The defending AAC champion Tulane Green Wave will get the opportunity for a repeat on Saturday. To illuminate, Tulane hosts the SMU Mustangs in the AAC championship game. Both teams ended the AAC regular season with 8-0 records within the league. And as good as Tulane is, SMU will present a supreme College Football odds challenge. Everyone knows about the perennially prolific SMU offense. But what they don’t know is that the SMU defense is outstanding, too. SMU is one of the hottest teams in the country on the field and at the betting window.
2023 American Athletic Conference Championship Game Tulane Green Wave vs. SMU Mustangs
| Date and Time: | Saturday, December 2, 2023, 4 ET. |
|---|---|
| Location: | Yulman Stadium, New Orleans, LA. |
| TV Coverage: | ABC |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMU | +4 -110 | 50½ -110 | +160 |  |
| Tulane | -4 -110 | 50½ -110 | -190 | |
| ||||
SMU Mustangs Team Overview
Last game, the SMU Mustangs won 59-14 against the Navy Midshipmen as 18.5-point home favorites. The game went over the online wagering total of 46. SMU has a record of 10-2 straight up, 7-5 against the spread, and 6-6 over/under the total. SMU ranks 9th for total offense, 16th for passing, 42nd for rushing, and 4th for scoring. Defensively, they rank 13th overall, 15th against the pass, 28th against the rush, and 13th for points allowed. Also, SMU ranks 22nd for fewest turnovers lost and 63rd for takeaways.
Namely, Preston Stone threw three touchdown passes before suffering an injury in the second quarter. Stone had already thrown for 322 yards on 14-of-19 passing when he went down awkwardly while being sacked with six minutes left in the first half. Following Stone, redshirt freshman Kevin Jennings is the backup. Next is Iowa transfer Alex Padilla. Jennings took over for Stone, and Padilla also saw action, as did fourth-stringer freshman Keldric Luster.
Overall, Tyler Lavine rushed for three touchdowns. Kelvontay Dixon had 125 yards receiving and two touchdowns on four catches. And then Isaiah Iwokobia had a 74-yard pick-6 in the third quarter for SMU’s final points. All three of Stone’s touchdown passes came in the first quarter when he threw for 275 yards. Correlate that is the most in a quarter by an FBS quarterback this season.
Tulane Green Wave Team Overview
Last game, the Tulane Green Wave won 29-16 against the UTSA Roadrunners as 3.5-point home favorites. The game went under the total of 52. Tulane has a record of 11-1 straight up, 5-7 against the spread, and 2-10 over/under the total. Tulane ranks 64th for total offense, 72nd for passing, 58th for rushing, and 63rd for scoring. Defensively, they rank 29th overall, 100th against the pass, 6th against the rush, and 18th for points allowed. Also, Tulane ranks 120th for fewest turnovers lost and 14th for takeaways.
Makhi Hughes rushed for a season-high 166 yards and a touchdown. Hence, Tulane claimed a spot in the American Athletic Conference championship game with a victory over UTSA. Hughes had his seventh 100-yard game of the season. Also, Michael Pratt threw two touchdown passes to Chris Brazzell II for the Green Wave. Hence, Tulane won their 10th consecutive game. Tulane scored 17 points off five UTSA turnovers.
Tulane at SMU SBG Free Picks
It is true that Tulane was the previous AAC champion. But SMU’s improved defense should be the difference with the College Football odds.
SMU at Tulane SBG Best Bet: SMU Mustangs.