The SMU Mustangs (+7) are heading east to visit their conference foe Tulane Green Wave at Benson Field at Yulman Stadium. This afternoon game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET and ESPNU is in line to have the TV rights.
Betting Preview: SMU Mustangs at Tulane Green Wave
In this Saturday American Athletic Conference game, Tulane is tabbed as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 7 points. If they want to take the moneyline, gamblers would currently need to lay down $300 in order to win $100 back on the Green Wave (-300). The Mustangs are getting +220 moneyline odds. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 60.5 points, and if one program can find paydirt early, it would likely lead to a solid live betting opportunity.
Sharp bettors have been leaning toward the Mustangs. The line initially opened at -8 while the total was originally 61.
Each team has posted a positive return this year as the Mustangs have gained 1.1 units while the Green Wave are up 2.3 units.
The Mustangs have gone 2-4 straight up (SU), including 1-1 SU against conference opponents. The Green Wave are 2-4 SU overall and are also 1-1 SU in conference play.
The Mustangs lost to UCF 48-20 in a thumping where the Mustangs completed 24-of-42 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns. Ben Hicks went 15-for-23 for 153 yards and one touchdown while William Brown completed nine-of-19 for 84 yards and one touchdown. Braeden West (69 rushing yards on 17 attempts) and William Brown (13 yards on 10 carries) led the ground attack while James Proche (12 receptions, 100 yards, two TDs) and West (four catches, 15 yards) manned the receiving duties in the defeat.
Tulane just suffered a 37-21 loss to Cincinnati. The defensive unit allowed the Bearcats to run for 272 yards on 48 rush attempts, including three rush TDs. Michael Warren II shredded the defense, putting up 123 rushing yards and a score on 18 attempts for Cincinnati. As a group, the Green Wave collectively completed 12-of-31 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Justin McMillan went 11-for-26 for 130 yards and two touchdowns while Jonathan Banks was one-of-five for two yards. Darius Bradwell (88 yards on 16 rush attempts, one TD) handled the running attack while Darnell Mooney (four receptions, 65 yards, one TD) and Terren Encalade (two catches, 31 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
SMU has run the ball on 50.1 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Tulane has an overall rush percentage of 63.6 percent. The Mustangs have produced 121.7 rush yards per game (including 120.5 per game versus American Athletic Conference opponents) and have seven scores on the ground this year. The Green Wave are totaling 191.7 rush yards per game (226.0 in conference) and have 12 total rushing TDs.
The Mustangs offense has tallied 230.7 yards per contest through the air overall (201.5 per game versus conference opposition) and has 14 passing scores so far. The Green Wave have produced 186.2 pass yards per game (155 against AAC foes) and have eight total pass TDs.
SMU appears to possess an edge when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has let opponents run for an average of 194.8 yards and pass for 233.8 yards per game. The Tulane defense has given up 272.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 175.5 yards per game on the ground. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Mustangs have given up an ANY/A of 7.14 to opposing QBs, while the Green Wave are allowing an ANY/A of 6.89.
Offensively, Brown is up to 316 passing yards this season, and has connected on 63 percent of his 65 attempts with five scores through the air and has yet to throw an interception. He has a 6.07 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 9.59 over the last two games.
For the home team, Justin McMillan has completed 13-of-28 passes for 145 yards, two TDs and zero INTs. McMillan’s ANY/A sits at an ultra-pedestrian 4.67 for the season and 7.43 across his past two outings.
These two teams faced off a year ago with the final outcome being a 41-38 win for SMU.
SMU Mustangs vs. Tulane Green Wave Betting Pick
SU Winner: Tulane, ATS Winner: Tulane, O/U: Over
Team Betting Notes
- The Tulane defensive unit has registered 15 sacks on the year while SMU has just eight.
- The Tulane offense has lost five fumbles in 2018 while the SMU offense has let four get away.
- The Mustangs offense has recorded seven pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Green Wave have put up five such plays.
- Both teams have allowed three pass plays of 40 or more yards. The SMU defense has given up eight pass plays of 30+ yards while Tulane has permitted 12 such plays.
- The SMU offense has created six rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Tulane has created 15 such runs.
- The Mustangs defense has allowed five rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Green Wave have given up six such runs.
- The Over/Under for Tulane’s last outing was 48. The over cashed in the team’s 37-21 defeat to Cincinnati.
- Over its last three contests, Tulane is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Over its last three games, SMU is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for SMU’s last game was set at 74. The under cashed in the team’s 48-20 loss to UCF.
- SMU has produced 3.8 yards per carry over its past three games and 3.7 over its last two.
- Tulane has averaged 4.1 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.8 over its last two.
