The SMU Mustangs will try to stay hot on Thursday when they hit the road to face the Tulane Green Wave in a key AAC game at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans. The Mustangs (6-4, 4-2 in AAC) have won three in a row and four of their last five. They are still alive to make the conference championship game but need a victory on Thursday night. Meanwhile the Green Wave (8-2, 5-1 in AAC) sit in a three-way tie for first in the AAC standings. They can clinch a spot in the Dec. 3 title game by winning their last two games -- against SMU and at Cincinnati.
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET. The Green Wave are 3.5-point favorites in the latest Tulane vs. SMU odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 66. Before locking in any SMU vs. Tulane picks, you need to see the college football predictions and betting advice from the proven SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past six-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed the model has seen huge returns.
Now the model has dialed in on Tulane vs. SMU and just revealed its coveted picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see all of the model's college football picks. Now, here are the college football odds and betting lines for SMU vs. Tulane:
- Tulane vs. SMU spread: Green Wave -3.5
- Tulane vs. SMU over/under: 66 points
- Tulane vs. SMU money line: Green Wave -170, Mustangs +143
- TUL: The Green Wave rank 13th in the country in passing yards allowed per game (175.5)
- SMU: Rashee Rice leads the nation in receiving yards per game (116.7)
- Tulane vs. SMU picks: See picks here
Why Tulane can cover
The Tulane defense has done a great job this season at limiting big plays. The Green Wave rank fifth in the country in both 10-plus yard plays allowed (92) and 30-plus yard plays allowed (11). That bodes well against a SMU offense that thrives on big plays.
In addition, Tulane has one of the best quarterbacks in the conference in Michael Pratt. The 6-foot-3 junior from Boca Raton, Fla., ranks third in the AAC in passing efficiency (153.9). On Thursday he faces a Mustangs defense that allows 248.4 passing yards per game, which ranks 93rd in the nation.
Why SMU can cover
SMU has one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the country in Tanner Mordecai. A 6-foot-3 senior from Waco, Texas, Mordecai leads the conference and ranks seventh in the country in passing yards per game (308.9). He also is eighth in the nation in passing touchdowns (27). For his efforts this season he has been named a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien Award.
In addition, the Mustangs have dominated the series against Tulane recently. SMU has won seven straight against the Green Wave, dating back to 2015. The Mustangs won last year's matchup, 55-26.
How to make Tulane vs. SMU picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 71 points. It also has generated an against-the-spread pick that hits more than 50% of the time. You can only see the model's SMU vs. Tulane pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Tulane vs. SMU? And which side hits more than 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the SMU vs. Tulane spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up almost $3,000 on top-rated picks the last six years, and find out.
