Tulane Green Wave vs Oklahoma Sooners Prediction, Odds and Preview - 09/04/2021

Game Time: 12:00 pm ET, Saturday, September 4, 2021

Venue:  Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK

Where to Watch:  ABC

DraftKings:  Spread:  Green Wave +31, Sooners -31; Over/Under:  68.5 points

Bet365:  Spread:  Green Wave +31.5, Sooners -31.5; Over/Under:  68.5 points

BetMGM:  Spread:  Green Wave +31.5, Sooners -31.5; Over/Under:  68.5 points

 

Tulane Green Wave:  0-0 (AAC)

Oklahoma Sooners:  0-0 (Big 12)

 

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Tulane Green Wave:  1 game losing streak

Oklahoma Sooners:  8 game winning streak

 

 

 

The Tulane Green Wave football team will be taking on the Oklahoma Sooners for their first college football game of the college football season. This game was originally scheduled at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana but has been relocated to Norman, Oklahoma due to hurricane Ida. Tulane was able to stay in Birmingham and use the Alabama facilities on their campus this August as they were unable to practise at home. Tulane finished last season in 8th place of the American Athletic Conference with a 6-6 record, going 3-5 against conference opponents. They had a 3-3 record on the road where they will be in this game. Oklahoma is looking to build on a great season where they finished in 2nd place of the Big 12 with an overall record of 9-2, going 6-2 in conference play. They were 4-1 at home the previous year where they will be in this game. 

Tulane University finished their last season on an alright note. They won their final game of the previous season against Memphis 35-21 but then lost their last game played to Nevada 38-27 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Their offense was quite efficient last year, especially in the run game. They were averaging a 52.7% completion percentage, 176.7 passing yards, and 1.8 touchdowns per game through the air. They also averaged 217.3 rushing yards and 2.7 touchdowns per game on the ground. Their defense will need to do a better job at defending the pass this season though. They were allowing teams a 60.5% completion percentage, 279.1 passing yards, and 2.3 touchdowns per game through the air. They also allowed 144.3 rushing yards and 1.3 touchdowns per game. Five year head coach Willie Fritz is returning for his 6th season with the team. He has managed to keep his team above .500 the past 3 years going 6-6, 7-6, and 7-6. After 3 straight seasons of the same mediocrity, he will have to kick it up a notch this season as they get ready for their first game of the regular season football schedule. 

The Sooners are currently carrying over an 8 game win streak going back to the last season schedule. They lost to Iowa State early in the season last October and they never looked back after that game. They proceeded to win the rest of their games including a win against Iowa State in the Big 12 final 27-21. They also closed off the year with a win against the Florida Gators in the Cotton Bowl 55-20. Oklahoma put up massive numbers on offense last season in both the passing and the run game. Oklahoma’s offense was averaging a 68.8% completion percentage, 315 passing yards, and 2.7 touchdowns per game through the air. They also averaged 179.7 rushing yards and 2.5 touchdowns per game on the ground. Their defense was great on run defense but not so much with their pass defense. They were allowing teams a 55.4% completion percentage, 245.5 passing yards, and 1.1 touchdowns per game through the air. They also allowed 105.3 rushing yards and 1.6 TDs per game on the ground. Lincoln Riley is back for his 5th season with the team and he is looking to improve on that 2 loss record this year. In all 4 seasons with him, the Sooners have lost exactly 2 games in each, his first 3 seasons going 12-2 and going 9-2 in the last. The college football playoffs will definitely be on their minds as they have been a recurring team that has made multiple appearances in the past few years. Their goal this season will be to win the National Championship and go undefeated all year. 

Oklahoma is the favorite NCAAF team in this game. The Sooners are a much better team than Tulane and they have been much more consistent throughout the years with their school history. The Spread may be large but Oklahoma is used to blowing teams out and they will need to do so if they want to climb the FBS rankings and become the no. 1 in the country. The Sooners will cover this spread with some points to spare.

 

Green Wave Sooners Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, September 4, 2021 (12:00 pm ET start time) is Sooners 63 Green Wave 20.

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Tulane Green Wave: 15-9 ATS in all games over the last 3 years.

Oklahoma Sooners: 13-11 ATS as a favorite over the last 3 years. 

 

 

Tulane Green Wave:  I. Thomas (DL) Questionable Saturday due to a possible suspension. S. Jones (QB) Questionable Saturday due to an eye injury.

Oklahoma Sooners:  M. Jones (WR) Out for the season with a knee injury. D. Watts (WR) Questionable Saturday with an undisclosed injury.

 

 

Tulane Green Wave: Michael Pratt is one player to watch on this roster. This will be his 2nd season playing in the NCAA division. Last year he played in 10 games and completed 140/254 passes for 1806 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He can definitely move the ball with this offense but he will need to cut down on the interceptions this year to help his team have a better chance of winning games.

 

Oklahoma Sooners: Spencer Rattler is one player to watch on this team. This will be his 3rd season playing for the Sooners but he did not get much action in his first season. Last year he completed 214/317 passes for 3031 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He will be looking to improve on those stats this year and lead his team to the college football playoffs. Kennedy Brooks is making a triumphant return after not playing at all last season. This is his 4th season with the team and he has rushed for over 1000 yards in both of his first 2 seasons. It will be interesting to see how he works himself back into the offense in this game.

 

“It’s obviously a continued work in progress. I think all of the quarterbacks have a good grasp of the offense. I think they’ve been really consistent on what we are asking them to do. I’ve been really pleased with their consistency, their work ethic and just the way they all attack the day. I’m really impressed with true freshman Kai Horton, I think he’s going to be a really good player. I also think that Justin and Michael have done a great job as well.” - Chip Long on the performance of the quarterbacks in practise.

“I think we’re getting pretty close. You know, we’ve started to mess around with a few different lineups, but I think it’s certainly starting to narrow in. I think Tyrese Robinson will start at right tackle. I feel pretty certain of that. I believe Chris Murray will start at right guard. Center could kind of go either direction right now. Probably either [Andrew] Raym or [Robert] Congel there right now. I feel like Marquis Hayes has solidified himself as the starting left guard. The other tackle position, I think we’ll play multiple guys. And I think we will at both tackle positions, but between Erik Swenson, Anton Harrison, Wanya Morris, I think those three, along with Tyrese, I think we feel like we’ve got four pretty good tackles.” - Lincoln Riley on the progress of his offensive line.

 

 

 

 

WR Watts, Duece 

WR Jackson, Jha'Quan 

WR Watts, Phat 

TE James, Tyrick 

QB Pratt, Michael 

RB Carroll, Cameron 

RB Brumfield, Devin 

 

 

WR Wease, Theo 

WR Haselwood, Jadon 

WR Mims, Marvin 

TE Stogner, Austin 

QB Rattler, Spencer 

RB Brooks, Kennedy 

RB Gray, Eric 

 

 

 

 

Coaches:

Tulane Green Wave: Willie Fritz (6th season)

Oklahoma Sooners: Lincoln Riley (5th season)

 

91 degrees F partly sunny, 53% humidity, 10% chance of rain, up to 12 mph wind speeds SW.