Prior to the first-ever SEC game in program history, the No. 15 Oklahoma Sooners will play the last of their three non-conference tuneups against the Tulane Green Wave, a former SEC team from the league’s original 1933 lineup.
Oklahoma is looking to bounce back after an unconvincing win over Houston, where the offense failed to score in the second half, managing only a safety and punting eight times. Tulane, meanwhile, is coming off a tough loss to Kansas State, having led by 11 points at one stage and by a touchdown in the fourth quarter before surrendering 24 of the game’s final 31 points.
We break down the latest odds, key insights, and a Tulane vs. Oklahoma prediction ahead of this matchup.
Tulane at Oklahoma Betting Preview
All Tulane at Oklahoma odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, Sept. 14.
- Spread
Oklahoma -13 - Moneyline
Tulane +400, Oklahoma -535 - Over/Under
46.5 points - Game time
3:30 p.m. ET - Location
Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma - Predicted Weather at Kick
98 degrees, 10-15 MPH winds, unseasonably hot - How to Watch
ESPN, ESPN+
This game marks the end of a three-game series between these teams, with the Sooners having won 56-14 in 2017 and 40-35 in the 2021 season opener, which was moved from New Orleans to Norman due to Hurricane Ida.
Oklahoma has dominated current AAC members, winning its last 23 games against them—a streak dating back to a 1996 loss to Tulsa.
The Sooners easily covered the 42.5-point spread against Temple in their season opener with a 51-3 victory, but they fell short as 27.5-point favorites against Houston. Over the past three seasons, Oklahoma has been inconsistent against the spread, with a 14-14 record overall, 13-13 in regular-season games, and 12-12 as the favorite.
However, they do have a solid 7-3 record against the spread in non-conference games during that time.
Tulane, on the other hand, has covered the spread in both of its games this season after going 5-9 last year. The Green Wave have also been strong on the road, covering the spread in eight of their last 10 away games since the start of 2022.
Additionally, a notable trend is that 12 of Tulane’s last 16 games have gone under the total since the beginning of last season.
Prediction for Tulane vs. Oklahoma
Redshirt freshman Darian Mensah will make just his third collegiate start on Saturday, but his early performances have been promising. He has completed over 70% of his passes, throwing for four touchdowns with an impressive average of 13.3 yards per attempt.
Running back Hughes continues to be an offensive force for his team, building on his record-setting freshman season when he became the first in school history to reach 1,000 rushing yards. Last week, he racked up 165 yards from scrimmage against Kansas State, including 128 on the ground.
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Oklahoma is looking for a boost in their passing game, particularly hoping for the return of Nic Anderson from injury. The Sooners were limited to just 174 passing yards against the Cougars last week.
Anderson, who recorded 38 catches for 798 yards in 2023, has yet to play this season. In his absence, Purdue transfer Deion Burks has stepped up as Oklahoma’s leading receiver, leading the team in catches in both games so far.
With Mensah’s strong start and Hughes’ consistency on the ground, Oklahoma’s success could hinge on Anderson’s potential return to add a much-needed spark to their offense.
Whether Sooners fans embrace it or not, the 2024 team’s strength lies in its defense, a departure from the Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Caleb Williams era. Through two games, the defense has been stellar, allowing just 127 rushing yards in total.
This level of dominance against the run will pose a significant challenge for a Green Wave offense that relies heavily on its ground game.
Oklahoma can’t afford to look past this matchup with an SEC showdown against Tennessee looming next week. If Brent Venables and his staff keep the team focused on this quality opponent, the Sooners should use this game to get healthier—particularly at receiver—and secure a solid win.
Prediction: Oklahoma 35, Tulane 17
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