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The No. 18 Tulane Green Wave aim to keep things rolling against a power-conference opponent on Monday. Tulane is 11-2 after winning the AAC this season, and the Green Wave will face the No. 10 USC Trojans. The matchup will take place at AT&T Stadium in the 2023 Cotton Bowl. USC is also 11-2 this season and making its third appearance in the Cotton Bowl Classic. The Trojans will be without leading receiver Jordan Addison (opt-out), offensive linemen Andrew Vorhees (opt-out) and Brett Neilon (injury) and leading rusher Travis Dye (injury). 

Caesars Sportsbook lists the Trojans as 1.5-point favorites for this 1 p.m. ET kickoff. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 66.5 in the latest USC vs. Tulane odds. Before making any Tulane vs. USC picks, you need to see the college football predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past six-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $2,500 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on USC vs. Tulane and just locked in its picks and Cotton Bowl Classic 2023 predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are the college football odds and trends for Tulane vs. USC: 

  • USC vs. Tulane spread: USC -1.5
  • USC vs. Tulane over/under: 66.5 points
  • USC vs. Tulane money line: USC -120, Tulane +100
  • USC: The Trojans are 8-5 against the spread this season
  • TUL: The Green Wave are 11-2 against the spread this season
  • USC vs. Tulane picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why USC can cover

USC's offense is a juggernaut, but the Trojans also have defensive strengths. USC created 27 turnovers this season, fourth-most in FBS, and the Trojans led the country in points off turnover margin (+101). USC generated 19 interceptions, second-most nationally, and the Trojans create consistent pass rush as part of their defensive formula. USC finished the season with 36 sacks, a top-20 mark, and Tuli Tuipulotu led FBS with 12.5 sacks individually. 

On offense, USC finished in the top five of the country in total offense and passing offense, with the nation's No. 3 mark in scoring offense at 41.1 points per game. USC takes care of the ball, committing only six turnovers this season, and the Trojans are led by Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams as a highly-prolific quarterback who is set to play despite dealing with a hamstring injury.

Why Tulane can cover

Tulane is very strong on the offensive side of the ball, averaging 433.9 total yards and 35.2 points per game. The Green Wave also generate more than 195 rushing yards per game, averaging 4.9 yards per carry to maintain stellar efficiency. Quarterback Michael Pratt is having a great season, producing 25 touchdown passes and only five interceptions, and he put up 443 total yards and five touchdowns in Tulane's AAC title game victory. 

On the ground, Tyjae Spears is a star and he has rushed for at least 100 yards in seven straight games. That includes a 199-yard performance in the AAC title game, and Spears has 1,376 rushing yards and 6.5 yards per carry in 2022. Tulane should also benefit from USC's vulnerability on defense, with the Trojans giving up 27.9 points per game, 266.5 passing yards per game, and 4.7 yards per carry to opponents this season.

How to make Tulane vs. USC picks

SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 65 points. It also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.

So who wins USC vs. Tulane in the Cotton Bowl 2023? And which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to back, all from the advanced model that is up almost $2,500 on its top-rated college football spread picks, and find out.