Betting on bowl games is a completely different animal these days with so many players opting out to prepare for the NFL Draft or entering the transfer portal and choosing not to play in the bowl. One could argue that no team has been hit harder by such opt-outs than AAC runner-up Tulane, which will not have star quarterback Michael Pratt and several other starters available Wednesday afternoon when the Green Wave face ACC foe Virginia Tech in the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Md. Because Tulane has been so gutted, it is up to +10.5 on the SportsLine consensus after opening as low as +4.5. Click here for model picks.
Pratt might bet the best quarterback in school history but is opting to sit out to prepare for the draft (and reportedly the Senior Bowl), although he is not considered a top prospect and is ranked as the No. 128 player in the class per the CBS Sports 2024 prospect rankings. Pratt was named the AAC's Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-AAC after throwing for 2,406 yards and 22 touchdowns and also was the team's second-leading rusher with 288 yards and five rushing scores. Pratt is the school record-holder with 9,603 passing yards and 90 touchdown passes overall.
Backup Kai Horton (31-for-62, 485 yards, three TDs) did enter the portal but has reportedly been practicing with Tulane and could share time Wednesday with Justin Ibieta (six total snaps taken this year).
The QBs be could be missing the team's top three receivers in Chris Brazzell II (41 catches, 711 yards, five TDs), Lawrence Keys III (33 catches, 599 yards, seven TDs) and Jha'Quan Jackson (26 catches, 439 yards, four TDs). Keys hasn't played since Week 11 due to injury, and the other two are in the portal. That could mean a lot of freshman tailback Makhi Hughes, who was named the AAC's Rookie of the Year. He led the conference in rushing with 1,290 yards and went for 100 or more yards in seven games this season while scoring seven rushing touchdowns.
However, the Green Wave are also without their starting left guard in Prince Pines and tight end Alex Bauman (33 catches, 328 yards, two TDs). On defense, end Keith Cooper Jr., linebackers Devean Deal and Darius Hodges, safety DJ Douglas and cornerback Jarius Monroe are all out. Both Hodges and Monroe were first-team All-AAC. Hodges leads the team and is fourth in the conference with his 7.5 sacks. He is tied for third on the team with his 8.5 tackles for loss among his 23 total tackles. Hodges also leads the team with his four quarterback hurries. Monroe has 45 tackles, 3.5 stops for loss, a sack, two interceptions and eight pass breakups this season.
That defense during the regular season led the AAC and ranked seventh nationally in rushing yards allowed at 93.5, third in the conference and 26th in the country in sacks at 2.62 per game, first in the league and second nationally in turnovers gained with 25, and first in the AAC and third nationally in defensive interceptions with 17.
Coach Willie Fritz has already left for the top job at Houston. He was named the AAC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. Offensive coordinator Slade Nagle, defensive coordinator Shiel Wood, defensive line coach Gerald Chapman and wide receivers coach Derrick Sherman will follow Fritz there but will coach in the bowl game with Nagle as the interim head coach. Troy's Jon Sumrall will take over as head coach following the bowl.
For the Hokies, safeties Nasir Peoples and Jalen Stroman both will sit after surgeries. Tight end Dae'Quan Wright (28 caches, 366 yards) is in the portal and won't play, but otherwise Tech is in good shape.
Virginia Tech is 5-4 against Tulane all-time but they haven't played since 1986. Tech is 1-1 in the Military Bowl, both times facing Cincinnati (2014, 2018). It's the first bowl game for second-year coach Brent Pry as the Hokies didn't make last season with a 3-8 record. Pry has coached in 14 bowl games over the course of his career as an assistant or graduate assistant, including two with the Hokies (1995 Sugar Bowl, 1996 Orange Bowl). It's Tulane's first time in this bowl.
Weather is going to be a factor. Here's the forecast for Annapolis from Weather.com: Rain. Potential for heavy rainfall. High around 55F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
The total opened as high as 48.5 and was 44.5 last night but is down to 43.5.
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