USC vs. Tulane picks, predictions: Cotton Bowl odds, spread, lines

Picks and predictions for USC vs. Tulane in the Cotton Bowl as the college football bowl schedule kicks off with updated betting lines and odds

USC and Tulane are set to square off in the Cotton Bowl as the college football bowl schedule gets underway with New Year's Six games kicking off.

Tulane is the Group of Five representative this postseason after defeating UCF to win the AAC Championship Game, booking a date in an NY6 game for the first time since the 1940 Sugar Bowl when it was a member of the SEC.

The Green Wave lost that game to Texas A&M, which claimed the national championship as a result. This time around, Tulane fields a strong defensive unit that allows just under 21 points and 343 yards per game.

USC appeared to be destined for its first College Football Playoff until it dropped a costly decision to Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game. Caleb Williams, the Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback for the Trojans, expects to play in the Cotton Bowl despite sustaining an injury in his last outing.

What do the experts think of the matchup? Let's see how the College Football Power Index computer prediction model projects the game.

Cotton Bowl: USC vs. Tulane picks, predictions

USC vs. Tulane picks, predictions for 2023 Cotton Bowl / USA Today Images

USC prediction: The computers are siding with the Trojans to win the game with 58.4 percent likelihood, according to the most recent projections.

Tulane prediction: By contrast, the index is giving the Green Wave a fighting chance, with a 41.6 percent chance to knock off the Trojans.

Point spread: USC comes into the game as narrow 2 point favorites against Tulane, according to the lines at SI Sportsbook.

Total: 64 | Over-110 | Under -118

Moneyline: USC -133 | Tulane +105

Spread consensus pick: USC -2 (63% of bets are on the Trojans)

Score prediction: Team Rankings projects that USC will defeat Tulane by a score of 31.9 to 29.1 (USC -2, Under 64)

How to watch: The game is set for Mon., Jan. 2 at 1 p.m. Eastern time on the main ESPN network and streams on fuboTV (Try for free).

USC vs. Tulane betting analysis, pick

"Southern Cal comes into the Cotton Bowl with a five-game bowl losing streak while also failing to cover the spread in six consecutive matchups at neutral sites. All hints by both teams point to this game going over the total. Caleb Williams battled a hamstring issue in his last game vs. Utah, but he is listed as probable for this contest," according to Shawn Childs of Sports Illustrated

Childs adds, "The easy play here would be the Heisman-winning quarterback from a more prestigious conference. Unfortunately for Trojans backers, a questionable run defense could lead to the Green Wave grinding out the clock while the Trojans hope to win this game via the air."

"Ultimately, I can't get away from a stud quarterback leading to USC ending its losing streak in bowl games."

Childs' pick: USC -2

Going bowling: College football bowl schedule for 2022-23

College Football Power Index

Football Power Index (FPI) college football rankings and computer prediction model are a measure of team strength that predicts a team’s future performance.

Rankings and scores predictions are based on 20,000 simulations of a team’s season, using a combination of analytics, including scores to date, quality of opponents, and a team’s schedule.

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College Football Playoff top 25 rankings

1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. TCU
4. Ohio State
5. Alabama
6. Tennessee
7. Clemson
8. Utah
9. Kansas State
10. USC
11. Penn State
12. Washington
13. Florida State
14. Oregon State
15. Oregon
16. Tulane
17. LSU
18. UCLA
19. South Carolina
20. Texas
21. Notre Dame
22. Mississippi State
23. NC State
24. Troy
25. UTSA

More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | All Teams

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