Tulane vs. Charlotte Odds, Picks, and Preview: AAC Friday Night Football

The Tulane Green Wave hit the road to face the Charlotte 49ers in an American Athletic Conference matchup on Friday night. Tulane enters as a significant favorite, with oddsmakers listing the Green Wave around -14.5, while the total is set near 47.5 points. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN2. Tulane, led by head coach Willie Fritz, is looking to stay in the hunt for a conference title game berth, while Charlotte, under first-year head coach Biff Poggi, aims to pull off a major upset at home. Tulane's offense has been efficient this season, averaging 31.4 points per game, while the defense has allowed just 19.6 points per contest. Quarterback Michael Pratt has thrown for 1,622 yards and 16 touchdowns with only four interceptions. Charlotte, on the other hand, has struggled, scoring 18.9 points per game and giving up 28.7. The 49ers will need a strong performance from quarterback Jalon Jones, who has 1,173 passing yards and six touchdowns, to keep pace. The key matchup will be Tulane's rushing attack, led by Makhi Hughes (681 yards, 5 touchdowns), against a Charlotte defense allowing 158.3 rushing yards per game. If Tulane controls the line of scrimmage, the Green Wave should cover the spread. However, Charlotte has shown fight at home, and with a short week for both teams, the 49ers could keep it closer than expected. The over/under of 47.5 suggests a moderate-scoring game, but Tulane's offensive firepower could push it over. For bettors, Tulane -14.5 is the popular play, but Charlotte +14.5 has value if the 49ers can limit turnovers. The under is 4-1 in Tulane's last five road games, while Charlotte games have gone over in three of their last four. Ultimately, Tulane's talent advantage should prevail, but Charlotte's home energy could make this a competitive AAC battle.