Cotton Bowl Classic Odds - Tulane vs. USC
The Tulane Green Wave will make its 15th bowl appearance in school history with a chance to top off a noteworthy season for the program. Tulane ranks 27th in yards per play versus FBS opponents and will look to capitalize off their AAC Championship victory over UCF. The Green Wave allowed 22.2 points per game to FBS opponents but could be tested in the Cotton Bowl. Meanwhile, the USC Trojans may have missed a playoff berth, but they will head to their 55th bowl appearance in school history. USC averaged the fourth-most yards per play against FBS opponents this season, with stellar play from their quarterback as the spark. Despite falling to Utah in the PAC-12 title game, Caleb Williams ended the season by throwing for 363 yards and three touchdowns despite being hobbled by the late stretch of the contest.
2023 Cotton Bowl Classic at a Glance
Date: Monday, January 2, 2023
Time (ET) / TV: 1:00 PM / ESPN
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Matchup: Tulane Green Wave vs. USC Trojans
College Football Betting Lines
Tulane Green Wave TBA
USC Trojans TBA
Total: TBA
Cotton Bowl Classic Preview
Last game, the USC Trojans lost 47[-24 against the Utah Utes as 2.5-point favorites. The game went over the total of 67. USC has a record of 11-2 straight up, 8-5 against the spread, and 10-3 over/under the total. USC ranks 5th for total offense, 5th for passing, 51st for rushing and 3rd for scoring. Defensively they rank 102nd overall, 111th against the pass, 62nd against the rush, and 81st for points allowed. Also, USC ranks 5th for fewest turnovers lost and 2nd for takeaways.
Last game, the Tulane Green Wave won 45-28 against the UCF Knights as 3.5-point road dogs. The game went over the total of 56.5. Tulane has a record of 11-2 straight up, 11-2 against the spread, and 7-6 over/under the total. Tulane ranks 34th for total offense, 58th for passing, 31st for rushing, and 21st for scoring. Defensively they rank 31st overall, 18th against the pass, 73rd against the rush, and 26th for points allowed. Also, Tulane ranks 112th for fewest turnovers lost and 57th for takeaways.
Cotton Bowl Classic Prediction
In this situation, most public money will be on the name-brand USC Trojans. Tulane will be a strong value with the offense that can take advantage of the weak USC defense.
Cotton Bowl Classic Format
The Cotton Bowl began in 1937, and the matchup currently features schools from the Big 12 Conference and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The game takes place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as the previous venue for this contest was the Cotton Bowl in Dallas from 1937-2009. This game was named the Mobil Cotton Bowl, Southwestern Bell Cotton Bowl Classic, SBC Communications Cotton Bowl Classic, and AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic before Goodyear obtained sponsorship rights in 2015.
Cotton Bowl Classic Past Results
| SEASON |
WINNING TEAM |
LOSING TEAM |
SCORE |
| 2021 |
Alabama |
Cincinnati |
27-6 |
| 2020 |
Oklahoma |
Florida |
55-20 |
| 2019 |
Penn State |
Memphis |
53-39 |
| 2018 |
Clemson |
Notre Dame |
30-3 |
| 2017 |
Ohio State |
USC |
24-7 |
| 2017 |
Wisconsin |
Western Michigan |
24-16 |
| 2015 |
Alabama |
Michigan State |
38-0 |
| 2015 |
Michigan State |
Baylor |
42-41 |
| 2014 |
Missouri |
Oklahoma State |
41-31 |
| 2013 |
Texas A&M |
Oklahoma |
41-13 |
| 2012 |
Arkansas |
Kansas State |
29-16 |
| 2011 |
LSU |
Texas A&M |
41-24 |
| 2010 |
Mississippi |
Oklahoma State |
21-7 |
| 2009 |
Mississippi |
Texas Tech |
47-34 |
| 2008 |
Missouri |
Arkansas |
38-7 |
| 2007 |
Auburn |
Nebraska |
13-10 |
| 2006 |
Alabama |
Texas Tech |
38-7 |
| 2005 |
Tennessee |
Texas A&M |
31-28 |
| 2004 |
Mississippi |
Oklahoma State |
35-20 |
| 2003 |
Texas |
LSU |
10-3 |
| 2002 |
Oklahoma |
Arkansas |
35-21 |
| 2001 |
Kansas State |
Tennessee |
35-21 |
| 2000 |
Arkansas |
Texas |
27-6 |
The Cotton Bowl has not been one of the more competitive bowl games through the years. The game has not seen a margin of a touchdown or less since 2015. It is amazing when you go back and look over the numbers, as there have been only four games in the last 21 years with a margin of a touchdown or less.
In 2018, Clemson punished Notre Dame in another lopsided semifinal playoff game, 30-3. Favorites have won in 11 of the last 14 installments of this game. In comparison, the under has now connected in four of the last five in this bowl game.
Penn State took care of Memphis in 2019 as seven-point favorites, 53-39, marking the first time since USC in 1994 that a team has busted the 50-point mark in a Cotton Bowl.
In 2020, Oklahoma routed Florida by a 55-20 score as the favorite cashed, with the 'over' hitting, too. It was the second season a team went for 50 or more points in the Cotton Bowl.
We had a Group of Five team in the 2021 Cotton Bowl Classic, as Cincinnati was the No. 4 seed in the CFP. The Bearcats were no match for No. 1 seed Alabama, as the Crimson Tide rolled to a 27-6 rout. The 33 total points were the least combined points since 2017 when Ohio State topped USC 24-7.
Most All-Time Wins
| WINS |
TEAM |
YEARS WON |
| 11 |
Texas |
1942, 1945, 1952, 1961, 1963, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1981, 1998, 2002 |
| 5 |
Alabama |
1941, 1980, 2005, 2015, 2021 |
| 5 |
Texas A&M |
1940, 1967, 1985, 1987, 2012 |
| 5 |
Notre Dame |
1970, 1977, 1978, 1992, 1993 |
| 4 |
Arkansas |
1964, 1975, 1999, 2012 |
| 4 |
Mississippi |
1955, 2003, 2008, 2009 |
With its ties to the Lone Star State, it’s not surprising to find Texas teams heavily represented in the Cotton Bowl’s long history. Texas, a powerhouse in the old SWC and now the Big 12, has nearly double the appearances of any other team with 22 trips to the Cotton Bowl. The Longhorns easily have the most victories as well, with 11.
However, Texas hasn’t played here since the 2002 season, as the program’s prolonged downturn coincided with a shift in the college football landscape.
2022-23 College Football Bowl Games
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