The SMU Mustangs (6-4, 4-2 AAC) meet the No. 21 Tulane Green Wave (8-2, 5-1) Thursday at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the SMU vs. Tulane odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Mustangs were sitting below .500 after an Oct. 22 loss to Cincinnati, but suddenly a light went off. SMU has scored 41 or more points in each of the last 3 games, outpacing the defense which has yielded 34 or more points in 2 of those games. SMU opened 1-5 ATS in the 1st 6 outings, but it has covered the last 4 games.
The Green Wave ripped off 5 straight wins and covers from Sept. 30 to Nov. 5, but that streak was halted with a 38-31 home loss to UCF last Saturday in a coin-flip game. Each of its 2 losses have been in 1-score games.
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SMU at Tulane odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 11:16 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): SMU +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Tulane -180 (bet $180 to win $100)
- Against the spread: SMU +3.5 (-114) | Tulane -3.5 (-106)
- Over/Under (O/U): 65 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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SMU at Tulane picks and predictions
Prediction
Tulane 35, SMU 32
Moneyline
TULANE (-180) is a moderate favorite, but it is worth playing for this bounce-back game.
The Green Wave have the horses to hang with the SMU (+145) offense which has been on fire lately. And the Tulane D ranks 20th in the nation with just 323.4 total yards allowed, while limiting the opposition to 175.5 passing yards per game (12th). This won’t be a defensive slog, certainly, but the Green Wave will use its offense and surprisingly good defense to cool off the Mustangs.
Against the spread
In 4 of its last 8 games, Tulane -3 (-114) has been involved in 1-score games. SMU +3 (-106) will be in this game all the way to the end, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Green Wave win it on a last-second field goal. This will be too close to lay or take the points. Just play the moneyline.
AVOID.
Over/Under
OVER 65 (-110) is the lean, but play it slightly.
The SMU offense has scored 41 or more points in each of the last 3 outings. While the Under has been the overwhelming trend for the Mustangs on the season, it’s been about the Over lately.
The Over is 4-1 in Tulane’s last 5 appearances on a Thursday, and the Over is 5-2 in the last 7 home games against SMU, while cashing in 7 of the last 9 meetings in the series.
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