Table of Contents
The Liberty Bowl will see the Iowa State Cyclones and the Memphis Tigers hit the field on Friday, December 29, 2023. The matchup starts at 3:30 PM ET and airs on ESPN.
The Tigers are expected to lose by at least a touchdown (currently +9.5) against the Cyclones (with an over/under of 57.5 points).
Create your Pick’em Pool with the Internet’s #1 pool creation and hosting platform. Get 15 friends together and play for free!
Start here >
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 | -9.5 | -110 | -110 | 57.5 | -110 | -110 | -337 | +265 |
Iowa State Pick Insights
- Iowa State is 6-5-0 ATS this season.
- Iowa State has hit the over in five of its 11 games with a set total (45.5%).
Iowa State Stats & Insights
- Iowa State is totaling 358.2 yards per game on offense (87th in the FBS), and rank 42nd on the other side of the ball, yielding 349.3 yards allowed per game.
- Offensively, Iowa State ranks 74th in the FBS with 26.3 points per game. Meanwhile, the team’s defense ranks 36th in points allowed (349.3 points allowed per contest).
- Iowa State ranks 60th in pass offense (228.3 passing yards per game) and 54th in pass defense (217.7 passing yards allowed per game) this year.
- On offense, Iowa State ranks 98th in the FBS with 129.9 rushing yards per game. Meanwhile, the defensive unit ranks 36th in rushing yards allowed per contest (131.6).
- Iowa State is averaging a 37.9% third-down conversion rate offensively this season (73rd in the FBS), and is giving up a 35% third-down percentage (31st) on defense.
- With 19 forced turnovers (42nd in the FBS) against 11 turnovers committed (11th in the FBS), Iowa State’s +8 turnover margin is the 17th-best in college football.
Iowa State’s Best Players
- Rocco Becht has recorded 2,674 yards (222.8 ypg) on 209-of-329 passing with 20 touchdowns compared to eight interceptions this season.
- Abu Sama III has 610 rushing yards on 72 carries with six touchdowns.
- This season, Eli Sanders has carried the ball 102 times for 477 yards (39.8 per game) and four touchdowns.
- Jayden Higgins’ 769 yards as a receiver lead the team. He’s been targeted 67 times and has registered 44 catches and five touchdowns.
- Jaylin Noel has caught 60 passes for 741 yards (61.8 yards per game) and six touchdowns this year.
- Benjamin Brahmer has a total of 320 receiving yards so far this year, hauling in 26 passes and scoring two touchdowns.
- J.R. Singleton has racked up 3.5 sacks to pace the team, while also recording three TFL and 19 tackles.
- Beau Freyler is the team’s top-tackler this year. He’s totaled 83 tackles, two TFL, one sack, and three interceptions.
- Jeremiah Cooper leads the team with five interceptions, while also recording 36 tackles, one TFL, and five passes defended.
Memphis Betting Insights
- So far this year, Memphis has put together a 4-6-1 record against the spread.
- In games it has played as at least 9.5-point underdogs this year, Memphis is 1-0 against the spread.
- Memphis has hit the over in nine of their 11 games with a set total (81.8%).
Memphis Pick Insights
- Defensively, Memphis is bottom-25, allowing 422.7 total yards per game (20th-worst). On the bright side, it is thriving on the offensive side of the ball, generating 452.3 total yards per contest (18th-best).
- Memphis’ defense ranks 93rd in the FBS with 29 points given up per game, but it has been carried by its offense, which ranks seventh-best by accumulating 39.7 points per contest.
- While Memphis’ pass defense has been sputtering, ranking 19th-worst by giving up 253.2 passing yards per game, its offense ranks 14th-best with 301.4 passing yards per contest.
- With 150.8 rushing yards per game on offense, Memphis ranks 76th in the FBS. On defense it ranks 100th, giving up 169.5 rushing yards per game.
- Memphis has been a top-25 unit on third down on both offense and defense this season, as it ranks 25th-best in third-down conversion percentage (44.9%) and 18th-best in third-down rate surrendered (31.8%).
- After forcing 20 turnovers (35th in the FBS) and turning the ball over 15 times (40th in the FBS) this season, Memphis sports the 31st-ranked turnover margin of +5.
Memphis’ Best Players
- Seth Henigan has thrown for 3,516 yards on 66.4% passing while tossing 28 touchdown passes with nine interceptions this season. He’s also rushed for 247 yards with four scores.
- Blake Watson has rushed 177 times for a team-high 1,045 yards (87.1 per game) with 14 touchdowns. He also leads the team through the air, as his 50 receptions this season are good for 463 yards, and he’s scored three touchdowns in the passing game.
- Sutton Smith has collected 283 yards (on 59 carries) with two touchdowns.
- Roc Taylor has racked up 981 receiving yards on 61 receptions to pace his squad so far this season while scoring four touchdowns as a receiver.
- DeMeer Blankumsee has put together an 825-yard season so far with six touchdowns. He’s caught 51 passes on 83 targets.
- Greg Rubin paces the team with 2.5 sacks, and also has two TFL and 42 tackles.
- Chandler Martin, Memphis’ tackle leader, has 81 tackles, 10 TFL, two sacks, and two interceptions this year.
- Cameron Smith has a team-leading three interceptions to go along with 47 tackles and three passes defended.
