Tulane vs Kansas State Odds, Preview and Prediction

• Kansas State is a 14-point favorite against visiting Tulane in Week 3
• Tulane has won its first two games for the first time since 2002
• Read below for Tulane vs Kansas State odds, analysis and betting prediction

Kansas State is a 14-point home favorite over Tulane at 3 pm ET Saturday on ESPN+ and the Big 12 Network. The Wildcats are 5-1 SU and ATS in their last six home games.

Tulane is 2-0 after going 2-10 a year ago. The Green Wave won the only previous meeting between the two, a 20-16 victory in New Orleans in 1988. They are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games but 0-5 SU in the last five on the road.

With Kansas sports betting officially live, let’s take a look at the Week 3 odds and offer you our prediction.

Tulane vs Kansas State Odds

Odds from Barstool on Sept. 15. Take advantage of the Barstool Sportsbook promo code for Kansas sports bettors.

The early money fell heavily on Tulane and on the under. Kansas State opened as a 17-point favorite after hammering Missouri 40-12 in the rain last Saturday. The total opened at 49.5.

Tulane has gone over the total in six of its last seven road games, and Kansas State has been under in four of its last five games.

Kansas State on the Run

It is no surprise that the Wildcats rank seventh in the FBS with an average of 266 yards rushing yards per game. Run-first quarterback Adrian Gonzalez arrived from Nebraska via the transfer portal, further adding options to an already ground-oriented attack led by halfback Deuce Vaughn.

Highest PFF grade by P5 RBs since 2020 (min 500 snaps):

1. Deuce Vaughn – 93.7
2. Rachaad White – 92.4
3. Chris Rodriguez – 92.3
4. Hassan Haskins – 92.1 pic.twitter.com/Ss5iYrkWlp

— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 3, 2022

All-American Vaughn leads the Big 12 with 271 yards rushing and has eight straight 100-yard games, second in school history to Darren Sproles (10, in 2002-03). Like Sproles, Vaughn is a compact, physical package despite being listed at only 5’6, 172 pounds. Vaughn also has a rushing touchdown in nine straight games, the longest by a Wildcat since quarterback Collin Klein had 12 in 2012.

The Wildcats, who look to take another step toward beating their CFB wins totals odds projection. have not asked Martinez to throw much in victories over FCS South Dakota and Missouri in the first two games. The Wildcats opted for a vanilla game plan in the opener, and a heavy rainstorm that delayed the Missouri game 55 minutes in the second quarter made running the ball the best option.

Adrian Martinez to the house! Deuce Vaughn with a GREAT block! 💪 https://t.co/p6LcBGSxSr

— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) September 10, 2022

The Tigers eventually went to “0” coverage to clog the line against Vaughn et al, but by then it was too late. As the season progresses, that certainly will be the defensive plan until Martinez convinces opponents he can consistently find the open receiver and deliver the ball.

The Wildcats’ defense has had its way against inferior competition thus far. The unit ranks fifth in the FBS in scoring defense (6.0 points per game) and interceptions (five). Missouri scored its only touchdown on the final play of the game. For the best Missouri betting apps including FanDuel and DraftKings, we have you covered.

Tulane in Recovery Mode

Tulane third-year sophomore quarterback Michael Pratt has been the model of consistency in victories over over-matched opponents UMass and FCS Alcorn State as the Green Wave moves past an uncharacteristically woeful 2-10 in 2021.

Per @Analytics_CFB, the most successful and explosive offenses in College Football through Week 2

• Whatever you thought of Iowa, it's worse
• Kansas offense on par with USC
• Tulane and Kansas State low-key best game of Week 3
• Mass sneaking past Old Dominion so far pic.twitter.com/mzAAP3Vcej

— Collin Wilson (@_Collin1) September 13, 2022

A career 57.5-percent passer, Pratt appears to be a good fit in new offensive coordinator Jim Svoboda’s run-pass attack that includes some RPO schemes. Pratt has completed 70.7 percent of his passes for 482 yards, with five touchdowns and no interceptions, while also rushing for 52 yards and a score. He had at least 20 touchdown passes and eight picks in each of his first two seasons.

Tulane returns 16 starters including its two top receivers on a team that never got rolling a year ago after coach Willie Fritz guided them to bowl games in the previous three seasons, a school first. Running back Tyjae Spears rushed for 57 yards and three touchdowns against UMass but was not needed against Alcorn State.

https://twitter.com/ChrisMoxley19/status/1493303404348776452

Spears is an all-AAC candidate after rushing for 812 of his 863 yards in the final six games a year ago following a return from a knee injury.

Kansas State vs Tulane Prediction

This will be the stiffest test for either team this season (sorry, Missouri), and both teams lead with their running game. Tulane’s aberrational 2021 season should be ignored in this matchup against a Big 12 team, given how well Pratt played in a 40-35 loss at Oklahoma in the season opener a year ago. Oklahoma is next for K-State, which could be peeking ahead and which also has not demonstrated that it can throw the ball with effectiveness.

The pick: Tulane +14 (-107)