Bettors Fading Tulane Ahead of Military Bowl Against Virgina Tech
Military Bowl Football Odds: Hokies Climb To -8 Favorites
The Military Bowl Bowl kicks off this upcoming December, 27th. We’ve got the latest updates on lines, injuries, departures and weather right here:
Tulane opened as 5.5-point underdogs and quickly jumped to +8, with early action siding with Virginia Tech. The line then moved to Virginia Tech -9 on Dec. 12, the same day that Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt opted out of the Military Bowl. It stayed there briefly, falling back to -8.5 before climbing to -10. That line has held steady all week, with Tulane pegged as an underdog — and a sizable one at that — for only the second time this season. The Hokies are also -400 on the moneyline, with the Green Wave coming in at +320.
It’s no wonder bettors are fading Tulane. In addition to Pratt, the Green Wave will also be without backup quarterback Kai Horton, receiver Chris Brazzell, tight end Alex Bauman and edge rushers Devean Deal and Keith Cooper Jr., all of whom are in the NCAA transfer portal. On top of that, head coach Willie Fritz left for Houston. As such, the Green Wave’s roster is a shell of its former self.
The projected total opened at 48.5 but has dropped steadily. It’s now down to 44, with a slight lean to the Under at -115. That’s the lowest it’s been since lines opened. It’s no surprise, as Tulane won’t have its full complement of playmakers.
Now, check out the rest of the Military Bowl preview, originally published on December 8.
The Military Bowl will feature Tulane facing Virginia Tech on Dec. 27 in Annapolis, Md.
After opening as a 5.5-point favorite, Virginia Tech is now up to -8, including -280 on the moneyline. Tulane, meanwhile, is +8 on the college football betting line and +235 to win outright. The projected total is 46.5, with a slight lean to the Over at -115. That’s down from 48.5.
The Military Bowl was orginiated in 2008. After a two-year hiatus, it returned last year with Duke beating UCF 30-13.
What can bettors expect? Read on as we break down the Military Bowl football odds.
Military Bowl Bowl Information
Virginia Tech vs Tulane 
Day/Time:
Location: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium; Annapolis, Md.
Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
Resurgent Hokies Eager to End Losing Streak
Needing a win to become bowl eligible, Virginia Tech hammered rival Virginia 55-17 in its regular-season finale on Nov. 25. A 1-point favorite, Virginia Tech outgained the Cavaliers 500-286 in its biggest offensive output of the year and covered the spread for the second time in three games.
After a 3-8 finish in Brent Pry’s first season as head coach, the Hokies (6-6, 5-3 ACC) now find themselves in a college football bowl game for the 29th time in 31 years dating to 1993. Despite that run of consistency, the Hokies have lost their last four bowl appearances. Their most recent bowl victory came in the 2016 Belk Bowl where they beat Arkansas 35-24 under Pry’s predecessor, Justin Fuente.
The Hokies still haven’t attained the levels they reached under Frank Beamer, who boasted a .662 winning percentage (11-12 in bowls) over 29 seasons and guided them to the National Championship Game in 1999. But they at least seem to be headed back in the right direction after a momentary blip.
Virginia Tech is 7-5 ATS, including 5-2 as a favorite. Its biggest spread as a favorite was -16.5 against Old Dominion in its season opener, where it went on to win 36-17. The Hokies are also 8-4 against the Over/Under, with one of the highest cover rates (66.7%) in FBS. They’ve gone Over the projected total in three straight and four of the last five games.
Departures & Injuries
Sophomore Kyron Drones has been a big part of Virginia Tech’s resurgence, passing for 15 touchdowns compared to only three interceptions. He threw for three scores against Virginia and has eight touchdown passes in his last three games. Drones has also run for 642 yards and four touchdowns.
The Hokies are averaging a healthy 28.6 points per game, which helps explain why they’re one of the better teams in the country at covering the Over.
Tulane Loses New Year’s 6 Bid, Then Head Coach
Tulane was in line to play in another New Year’s Six bowl, having beaten USC in last year’s Cotton Bowl. But the Tulane Green Wave squandered that opportunity, falling 26-14 to SMU in the AAC Championship Game. Instead, Conference USA champion Liberty (13-0) — the highest ranked Group of Five team in the College Football Playoff rankings — received that bid.
Tulane, which had won 10 straight and was trying to defend its AAC title, also fell out of the AP Top 25 after being ranked No. 22.
On top of that, Tulane saw head coach Willie Fritz leave for Houston. Fritz won 54 games in eight seasons at Tulane, including a 23-4 mark over the last two years. This is the Green Wave’s fifth bowl appearance in six seasons following a lengthy drought. Offensive coordinator Slade Nagle will fill in on an interim basis for the bowl game.
While Tulane (11-2, 8-0 AAC) had plenty of success in terms of wins and losses, it didn’t do bettors many favors. The Green Wave went just 5-8 ATS. If it’s any consolation, they closed the regular season with back-to-back covers. They also went Under the projected total in 11 of 13 games on the 2023 NCAAF schedule, matching Iowa for the highest rate (84.6%) in the country. That’s important to remember when assessing the Military Bowl football odds.
Notably, Tulane held opponents to an average of 18.9 points.
Departures & Injuries
Fritz’s departure is a significant blow to a team that was already coping with the emotional aftermath of fumbling a New Year’s Six bid. It’s fair to wonder how the Green Wave will respond. We’ve seen some college football teams in this position play carefree and respond in a big way. But we’ve seen others mail it in.
That makes Tulane a tough call in this spot.
Tulane Fading Fast in Minds of Bettors
Tulane’s been favored in every game except for a 37-20 loss to Ole Miss on Sept. 9, in which it was a 13-point underdog. With the Military Bowl football odds climbing from -5.5 to -8 in favor of Virginia Tech, a majority of bettors seem skeptical of the Green Wave’s ability to respond.
That said, the Green Wave’s defense will be a tough assignment for Drones. They’d held three of their previous four opponents below 23 points, including 8-4 UTSA. Even with their loss to SMU, it’s hard to argue with the Green Wave’s record.
For NCAA bowl scores, betting odds, analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
