The Memphis Tigers have four games remaining in their quest toward a potential American Conference title, starting with a road game against Rice on Friday night.

The No. 25 Tigers (7-1, 3-1 American) will spend Halloween in Houston for a 6 p.m. kickoff on ESPN2 at Rice Stadium. 

Memphis is fresh off its biggest win of the season, a 34-31 victory over then-No. 18 South Florida.

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The meeting with Rice (4-4, 1-3) is sandwiched for Memphis between last week’s USF game and a matchup with Tulane next week. Linebacker Sam Brumfield said the Tigers are taking every opponent seriously and will look to avoid a letdown similar to the one that occurred Oct. 18 in Birmingham, where UAB upset then-undefeated Memphis.

“We have to know that each and every week we’re going to get the best shot from each team that we play,” Brumfield said. “So, we’ve got to come out ready to go like we have everything to lose and know what’s at stake.”

Rice runs an option-style offense that Memphis hasn’t faced all year. It’s the closest thing to the Navy offense that Memphis will see in its regular-season finale on Nov. 27 at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.

The Owls average 226 rushing yards per game, the third-best mark in the conference. They have more than three times the number of rushes than they do pass attempts this season. Only three teams have held Rice to fewer than 200 yards rushing this year. The Owls reached 300 yards rushing for the second time this season in an overtime win against UConn last week. 

The Owls are looking for their second conference win of the season and their first home victory against an American opponent this Friday.

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Here are a couple of predictions for the game:

Rice will commit a rare turnover

Rice is one of the most disciplined teams in the nation. 

The 38 penalties for Rice this season rank No. 21, and the Owls’ four turnovers are tied for the third fewest. They are facing a Memphis team that has forced at least one turnover in 24 of its last 28 outings, including every game this season.

The Tigers’ 0.88 turnover margin is tied for the 13th-best this year, and their 15 takeaways are tied for 12th. Rice is ranked No. 19 in time of possession, and a forced turnover or two by the Tigers would help keep the Owls’ offense off the field.

Memphis third-down defense will get back on track

UAB and South Florida combined to convert 21 of 31 third-down attempts in the Tigers’ past two games. Memphis opponents had converted just 30.6% of third-down attempts before the last two weeks.

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Rice has struggled converting on third downs. Its 38.3% conversion percentage is the fourth-worst in the American and ranks No. 86 in the country. The Owls are also last in the conference, averaging 17.8 first downs per game.

“It’s going to be a physical, hard-fought game (in which) it’s our job to get stops,” Memphis defensive coordinator Jordon Hankins said. “It’s what we’ve gotta do.”