Tulane vs. Ole Miss Prediction, Betting Pick, Latest College Football Playoff Odds for First Round
The Ole Miss Rebels will look to put their adversity behind them on Saturday when they host the Tulane Green Wave for the second time this season. Can Kewan Lacy and the stacked Rebels offense run up the score without head coach Lane Kiffin? McBets is backing the big home favorite in this Tulane vs. Ole Miss prediction for the College Football Playoff.
McBets - December 20, 2025, 2:20 PM EST
4 Minute ReadTulane vs. Ole Miss Prediction: Can Kewan Lacy, Rebels Roll Without Lane Kiffin in College Football Playoff?
Tulane’s run to the College Football Playoff has been impressive, no doubt. Five straight wins to close the season, an upset in the American Championship, and a quarterback who can hurt you with both his arm and his legs — that résumé deserves respect.
But this matchup is a classic case of a great story running headfirst into a massive talent gap. And that gap shows up quickly once you get past the surface.
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Tulane vs. Ole Miss Date, Time, and Where to Watch Cure Bowl
- Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025
- Time: 3:30 PM ET
- How to Watch: TNT, HBO Max
Tulane vs. Ole Miss Odds
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Tulane vs. Ole Miss Prediction
Tulane’s Run Was Fueled by Turnovers, Not Dominance
Tulane doesn’t arrive here by accident, but the margin for error that carried the Green Wave this far is razor thin. In the AAC Championship, they were outgained by North Texas and relied heavily on four turnovers to flip field position and steal scoring opportunities.
That formula is extremely hard to repeat — especially against a team like Ole Miss which protects the football as well as any offense in the country.
Jake Retzlaff has been excellent this season, particularly as a runner. He accounts for more than half of Tulane’s rushing touchdowns and is the engine of their zone-read attack. But asking a quarterback-heavy run game to consistently move the ball against SEC size, speed, and depth is a different challenge altogether.
Ole Miss’ Offense Is a Nightmare Matchup for Tulane’s Defense
This game really tilts once Ole Miss has the ball.
Tulane’s defensive issues aren’t subtle. The Green Wave struggle in coverage, rank near the bottom nationally in contested catches, and give up explosives far too often. They also commit penalties at a high rate and miss tackles in space — exactly the kind of flaws Ole Miss is built to exploit.
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has been one of the most mistake-free passers in college football since taking over the job. His turnover-worthy play rate is microscopic, which neutralizes Tulane’s biggest defensive lifeline: chaos.
And once Ole Miss gets rolling, the run game takes over.
Kewan Lacy has been a problem for everyone he’s faced this season. He runs through contact, creates yards after first hit, and forces missed tackles at an elite rate. Tulane’s ability to stop inside zone and power concepts simply hasn’t been consistent enough to hold up here — especially over four quarters. Ole Miss doesn’t need to be flashy. It just needs to be patient, and the points will come.
Motivation Isn’t an Issue for Ole Miss
Bowl-season motivation is always tricky, but this is not a sleepy spot for the Rebels. Ole Miss is hosting a playoff game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for the first time in program history. Add in the emotional fallout from Lane Kiffin’s messy departure and the public narrative questioning the locker room, and this becomes a rallying point, not a distraction.
This roster has something to prove — to the playoff committee, to the fan base, and to anyone who thinks the program will regress. That matters when laying a number.
Tulane’s Path to Points Is Narrow
Tulane can move the ball in spurts, but its offense lacks the explosiveness needed to trade punches with Ole Miss. Retzlaff’s legs are the primary threat, yet Ole Miss has shown it can force quarterbacks into uncomfortable situations and limit sustained drives.
If Tulane falls behind early, it’s in trouble. The Green Wave aren’t built to chase games, and Ole Miss’ offense is efficient enough to turn short fields into touchdowns instead of settling for field goals. This is how margins grow.
Tulane vs. Ole Miss Best Bet
- 1.5 Unit Pick: Ole Miss -17 (-110) Check out these best odds on DraftKings Sportsbook
Tulane’s season deserves credit, but this is where the run ends. Ole Miss is deeper, faster, cleaner offensively, and far better equipped to capitalize on defensive mistakes.
The Rebels already showed what this matchup looks like earlier in the year. With playoff stakes, home-field energy, and a motivated roster, there’s no reason to expect a different outcome.
Lay the points. Ole Miss by three touchdowns isn’t asking too much — it’s asking the better team to play its game.
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