UTSA vs Tulane Prediction, Odds, Best Bets - Week 8

UTSA is 6-1 behind Owen McCown and his 1,578 passing yards with 10 touchdowns against 2 interceptions, while Tulane scores 20.5 points per game and leans on Maurice Turner and his 315 rushing yards.

01The Matchup

UTSA arrives in New Orleans at 6-1 with the cleaner offensive profile, averaging 411.1 yards and 32.3 points per game. The Roadrunners throw for 231.7 yards per game at a 68.8% completion rate and run for 179.4 yards at 5.1 yards per carry, with 11 passing touchdowns and 14 rushing touchdowns.

Owen McCown has gone 153 of 220 for 1,578 yards with 10 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions, Will Henderson III leads the ground game with 562 yards and 4 touchdowns, and DJ Allen Jr. tops the receivers with 325 yards. Tulane is 3-3 and averages 332.0 yards and 20.5 points per game. Kadin Semonza has thrown for 804 yards with 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, Maurice Turner leads the Green Wave with 315 rushing yards, and Destyn Hill has 285 receiving yards.

02Key Factors

Tulane's defense is built to keep this close. The Green Wave own a plus-4 turnover margin against plus-2 for UTSA, have 9 takeaways to 5 for the Roadrunners, and have recorded 13 sacks against just 6 for UTSA, with Makai Williams recording 3 of them. What Tulane cannot match is passing efficiency.

UTSA completes 68.8% of its passes at 7.2 yards per attempt and has thrown only 2 interceptions as a team in 7 games, while Tulane completes 54.2% at 7.0 yards per attempt with just 5 passing touchdowns as a team. Third down is nearly even, 36.8% for UTSA against 36.1% for Tulane, and UTSA has given the ball away only 3 times all season, which limits the short fields Tulane needs.

03The Pick

Road favorites under a field goal need a quarterback edge, and UTSA has a clear one. McCown is at 1,578 passing yards with a 10 to 2 touchdown to interception split, the Roadrunners score 11.8 more points per game, and their balance between Henderson on the ground and Allen through the air travels well.

Tulane's pass rush and turnover margin make this a fourth quarter game at Yulman Stadium, and the Green Wave are good enough at home to keep UTSA from running away. The efficiency gap at the most important position is still the deciding factor over 60 minutes. Editorial pick: UTSA -2.5.

Every pick is published with its line before the game. Odds via consensus sportsbooks at time of writing and move constantly. Must be 21+. If gambling is a problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.