South Florida vs. Tulane Pick
Will No. 16 South Florida Be able to cover a double-digit spread on the road when the Bulls take on Tulane tonight at 7PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, South Florida is favored on the road, as the Bulls are getting odds of -11.5 points against the Green Wave. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 54 points. These two have no recent meetings to consider. The public is currently putting 77 percent of the wagers on USF on the road. Today’s game takes place from Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana and will air live on ESPN2.
South Florida is coming off a 33-3 win over Cincinnati at home last week. The Bulls are now 6-0 on the season, 3-0 in the AAC and 4-2 against the spread. The Bulls have covered the spread in four straight games. USF has a sound defense, which is holding opponents to 17.2 points and 290.3 yards per game right now. USF is putting up 42.8 points and 492 yards per game on offense thanks to a rushing attack that is averaging nearly 300 yards per contest. Quinton Flowers is leading the team with 1,118 passing yards and 10 touchdowns while also rushing for 475 yards and six scores. Darius Tice has 493 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground while D’Ernest Johnson has 485 yards and four scores. Tice is listed as questionable for this game with a leg injury.
Tulane is coming off a 23-10 loss at Florida International last weekend to fall to 3-3 on the season and 1-1 in the AAC. The Green Wave are 4-2 against the spread on the year, including 3-0 ATS at home. Tulane’s defense isn’t terrible, as the Green Wave are allowing just 26.8 points and 400.5 yards per game. However, it is giving up 200 rushing yards per contest. On offense, Tulane is putting up 28.5 points and 380.3 yards per game. The Green Wave have a solid rushing attack, averaging 278 yards per game on the ground. Dontrell Hilliard has run for 607 yards and eight touchdowns to lead the team. Jonathan Banks has run for 267 yards and three scores while throwing for 502 yards and four touchdowns.
Both teams have been hot against the spread, but I think that is why the spread isn’t as large as one might expect for a ranked opponent taking on Tulane. No matter what the numbers say, it’s hard to believe that USF won’t move the ball against the Green Wave. USF is 15-5-1 against the spread in its last 21 conference games and 10-4-1 ATS in its last 15 games in October. I think Tulane will have a hard time matching USF when it comes to scoring and the Bulls will eventually pull away.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: SOUTH FLORIDA -11.5