Military Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Tulane odds, picks and predictions
The Virginia Tech Hokies (6-6) and Tulane Green Wave (11-2) meet in the Military Bowl presented by GoBowling.com on Wednesday at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Virginia Tech vs. Tulane odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Hokies ended the regular season with a 55-17 win on the road on Nov. 25 against rival Virginia, covering a 2.5-point while taking care of the Over (53) on their own. Virginia Tech finished 4-2 straight up (SU) in the final 6 regular-season games, while covering 6 of the final 8 outings. The Over cashed in 3 in a row to finish, while going 6-2 in the last 8 games of the regular season.
Outside of CB Derrick Canteen, who hit the transfer portal, yet intends to play, Virginia Tech wasn't affected too much by the portal.
The same can't be said for Tulane. Coach Willie Fritz left for the Houston Cougars job, and the opt-out and transfer portal news was fast and furious. QB Michael Pratt has opted out, while QB Kai Horton is in the portal. However, the latter has been practicing, and could see snaps along with QB Justin Ibieta.
Whomever starts under center will not have WR Chris Brazzell (portal) or WR Jha'Quan Jackson (injury), while WR Lawrence Keys III is questionable to play due to an ailment. TE Alex Bauman is also gone to the transfer portal.
Tulane ended the regular season with a 26-14 loss against SMU in the AAC Championship Game on Dec. 2, falling short of 12 wins and a possible New Year's Bowl Game. The Green Wave ended up going just 2-5 ATS in the final 7 games, and 3-7 ATS in the final 10 regular-season contests.
This is the 10th all-time meeting between these teams, but it is the 1st bowl game between the two. Virginia Tech leads 5-4 in the series dating back to Sept. 22, 1956.
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Virginia Tech vs. Tulane odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated 6:11 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Virginia Tech -400 (bet $400 to win $100) | Tulane +310 (bet $100 to win $310)
- Against the spread (ATS): Virginia Tech -10.5 (-110) | Tulane +10.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 44 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Virginia Tech vs. Tulane picks and predictions
Prediction
Virginia Tech 23, Tulane 19
Moneyline
Virginia Tech (-400) will cost you 4 times your potential return, and that's a little too pricey. For a singular wager, my personal limit for a moneyline play is -180. And during bowl season, with so many transfer portal losses and opt-outs, it's even more risky business than the regular season.
PASS.
Against the spread
TULANE +10.5 (-110) is still an 11-win team, and while it will have a different look with Pratt out, and several receivers either out or limited, it's a little risky playing the Green Wave. However, Tulane still has the dynamic RB Makhi Hughes, and he'll be facing the Virginia Tech rush defense which allowed 151.3 yards per game on the ground.
Virginia Tech's defense struggled down the stretch, allowing 27.0 PPG in the final 4 games. We should see Tulane able to move the ball, especially with Hughes. The Hokies aren't going to blow out the Green Wave, even if Tulane is missing some key parts and the head coach.
Over/Under
UNDER 44 (-110) is a solid play in this battle in Annapolis. While the Hokies cashed the Over in the final 3 games of the regular season, the Green Wave constantly cashed the Under during the regular season.
However, there is risk, as the total went Under at an 11-1 clip in the past 12 games overall for the Green Wave. The defense allowed just 16.4 PPG in the final 5 games, while the offense was good for 24 or fewer points in 4 of those 5 contests. Even with some key personnel losses, we should see the total go low.
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