Army Black Knights vs Tulane Green Wave Picks and Predictions December 6th 2024

Army Black Knights vs Tulane Green Wave December 6th 2024

ABC will be covering this week 15 college football matchup between the Tulane Green Wave and Army Black Knights, set for 8:00 ET at Michie Stadium in West Point. Tulane comes in with a 9-3 record, and the over/under is currently set at 48 points. Tulane is favored by -4.5 points over Army, who is 10-1 this season. The game is scheduled for Friday, December 6th.

Tulane vs. Army Key Information

Tulane enters Week 15 with a 9-3 record, and they are 5-1 on the road this season. They have a 66.7% chance of winning the American Athletic Conference and are a lock for bowl eligibility. The Green Wave have been favored in nine of their 12 games, going 8-1 as the favorite.

Against the spread, Tulane is 8-3, with a perfect 5-0 record on the road. They are 7-2 ATS as the favorite and have an average scoring margin of +20.7 points per game this season.

The over/under line for this week’s game is 48 points. Tulane’s games have averaged 57.5 points, and their over/under record is 7-4, with their average line set at 54.1 points.

Tulane’s offense has been strong this season, ranking 6th in scoring with 39.1 points per game. They are also 2nd in the nation in third-down conversions, converting 52.3% of their attempts. Their rushing attack is their strength, averaging 214.5 yards per game on 41.5 attempts, placing them 13th in the country.

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Makhi Hughes leads the ground game with 1,306 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 5 yards per carry. Quarterback Darian Mensah has thrown for 2,514 yards with 20 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, posting a passer rating of 114.

Despite allowing 34 points in their recent 34-24 loss to Memphis, Tulane’s defense has been solid this season, ranking 14th nationally by allowing just 18.4 points per game. Against Memphis, they gave up 460 total yards, including 242 rushing yards on 46 attempts and 218 passing yards.

On average, Tulane’s defense has allowed 127.9 rushing yards per game and 180.5 passing yards, ranking 29th nationally. Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of just 67.4 against Tulane, completing 55.6% of their passes.

Army enters Week 15 against Tulane with a 10-1 record, and they are 5-0 at home. They have a 100% chance of being bowl-eligible and a 33.3% chance of winning the American Athletic, according to projections. Army also has the 17th best odds of making the playoff at 8.3%.

The Black Knights have been favored in eight of their 11 games, going 8-0 as the favorite. Their average scoring margin is +17.6 points per game, and their ATS record is 6-4, with a 4-1 mark on the road and 2-3 at home.

This week’s over/under line is set at 48 points. Army’s over/under record is 5-5, with their games averaging 47.8 points. Their average over/under line this season has been 49.7 points, and they have an average margin of -2.0 points against the line.

Army’s offense has been dominant on the ground, leading the nation with 314.3 rushing yards per game, and they rank second in rushing attempts, averaging 53.8 per game. They are also fourth in third-down conversion percentage, converting 50.4% of their attempts. Overall, Army is 28th in scoring, with 32.7 points per game, and they are ranked 14th in our offensive power rankings heading into week 15.

Kanye Udoh has rushed for 906 yards this season, averaging 6 yards per carry, and has scored nine touchdowns. Quarterback Bryson Daily has thrown for 860 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception, giving him a passer rating of 127. Casey Reynolds leads the team in receiving with 409 yards and three touchdowns.

Army’s defense has been a strong point this season, ranking 4th nationally by allowing just 15.1 points per game. They’ve given up an average of 103.4 rushing yards per game, which ranks 16th in the country, on just 25.5 rushing attempts per game, the 5th fewest in the nation.

In their recent game against UTSA, Army’s defense allowed 24 points, while giving up 326 total yards, including 119 rushing yards and 207 passing yards. They also forced two interceptions in the game.

Our projection for the Tulane vs. Army matchup in week 15 of the college football season is a 25-16 win for Tulane. Even though they are on the road, we like Tulane to cover the -4.5 point spread.

For the over/under, with the line sitting at 48 points, our projection of 41 total points suggests that taking the under is the best play.

No. 24 Army Looks to Win First AAC Title vs. Tulane

The stakes are high for No. 24 Army and Tulane as they prepare to clash in the American Athletic Conference championship game on Friday night in West Point, N.Y. Both teams, once on the periphery of the College Football Playoff discussion, now aim for a different kind of glory: an AAC title.

Army’s Ground Game Leads the Way

Army (10-1, 8-0 AAC) is in its first season in the conference and has a chance to make history by securing the title before their traditional finale against Navy next week. The Black Knights, who boast the nation’s top rushing offense (312.5 yards per game), are led by dual-threat quarterback Bryson Daily. Daily has rushed for 100-plus yards in nine consecutive games and has been pivotal in orchestrating Army’s offensive success.

In their decisive 29-24 win over UTSA, Daily showcased his versatility, complementing the ground game with his most productive passing performance of the season: 190 yards on 10 completions from 17 attempts. Army’s ability to convert key third and fourth downs (8-of-17 and 4-of-5, respectively) proved crucial.

“We would not have won the football game if we had not been able to convert on third and fourth downs,” Army coach Jeff Monken said. “We’re a running football team, but I’m glad we were able to make some plays (in the passing game).”

Tulane’s Quest for Redemption

Tulane (9-3, 7-1 AAC) enters the title game looking to bounce back after a 34-24 home loss to Memphis on Thanksgiving night. That defeat cost the Green Wave a chance to host the championship for a third straight year, but they remain focused on the task at hand.

Running back Makhi Hughes, who leads the team with 1,181 rushing yards this season, was held to a season-low 15 yards on nine carries against Memphis. Tulane will need Hughes to regain his form to help alleviate pressure on quarterback Kai Horton and the offense.

Despite the setback, Green Wave coach Jon Sumrall is emphasizing the opportunity ahead. “This opportunity is special,” Sumrall said. “There are 14 teams in our conference and two get to play in this game. Our guys earned that opportunity.”

Experience vs. Momentum

Tulane is playing in its third consecutive AAC championship game. The Green Wave beat UCF two years ago but lost to SMU in last year’s title matchup. Though Sumrall is in his first season with Tulane, many players remain from the team’s previous championship experiences, which could provide an edge.

“The majority of our team hasn’t won a conference championship,” Sumrall noted, “but there’s some carryover at least in knowing what this moment is like and being mentally focused on what it takes to win the game.”

Army, on the other hand, enters the game riding a wave of momentum, having overcome a tough loss to Notre Dame with a strong showing against UTSA.

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What to Watch For

• Army’s Passing Efficiency: While the Black Knights rely on the run, their ability to connect on key passing plays could be a deciding factor.
• Tulane’s Run Game: Getting Makhi Hughes back on track will be critical for Tulane to control the tempo.
• Third Down Conversions: Both teams have relied on key conversions throughout the season, and success in this area could tilt the scales.

This battle of contrasting styles—Army’s relentless ground attack versus Tulane’s balanced approach—will determine who hoists the AAC trophy. For Army, it’s a chance to cap a historic debut season in the conference; for Tulane, it’s an opportunity to solidify its standing as a perennial AAC powerhouse.