The Green Wave crashed against UTSA last week, suffering a 42-19 defeat only one week after a brilliant win over Memphis. It seems Tulane let its guard down on defense, and now travels to North Carolina to face a Charlotte squad that has had plenty of problems of its own at just 1-6. These teams may be trending in different directions, but they share one important trait: neither defense has inspired much confidence. Both allowed 38-42 points in their last game, and both have struggled to consistently slow opposing offenses throughout the season. Those two ingredients alone could be enough to spark plenty of fireworks on Saturday.
Charlotte finally earned its first win of the season on October 17, beating Temple 38-31. After enjoying a week off, the 49ers return home with fresh legs and renewed confidence. Although they won, surrendering 31 points on defense was likely far from ideal. Still, the combination of extra rest and finally getting into the win column should have Charlotte fired up for Tulane's arrival. The Green Wave, on the other hand, had no week off and instead spent last weekend absorbing a humbling 23-point defeat. One team enters looking to build on its first success, while the other is determined to erase the memory of its last outing. That should provide plenty of motivation for both offenses to attack early and often.
The total on this game sits at a relatively low number for a college football contest, likely because of the offensive issues each team has battled throughout the season. However, I see those struggles becoming far less of a factor when these offenses line up against the opposing defenses. Throw in the fact that Charlotte is well-rested, playing at home, and riding the momentum of its first win, and I see a sizeable uptick in scoring opportunities. I like both teams to put several scores on the board, with the final tally landing somewhere in the upper 40s to low 50s and resulting in a win for the Over.
Charlotte vs Tulane prediction: Over 46.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to o48 (-115).
