The Tulane Green Wave can move one step closer to qualifying for the American Athletic Conference championship game when they host the SMU Mustangs in a key AAC game on Thursday at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans. The Green Wave (8-2, 5-1 in AAC) can clinch a spot in the Dec. 10 title game by winning their last two games -- against SMU and at Cincinnati. Meanwhile the Mustangs (6-4, 4-2) need a win on Thursday to stay alive to make the conference championship game.

Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET. The Green Wave are 3.5-point favorites in the latest Tulane vs. SMU odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 66. (See up-to-date odds for every game this week on our college football odds page.)

Before you make any SMU vs. Tulane picks or college football predictions, see what the SportsLine Projection Model has to say.

The SportsLine Projection 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 $3,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.

The model knows that Tulane has a defense to slow the Mustangs' passing game. The Green Wave lead the conference and rank 13th in the country in passing yards allowed per game (175.5). Last week they gave up just 132 passing yards to No. 22 Central Florida.

The model also knows that SMU has the country's most productive receiver in Rashee Rice. The 6-foot-2 senior from North Richland Hills, Texas, leads the nation in receiving yards per game (116.7) and ranks fifth in receptions per game (7.7). He has five receiving touchdowns combined over the last three games.

Now, the model has set its sights on Tulane vs. SMU. We can tell you the model is leaning Over the total, and it also says one side of the spread hits more than 50% of the time! You ABSOLUTELY need to see it before locking in any college football picks.

Who wins SMU vs. Tulane? And which side of the spread hits more than 50% of the time? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the Tulane vs. SMU spread you should be all over Thursday, all from the model on a roll on college football picks!