The 2025 college football season starts with a game in New Orleans, at Tulane vs Northwestern on Aug. 30. The two teams come in at crossroads as Tulane seeks to reestablish itself after a 9-5 season that ended with a Gasparilla Bowl victory and Northwestern seeks to show it can be a regular Big Ten contender after its 2024 season provided glimpses of potential.
Both teams should be looking to establish momentum early in the year, making this opener a high-stakes game.
Tulane vs. Northwestern: Key Players to Watch
In the case of Tulane, the emphasis will be on the running back Makhi Hughes, who rushed more than 1,400 yards and scored 15 touchdowns last season. He will enter the season as one of the most consistent backs in the American Athletic Conference. The Northwestern front will be tested, as last year they gave up over 150 yards per game on the ground.
Quarterback Kai Horton should add stability following his split snaps last year, and he will be important to complement Hughes for the offense. Defensively, Jarius Monroe is back as a corner who is a ballhawk and the leader on the team in terms of passes defended, which will give Tulane an assurance in curbing explosive plays.
Northwestern has its hopes resting with transfer quarterback Preston Stone, who played at SMU and in 2024 had thrown nearly 3,200 yards with 28 TDs before becoming a Wildcat. His timing with receivers like Cam Johnson and A.J. Henning will be immediately challenged in Tulane’s aggressive coverage schemes.
Odds and Betting Lines for Tulane vs. Northwestern
As of now, Tulane is priced by sportsbooks as a home 6-point favorite, with the total priced at around 45.5. FanDuel and BetMGM have a Green Wave moneyline of approximately -225, and Northwestern is sitting around +185 to +200.
Tulane has a betting model of about 63-65% of winning outright. The initial betting action presents an overwhelming amount of support to the under, but the movement of the line towards Tulane indicates belief that the Green Wave can cover at home.
Picks and Predictions for Tulane vs. Northwestern
Tulane’s balanced offense with Hughes in the backfield and Horton through the air should be the more trustworthy side in this Week 1 matchup. The fact that Northwestern has to depend on Stone, who is making his first appearance in a new system on the road, raises questions about how they are going to perform against a well-organized AAC defense.
The Wildcats also have not been able to turn the opposing team over, as they were below 75th nationally in creating turnovers last year. That plays right to Tulane as the Green Wave thrives on protecting the ball and creating long possessions.
Count on Tulane to take command of this game by keeping the ball in Hughes’ hands and pressuring Stone often. Although Northwestern will probably have several chunk plays, the difference in consistency between these two teams is evident. Tulane to cover -6 is the better value here with an overall slower pace for both sides.
Best Bet: Tulane -6
Read More:
August 30 College Football Games: Full List of Matchups to Kick Off Week 1 of the 2025 Season
Mississippi State vs Southern Miss Odds, Picks, and Prediction (Aug. 30)
South Carolina vs Virginia Tech Odds, Picks, and Prediction (Aug. 31)
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