Posted at 11:00 AM EST. Odds are subject to change.

Rice +5½ -110 over Tulane 

2:00 PM EST. Tulane owns the better overall record, but its scoring differential sits in negative territory and it has struggled to create separation, especially at home. Rice, meanwhile, plays at a slightly faster offensive tempo and averages nearly 75 points per game — enough firepower to stay within range in conference play. When both teams sit near .500 in AAC action and neither defends at an elite level, grabbing multiple possessions becomes attractive.

The Tulane Green Wave have been inconsistent at Avron B. Fogelman Arena, particularly when laying mid-range numbers. They average just under 73 points per game and rank near the bottom nationally in rebounding, which opens the door for second-chance opportunities on the other side. Rice holds a significant edge on the glass, pulling down over 38 rebounds per contest compared to Tulane’s 31. That disparity matters in a projected game total sitting in the mid-140s, where extra possessions can flip momentum and shorten runs. If Rice limits turnovers and continues to get efficient production from Trae Broadnax and Nick Anderson, the Owls can trade scoring stretches throughout.

From a betting perspective, this is about trusting matchup advantages over surface-level records. Tulane’s inability to consistently dominate at home and Rice’s strong record against the spread as a larger underdog both point toward value on the visitor. With both teams combining to average just above the posted total, the pace and scoring profile suggest a competitive game rather than a runaway. In a conference setting where familiarity reduces volatility, taking Rice plus the points provides a cushion in what projects to be a possession-by-possession battle deep into the second half.

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