College Football Picks: Ole Miss vs Tulane Best Bets
It's that time of the year, we've made it through the season, coming up on the Holidays, and it's time for Playoff action. We've got picks, predictions and best bets for you for this CFP clash.
Ole Miss and Tulane will be as geared up as anybody, as they both made their first-ever College Football Playoff on the backs of historic seasons for their respective programs. Both teams will see their head coaches move on to bigger and better after this season. Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin has already been relieved of his duties and moved on to LSU. Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall will ride it out as long as he can with the Green Wave before heading to Florida once the season comes to an end.
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Ole Miss vs Tulane Betting Odds for the CFP First Round
Spread: Tulane +17.5 (BetMGM); Ole Miss -16.5 (FanDuel Sportsbook)
Total: Over 57.5 (FanDuel Sportsbook); Under 57.5 (DraftKings Sportsbook)
Moneyline: Tulane +650 (DraftKings Sportsbook); Ole Miss -900 (FanDuel Sportsbook)
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Ole Miss vs Tulane Betting Picks for the CFP First Round
Tulane found its way to the Playoffs after going 11-2 and winning the American Conference. Tulane will have its work cut out for it, as it has not been stellar in any area of the game. The Green Wave rank eighth in the American Conference in total offense and scoring offense, averaging 410.7 yards and 29.1 points per game. On the other side of the ball, the Tulane defense ranks fifth in the American in total defense and fourth in scoring defense, allowing an average of 375.5 yards and 22.6 points per game.
The Tulane offense is led by BYU transfer quarterback Jake Retzlaff. Retzlaff has come in and done a great job for the Green Wave, throwing for 2,862 yards with 14 touchdowns and six interceptions while also leading the team in rushing with 610 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground.
Tulane has seemed to have found a running back to pair with their quarterback in the running game. Javin Gordon has gotten most of the reps throughout the year with 122 carries for 505 yards; however, over the last three games, the bulk of the work has gone to freshman Jamauri McClure, who has rushed for over 100 yards in two of the last three games. McClure has 456 yards and two touchdowns on just 68 carries this year.
The Tulane receiving corps has been a committee throughout the season with no real standouts, but four pass catchers with 30 or more catches and 400 or more yards in Shazz Preston, Anthony Brown-Stephens, Omari Hayes, and Bryce Bohanon. Preston leads the bunch with 38 receptions for 598 yards, while Bohanon trails the pack with 31 receptions for 417 yards.
Ole Miss had the best season in program history, going 11-1, and has found itself in the Playoff for the first time. The Rebels' historic season was mainly due to the SEC's most prolific offense. Ole Miss led the SEC in passing while also being fourth in rushing, accumulating for the top offense in the conference, averaging 498.1 yards per game. The Rebels' defense has not been quite as good, sitting at eighth in the SEC in total defense, allowing 333.1 yards per game.
The Ole Miss offense is led by D-II transfer Trinidad Chambliss. After sophomore QB Austin Simmons opened the season as the starter and got injured in the second game, Chambliss took over. Chambliss started for the first time in the third game of the season and never looked back. In 10 starts, Chambliss threw for over 300 yards seven times. On the year, Chambliss threw for 3,016 yards 18 touchdowns and three interceptions while adding 417 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. To go along with Chambliss, the Rebels also feature the SEC's second-leading rusher and the nation's ninth-leading rusher in Kewan Lacy. Lacy has rushed for 1,259 yards and 20 touchdowns on 258 carries on the season.
Ole Miss vs Tulane CFP First round Expert Pick: Ole Miss -16.5 (FanDuel Sportsbook)
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Ole Miss vs Tulane Predictions for the College Football Playoffs
A lot has been made of Lane Kiffin's departure and the hype around the Tulane locker room as a big Cinderella story. These narratives can get a bit overblown in the media whirlwind that precedes such events.
The Green Wave will most certainly come out swinging, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for both of these teams.
Over the course of the season, the Rebels have proved to be one of the best offenses in the country, facing some of the toughest competition. All the while, Tulane has had a great year, but has been statistically middle of the road in a less-than-stellar conference. Oh, and let's not forget these two teams met once before, with Ole Miss coming out on top 45-10. Don't let the underdog narrative set you astray, Ole Miss rolls.
Ole Miss 42, Tulane 17
Ole Miss vs Tulane Player Props for Saturday, December 20th
Jake Retzlaff, QB, Tulane - Over 183.5 Passing Yards (Sleeper)
In the last meeting between these two, Retzlaff was pulled after throwing for just 56 yards, and the Green Wave totaled 104 yards. I would expect Tulane to get behind early and be forced into a lot of passing situations. I would also expect little quit and lots of garbage-time yardage from the Green Wave, lifting Retzlaff over the 183.5-yard mark.
