The SMU Mustangs (-2.5) and Tulsa Golden Hurricane are ready to go at it on the turf at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium. The daytime game is scheduled to get going at 3:30 p.m. ET and CBS Sports Network will televise the action.
SMU Mustangs at Tulsa Golden Hurricane Betting Preview
In this Saturday American Athletic Conference game, SMU is labeled as the favorite and is currently giving up 2.5 points. The Mustangs are also receiving -140 moneyline odds while the Golden Hurricane are +120. It appears that there might be some good in-game betting opportunities during this matchup, and oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 58.5 points.
This game’s line opened at 2. The total has yet to move after it was initially set at 58.5.
The profitable Mustangs are 5-6 against the spread (ATS) and have recorded 8.0 units so far. The team has recorded an Over-Under mark of 5-6. The Golden Hurricane have been a disappointment to moneyline bettors this season, losing 6.2 units. The team is 4-7 ATS and has an O/U record of 3-7.
The Mustangs are 5-6 straight up (SU), including 4-3 SU against conference opponents. The Golden Hurricane are 2-9 SU overall and 1-6 SU in conference play.
The Mustangs will try to get back on track after a 28-18 defeat to Memphis last week. Ben Hicks completed just 29-of-55 passes for 344 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. As a team, the Mustangs produced a grand total of 25 rushing yards in the defeat.
Tulsa just fell 37-29 to Navy. Seth Boomer completed 19-of-28 passes for 206 yards and one interception. Shamari Brooks (81 yards on 22 rush attempts) and Corey Taylor II (45 yards on 15 carries, three TDs) handled the running game as Keylon Stokes (six receptions, 56 yards) and Jarion Anderson (five catches, 65 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
SMU’s run the ball on 46.7 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Tulsa has an overall rush percentage of 64.8 percent. The Mustangs have produced 120 rush yards/game (including 119 per game against American Athletic Conference opponents) and have 16 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Golden Hurricane are averaging 206 rushing yards per game (215 in conference) and have 21 total rush TDs.
The Mustangs offense has averaged 267 yards in the air overall (280 per game versus conference opposition) and has 27 passing scores so far. The Golden Hurricane have produced 169 pass yards per outing (170.7 against AAC competition) and have 12 total pass TDs.
SMU has allowed opponents to run for an average of 202 yards and pass for 229 yards per game. The Tulsa defense has allowed 161.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 248.7 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to the opposition, as the Mustangs have given up an ANY/A of 6.24 to opposing QBs, while the Golden Hurricane are allowing an ANY/A of 5.92.
Offensively, Hicks has amassed 1,987 passing yards this year. He’s connected on 55 percent of his 297 attempts with 17 scores through the air and only five interceptions. Hicks has a 6.10 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.51 over the last two outings.
James Proche, Reggie Roberson, Jr. and Ke’Mon Freeman have collectively accounted for 571 total yards and six touchdowns over the last two outings.
In the other huddle, Seth Boomer has connected on 67-of-145 passes for 987 yards, seven TDs and three INTs. Boomer’s ANY/A stands at 5.51 for the year and 4.85 across his past two outings.
We’re looking for the Golden Hurricane to control the game’s clock by pounding the defense with their running backs. Along with WR Keylon Stokes (393 receiving yards, two receiving TDs this season), Corey Taylor II (676 rush yards, eight rush TDs) and Shamari Brooks (855 rush yards, six rush TDs) have been key factors in the Golden Hurricane’s recent offensive strategies.
When these two squads faced each other last year, SMU got the victory over Tulsa, 38-34.
RELATED: Week 13 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
NCAA Pick: SMU Mustangs at Tulsa Golden Hurricane
SU Winner – Tulsa, ATS Winner – Tulsa, O/U – Over
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
The SMU D has sacked opposing QBs 23 times this year. Tulsa has registered just nine sacks.
The Tulsa offense has lost 14 fumbles in 2018 while SMU has let seven get away.
The Mustangs offense has produced 16 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Golden Hurricane have accounted for three such plays.
Both teams have allowed five pass plays of 40+ yards. The SMU defense has given up 13 pass plays of 30+ yards while Tulsa has given up 15 such plays.
The SMU offense has created 14 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Tulsa has created 20 such runs.
The Mustangs defense has allowed 19 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Golden Hurricane have given up 22 such runs.
The Over/Under for Tulsa’s previous game was 51. The over cashed in the team’s 37-29 loss to Navy.
Over its last three matchups, Tulsa is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
In its last three games, SMU is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Tulsa has lost 10 of its last 11 games SU, with a 30-point victory over Connecticut on November 3rd accounting for its only win over that stretch.
The O/U for SMU’s last game going into it was 75. The under cashed in the team’s 28-18 defeat to Memphis.
As a team, SMU has averaged 5.1 yards per rush attempt across its past three games and 5.2 over its last two.
Tulsa has averaged 5.3 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.2 over its past two.
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