Tulane and Kansas State head into Week 2 undefeated, but only one will keep their streak alive. Can the AAC powerhouse under new leadership punch up to one of the Big 12’s favorites?
Get the latest betting odds and our final prediction for Kansas State vs. Tulane ahead of the anticipated showdown.
Kansas State vs. Tulane Betting Preview
All Kansas State vs. Tulane odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, Sept. 7.
- Spread
Kansas State -8.5 - Moneyline
Kansas State -345, Tulane +275 - Over/Under
46.5 points - Game time
Noon ET - Location
Yulman Stadium, New Orleans - Predicted Weather at Kick
81 degrees, 9 mph winds, scattered thunderstorm - How To Watch
ESPN
The Wildcats opened as eight-point favorites, and the line moved to quickly to -9.5. Kansas State’s against-the-spread record as 9.5-point or bigger favorites is 4-3 since the start of last season. Indiciative of that shift, the line reverted more toward the mean, hitting -8.5 just ahead of kickoff.
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The over/under is an interesting play, with the over hitting in four of Kansas State’s last six games on the road and the under hitting in six of Tulane’s last seven contests. Would make sense why this point total has fluctuated so much since opening.
Prediction for Kansas State vs. Tulane
In a surprising move, Tulane’s first-year head coach Jon Sumrall made waves by naming redshirt freshman Darian Mensah as the starting quarterback, bypassing more experienced options like veteran Kai Horton and Oregon transfer Ty Thompson. Mensah showcased his potential in Tulane’s Week 1 victory over SE Louisiana, displaying poise and playmaking ability.
However, the real test for the young quarterback is against a top-tier team, someone like Kansas State.
Mensah’s success could heavily rely on Tulane’s ability to establish the run game with standout running back Makhi Hughes, whose explosiveness can relieve pressure on the young QB. If Kansas State’s defense manages to stifle the ground attack, Mensah will be tasked with leading the offense through the air, targeting key receivers like Mario Williams and Yulkeith Brown, who can create separation and stretch the field.
If Tulane hopes to pull off an upset, the offensive balance will be critical.
Conversely, Kansas State enters the contest after a dominant 41-6 win over UT Martin, though question marks remain regarding quarterback Avery Johnson’s consistency as a passer. Johnson finished Week 1, completing 14-of-21 passes for 153 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, while also adding 37 yards on the ground.
With fewer than 40 pass attempts in his career as Will Howard’s backup last season, Johnson’s ability to lead the offense through the air is still untested. Tulane’s defense will likely force Kansas State to focus on their strong rushing attack, led by DJ Giddens, who racked up 124 yards on just 13 carries in Week 1 after posting an impressive 1,226-yard, 10-touchdown season in 2023.
Expect a ground-heavy approach from Kansas State as they aim to control the game and expose any weaknesses in Tulane’s defense.
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Tulane checks in at No. 50 on the College Football Network Power Rankings, while Kansas State sits at No. 15. Even with the 35-spot discrepancy, this game could be closer than some expect. It’s not a great matchup for the Wildcats, who have an unproven QB under center that Sumrall and Co. will look to devour.
Yet, the same can be said for Tulane with Mensah at the helm, and it isn’t difficult to foresee the offense out of rhythm if Hughes doesn’t get going on the ground.
This could end up being a clunky, relatively low-scoring victory for the road favorites, resulting in the under cashing in.
Prediction: Kansas State 24, Tulane 10
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