The scoreboard operator is sure to be busy when the Tulsa Golden Hurricane travel to take on the SMU Mustangs on Friday night. Tulsa and SMU are two programs that are both known for their offensive firepower and defense optional approach. Both defenses are ranked outside of the top 100 in the country and will have a hard time stopping the other offense.
This matchup in Week 8 of the regular season will take place on Friday, October 27, 2017,
at 9 p.m. ET at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in University Park, Texas. This game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
College Football Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
Tulsa +10
SMU -10
Over/Under Check Back Later
Odds Analysis
Although the over is just 4-4 in Tulsa games this season, when the game goes over, it crushes the total. In four of the eight games for the Golden Hurricane this year, they and their opponents have combined for at least 80 points. Unfortunately, they have really struggled to score points lately, save their stunning win over Houston two weeks ago.
SMU has finally started to turn the corner in year three. June Jones had left the cupboard bare when he left the school in the middle of the 2014 season, and Chad Morris was hired to turn the program around. Morris has the program looking good now and this offense has scored at least 31 points in six of its seven games.
Key Stat
Although SMU has a worse pass defense in terms of total yards, the worst pass defense in the nation belongs to Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane are allowing an incredible 10.7 yards per pass, but opponents haven’t passed on them as much because it has been just as easy to run on this team.
Tulsa is allowing 7.4 yards per play this season and is one of just four teams in the country that is allowing more than seven yards per play. Unfortunately for the Golden Hurricane, that’s been a common refrain for the Scottie Montgomery era. The team just doesn’t prioritize defense and counts on scoring to knock off their opponents. That strategy has totally backfired this season because the offense hasn’t been as lights out as we’ve seen in the past due to inconsistent quarterback play.
Player to Watch
Trey Quinn has been the go-to receiver for SMU since the Mustangs entered AAC play. Quinn had put up decent numbers in SMU’s non-conference schedule, but has become the focal point of the passing attack now and is constantly getting the ball on underneath routes.
In his last three games, Quinn has 49 receptions for 458 yards and three touchdowns. Those are incredible numbers that remind you of what Zay Jones was able to do at East Carolina last season and he is currently on pace for over 130 receptions.
Unlike East Carolina, this has not been Morris totally giving up on the run and using an underneath receiver for four and five yard gains. The Mustangs have been able to run the ball successfully and that has made Quinn even more effective.
Free ATS Pick
Montgomery hasn’t let us know who will start out as his quarterback on Friday. Chad President began the year as the starter, but he has increasingly ceded time to freshman Luke Skipper and Skipper played almost the entire game against Connecticut.
If Skipper gets the start, it’s an indication that Montgomery already has an eye on rebuilding for next season. It’s hard to blame him for that with the Golden Hurricane sitting at 2-6 and with upcoming games against Memphis and South Florida on the docket.
With that in mind, jump on SMU here. The Mustangs will become bowl eligible for the first time in five years with a win here and the team has really been clicking on the offensive end all year.
College Football Odds: SMU 44, Tulsa 27
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