The Tulane Green Wave (-3) are entering the AutoNation Cure Bowl as favorites as they prepare to battle the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. CBS Sports Network will televise the action and kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Tulane Green Wave at Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
In this Saturday game, Tulane is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 3 points. The Green Wave are also receiving -155 moneyline odds while the Ragin’ Cajuns are +135. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 59 points. It appears that there should be some good in-game betting opportunities for this matchup.
The opening line was 3.5 while the O/U hasn’t changed since it opened at 59.
Each team has posted a good return this year as the Green Wave have recorded 2.5 units and the Ragin’ Cajuns are ahead 3.8 units.
The Green Wave are 6-6 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Ragin’ Cajuns are 7-6 SU.
The Green Wave just pulled off a 29-28 win over Navy on November 24. Justin McMillan completed 18-of-29 passes for 291 yards, three scores and one interception. Darius Bradwell (66 rushing yards on 15 attempts) and the signal-caller McMillan (51 yards on eight carries, one TD) spearheaded the ground attack. Darnell Mooney (five receptions, 135 yards, one TD) and Terren Encalade (five catches, 35 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
A couple of weeks ago, Appalachian State knocked off this Louisiana crew by a score of 30-19. Andre Nunez completed 10-of-21 passes for 85 yards and two interceptions. Elijah Mitchell (85 yards on 17 rush attempts) and Trey Ragas (101 yards on 16 carries) mounted the running game while Ja’Marcus Bradley (four receptions, 41 yards) and Ryheem Malone (two catches, seven yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Tulane has run the ball on 65.5 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Louisiana has a rush percentage of 61.8 percent. The Green Wave have produced 208.3 rush yards per game and have 25 scores on the ground this year. The Ragin’ Cajuns are logging 229.1 rush yards per game and have 29 total rushing TDs.
The Green Wave offense has logged 186.1 yards per contest in the air overall and has 14 passing TDs so far. The Ragin’ Cajuns have recorded 208.0 pass yards per outing and have 26 total pass scores.
Defensively, Tulane has allowed 152.6 rush yards and 266.6 pass yards per game. The Louisiana defense has allowed 222.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 210.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Green Wave are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 6.38 to opposing QBs, while the Ragin’ Cajuns have given up an 8.06 ANY/A.
Offensively, McMillan has amassed 1,012 passing yards on the year. He’s connected on 50 percent of his 116 attempts with nine passing scores and only one interception. McMillan’s got an 8.76 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 6.84 over the last two games.
Andre Nunez has completed 163-of-255 passes for 1,988 yards, 16 TDs and 11 INTs for Louisiana. His ANY/A sits at 6.32 for the year and 4.08 over his past two games.
Tulane Green Wave vs. Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Free Prediction
SU Winner: Louisiana, ATS Winner: Louisiana, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- Louisiana has lost three fumbles this season while Tulane has lost 11.
- The Tulane defense has 35 sacks on the year while Louisiana has just 24.
- Tulane, as a team, has averaged 4.1 yards per rush attempt over its last three outings and 4.5 over its last two.
- Louisiana has averaged 5.3 yards per carry over its last three games and 4.9 over its past two.
- In its last three contests, Louisiana is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Tulane’s last game was 50. The over cashed in the team’s 29-28 triumph over Navy.
- Over its last three matches, Tulane is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Louisiana’s previous match was set at 55. The under cashed in the team’s 30-19 loss to Appalachian State.
- Tulane has won five of its last six games SU, with a 31-point loss to Houston on November 15th representing the only defeat over that stretch.
