SMU at Tulane Week 14 College Football Matchup SMU at Tulane Matchup - Week 14
Sat, Dec 2 2023 · Week 14 · 🏟 Benson Field at Yulman Stadium New Orleans, LA · Turf · 30,000 cap
SMU✈ 440 miSame TZ
Away
26 14
Final
Home
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
SMU
28
SMU +4
Tulane
23
P&R Line SMU -5.5
P&R Total O/U 51
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Tulane -4 · O/U 50.5
Matchup Prediction
SMU has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor SMU entering this game.
Momentum Control
73.7%
SMU wins
Solid
Game Control
49.4%
SMU wins
Toss-up
Vegas Spread
Tulane -4
O/U 50.5
DraftKings
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → SMU · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
🏠 Tulane 2nd straight Home Game
SMU 2023 Schedule
SMU's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/2SMU vs Louisiana Tech-21.0W38–1466.0W38–14UY
Sat 9/9SMU at Oklahoma+16.5L11–2868.5L11–28UN
Sat 9/16SMU vs Prairie View A&M-42.5W69–063.5W69–0OY
Sat 9/23SMU at TCU+7.0L17–3463.5L17–34UN
Sat 9/30SMU vs Charlotte-22.5W34–1653.0W34–16UN
— Bye Week —
Thu 10/12SMU at East Carolina-11.5W31–1048.5W31–10UY
Fri 10/20SMU at Temple-24.0W55–053.0W55–0OY
Sat 10/28SMU vs Tulsa-20.5W69–1055.0W69–10OY
Sat 11/4SMU at Rice-12.0W36–3159.5W36–31ON
Fri 11/10SMU vs North Texas-21.5W45–2167.5W45–21UY
Sat 11/18SMU at Memphis-9.5W38–3464.5W38–34ON
Sat 11/25SMU vs Navy-20.0W59–1446.0W59–14OY
Sat 12/2SMU at Tulane+4.0W26–1450.5W26–14UY
Thu 12/28SMU vs Boston College-13.5L14–2349.0L14–23UN
Tulane 2023 Schedule
Tulane's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/2Tulane vs South Alabama-6.0W37–1751.0W37–17OY
Sat 9/9Tulane vs Ole Miss+8.0L20–3764.0L20–37UN
Sat 9/16Tulane at Southern Miss-8.0W21–347.5W21–3UY
Sat 9/23Tulane vs Nicholls-38.0W36–755.5W36–7UN
Sat 9/30Tulane vs UAB-22.5W35–2359.5W35–23UN
— Bye Week —
Fri 10/13Tulane at Memphis-4.5W31–2154.5W31–21UY
Sat 10/21Tulane vs North Texas-20.0W35–2863.5W35–28UN
Sat 10/28Tulane at Rice-10.0W30–2855.0W30–28ON
Sat 11/4Tulane at East Carolina-17.0W13–1046.0W13–10UN
Sat 11/11Tulane vs Tulsa-24.5W24–2252.5W24–22UN
Sat 11/18Tulane at Florida Atlantic-9.5W24–846.5W24–8UY
Fri 11/24Tulane vs UTSA-2.5W29–1651.5W29–16UY
Sat 12/2Tulane vs SMU-4.0L14–2650.5L14–26UN
Wed 12/27Tulane vs Virginia Tech+13.5L20–4143.5L20–41ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2023 season
SMU PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ SMU
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ SMU
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ SMU
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
SMU #24
+0.447
Tulane #70
+0.228
SMU Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
SMU #16
+0.699
Tulane #40
+0.445
SMU Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
SMU #14
0.194
Tulane #29
0.181
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
SMU Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
SMU #21
+8.213
Tulane #91
+7.212
SMU Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
SMU #46
+0.850
Tulane #61
+0.780
SMU Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
SMU #40
69.6
Tulane #6
66.3
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Tulane Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2023 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
SMU Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
SMU
15.2
Tulane
-0.1
Offense Rating
SMU
25.0
Tulane
14.5
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
SMU
9.8
Tulane
14.6
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? SMU Edge
Avg sequences created per game
SMU #35
2.27
Tulane #32
1.27
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
SMU #31
0.55
Tulane #45
0.91
SMU +1.00
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 73.7% of games historically
Based on 11 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? SMU Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
SMU #1
70.4
Tulane #1
68.5
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
SMU #9
18.3
Tulane #15
16.4
SMU +1.9
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 49.4% of games historically
Based on 12 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on SMU, but the GC edge is small. When metrics agree but GC is near-neutral, the agreed-upon team has covered only 46.7% of the time historically (n=224) — potentially a fade signal.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
SMU
Rhett Lashlee #1
9–7 (56%) · Yr 2 at school
OC Casey Woods Yr 2 #1
DC Scott Symons Yr 2 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Tulane
Willie Fritz #1
45–46 (50%) · Yr 8 at school
OC Slade Nagle Yr 1 #1
DC Shiel Wood Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself