The 17th-ranked Tulane Green Wave control their own destiny in the American Athletic Conference, but to keep it that way they will have to defeat the three teams directly below them in the standings, including the No. 22 UCF Knights on Saturday at home.
Willie Fritz’s team has reeled off five straight wins in conference, but after facing the Knights, it will have games against the SMU Mustangs and Cincinnati Bearcats.
The Green Wave are predominately a running team, doing so on 59.7% of their plays this season, and no one has done that better of late than Louisiana native Tyjae Spears. He has rushed for 433 yards and 7.7 yards per carry in the last three games.
Spears, with 10 career 100-yard games, has had help running the ball from Shaadie Clayton-Johnson, who also had 100 yards last week, and Iverson Celestine
“That’s what you’ve got to do if you are going to run the ball effectively,” Fritz told the media. “The days of having one back carrying it 35 times. They’re gone.”
The Knights would not argue with that statement as they employ a three-headed monster of John-Rhys Plumlee, RJ Harvey and Isaiah Bowser in the running game.
All three players have rushed for over 500 yards while spearheading UCF’s attack, which ranks first in the conference and eighth in the FBS (239.9 yards per game).
Harvey is the home run threat as he goes for 7.4 yards per carry while Bowser and quarterback Plumlee have accounted for 18 of the 23 rushing touchdowns.
Bowser ranks 11th in the FBS with 11 rushing touchdowns, just ahead of UCF’s Spears, who has scored 10 times on the ground, including five in the last three games.
Let’s check the latest college football odds, stats, injury reports and college football lines for UCF vs Tulane. We’ve plenty of NCAA football odds for you to consider.
Reese Ranks High Among Freshmen Backs
Michael Pratt and the passing attack should be able to find success against a UCF defense that allows 241 yards per game and 11.24 yards per completion.
Tulane makes it hard to key on any one receiver as Pratt, a junior, has spread it around liberally with seven players getting between 17 and 23 receptions.
Shae Wyatt leads the AAC and is 15th nationally in yards per reception (19.15) while tight end Tyrick James and Deuce Watts are the red zone threats for the Green Wave.
Pratt didn’t have to throw much in the last two weeks, accumulating fewer than 160 passing yards in each game, but the three-year starter has shown he can put the team on his back if necessary with three 300-yard passing games this season.
UCF Sturdy Defensively in Red Zone
The Knights employ a bend but don’t break defense, allowing their opponents 34 red zone opportunities, a total that ranks 34th in the FBS, but just 22 scores.
That comes out to a 61.1% scoring rate, which puts UCF first in the nation. The Knights also thrive at getting stops on third and fourth down, ranking in the top 30 in the country in both categories thanks to a 33.3% conversion rate for their opponents.
UCF hasn’t had much success getting after the quarterback as it has just 16 sacks, including five by Tre’mon Morris-Brash, and interceptions have been scarce. But, the Knights just play solid defense, led by Jason Johnson, whose 319 career tackles are 14th among active players, and defensive backs Divaad Wilson and Corey Thornton.
UCF vs Tulane Game Injuries
UCF vs Tulane Head-to-Head
The Knights have dominated the series with the Green Wave, winning four straight and nine of 11 games overall, including a 14-10 triumph last season at home.
UCF vs Tulane Game Information
- Game: UCF(7-2) vs Tulane (8-1)
- Location: Yulman Stadium, New Orleans, LA
- Day/Time: Saturday, Nov. 12th, 3:30 p.m. ET
- UCF vs Tulane Live Stream: ESPN
UCF vs Tulane Betting Lines
UCF vs Tulane Prediction
This Green Wave, who have covered the spread in eight of nine games, are a slight 1½-point favorite according to the NCAA football odds. UCF has had Tulane’s number and that will hold true again in this one. The over/under is best to be avoided.
The Tulane Green Wave is listed at -125 in our Vegas lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Green Wave, you have a chance to win $80. The UCF Knights are +105, offering a chance to win $105 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Tulane a 55.56% chance to win, with UCF at 48.78%.
UCF vs Tulane Trends
UCF vs Tulane Edge
UCF vs Tulane Results
UCF vs Tulane Game Summary
