Football Betting Lines: Tulane vs LSU

Tulane Green Wave (2-5 SU, 1-5 ATS) at LSU Tigers (6-1 SU, 3-3-1 ATS)

Saturday, October 31 - 8 PM ET

BetUS NCAA College Football Betting Lines: LSU -36, Total 45

Here are some of the NCAA college football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

• TUL has lost 13 of its last 15 games SU
• TUL has covered one of its last five road games
• TUL has lost eight of its last nine road games SU
• TUL has played its last five road games UNDER the total
• LSU has covered four of its last 14 games
• LSU has won seven of its last eight games SU
• LSU has played five of its last six games UNDER the total
• LSU has won 18 of its last 25 home games SU
• LSU has played five of its last six home games UNDER the total

LSU really looked like it had its act together last weekend against Auburn, holding QB Chris Todd to eight completions and 47 yards passing, and also shutting down the War Eagle's run attack (112 yards). That was the story of the day. A defensive unit that was looking so-so at best in the early going has not come on strong, and the LSU Tigers have now permitted 23 total points against offenses (Florida & Auburn) that were considered to be rather explosive. So let's forget about many teams getting cheap yards here.

You don't have to worry a whole lot about Tulane having much offensive punch. The Green Wave hasn't scored more than 17 points against any Division I team it has faced off against, and when you have scored just one point for every 21.5 yards of offense, that's a problem. Ryan Griffin, a redshirt freshman, got the start against Southern Miss last week, and wasn't so bad (21 for 33) but he will make his second collegiate start against LSU, in Baton Rouge, and he doesn't necessarily have the kind of wheels that are going to keep him out of the reach of LSU pass rushers that haven't been overly imposing thus far. In fact, he was sacked six times by the Golden Eagles, and center Andrew Nierman will miss this game with an injured hamstring. Coach Bob Toledo is calling on Griffin to "manage the game," which usually means very few points wil be scored. His advice for the youngster: "Don't throw interceptions. Don't fumble the ball. Don't do anything stupid, but you don't have to go out and win the football game."

Rest assured he won't.

The Tulane Green Wave does not bring a wave of defenders (last in tackles for loss - nationwide). Another thing that doesn't bode well for Tulane include their ineptitude on special teams (108 in kickoff returns, 107th in punt returns, 120th in net punting). We'd have a lot more confidence in LSU if they did not have their biggest game of the year (to date) next week against Alabama, and they have not been a profitable team at home in the college football betting lines. LSU is 2-8-1 ATS in its last eleven games at home; of course, Tulane has covered just one of its last ten games overall.

What I think we're looking at here is a lethargic offensive effort from LSU with their look-ahead, and little offense if any for Tulane. That will place us UNDER the total of 45 points in the BetUS college football betting lines.

JAY'S PLAY: UNDER 45 ***

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)