 228.3 passing yards per game on offense, which ranks them 61st in the FBS. The defense ranks 55th, allowing 217.7 passing yards per game.
- Iowa State is putting up 129.9 rushing yards per game offensively this year (98th in the FBS), and is giving up 131.6 rushing yards per game (36th) on defense.
- From an offensive standpoint, Iowa State ranks 73rd in the FBS with a 37.9% third-down percentage. Meanwhile, the team’s defense ranks 31st in third-down percentage allowed (131.6).
- With 19 forced turnovers (39th in the FBS) against 11 turnovers committed (12th in the FBS), Iowa State’s +8 turnover margin is the 17th-best in college football.
Iowa State’s Best Players
- Rocco Becht has 2,674 pass yards for Iowa State, completing 63.5% of his passes and throwing 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season.
- The team’s top rusher, Abu Sama III, has carried the ball 72 times for 610 yards (50.8 per game), scoring six times.
- Eli Sanders has piled up 477 yards on 102 carries, scoring four times.
- Jayden Higgins’ leads his squad with 769 yards as a receiver. He’s racked up that yardage on 44 receptions (out of 67 targets) and scored five touchdowns.
- Jaylin Noel has hauled in 60 receptions totaling 741 yards, finding the end zone six times as a receiver so far this campaign.
- Benjamin Brahmer has been the target of 51 passes and hauled in 26 grabs for 320 yards, an average of 26.7 yards per contest. He’s found the end zone two times through the air this season.
- J.R. Singleton has 3.5 sacks to pace the team, and also has three TFL and 19 tackles.
- Beau Freyler is the team’s tackle leader this year. He’s collected 83 tackles, two TFL, one sack, and three interceptions.
- Jeremiah Cooper leads the team with five interceptions, while also collecting 36 tackles, one TFL, and five passes defended.
Memphis Betting Insights
- Memphis is 4-6-1 against the spread this season.
- Memphis is 1-0 against the spread so far this season when playing as at least 8.5-point underdogs.
- The teams have hit the over in nine of Memphis’ 11 games with a set total.
Memphis Pick Insights
- While Memphis’ defense has been stuck in neutral, ranking 19th-worst by allowing 422.7 total yards per game, its offense ranks 19th-best with 452.3 total yards per contest.
- Memphis’ defense ranks 93rd in the FBS with 29 points surrendered per contest, but it has been lifted up by its offense, which ranks seventh-best by racking up 39.7 points per game.
- On the defensive side of the ball, Memphis is a bottom-25 pass unit, giving up 253.2 passing yards per game (20th-worst). Fortunately, it is excelling on offense, accumulating 301.4 passing yards per contest (14th-best).
- In terms of rushing, Memphis ranks 77th in the FBS on offense (150.8 rushing yards per game) and 100th defensively (169.5 rushing yards allowed per contest).
- On third down, Memphis has been productive on both sides of the ball this season, ranking 24th-best in third-down conversion rate (44.9%) and 19th-best in third-down rate surrendered (31.8%).
- Memphis has a +5 turnover margin this season, which ranks 30th in the FBS.
Memphis’ Best Players
- Seth Henigan leads Memphis with 3,516 yards on 293-of-441 passing with 28 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions this season. He has chipped in with 247 rushing yards (20.6 ypg) on 88 carries while scoring four touchdowns on the ground.
- The team’s top rusher, Blake Watson, has carried the ball 177 times for 1,045 yards (87.1 per game), with 14 touchdowns this year. He’s proven to be a dual threat, racking up 463 receiving yards (38.6 per game) on 50 catches with three receiving touchdowns.
- Sutton Smith has piled up 59 carries and totaled 283 yards with two touchdowns.
- Roc Taylor’s 981 receiving yards (81.8 yards per game) lead the team. He has 61 catches on 98 targets with four touchdowns.
- DeMeer Blankumsee has put together an 825-yard season so far with six touchdowns. He’s caught 51 passes on 83 targets.
- Greg Rubin has 2.5 sacks to pace the team, and also has two TFL and 42 tackles.
- Memphis’ tackle leader, Chandler Martin, has 81 tackles, 10 TFL, two sacks, and two interceptions this year.
- Cameron Smith has a team-high three interceptions to go along with 47 tackles and three passes defended.
