A few weeks ago, the spread might have been double the current number. But long-moribund Tulane has ripped off three straight-up wins in a row since a switch to QB Justin McMillan, whose offense piled up 1,000-plus combined yards in the latter two. Houston’s injury concerns go far deeper than its projected early NFL draft pick, DT Ed Oliver (knee). The Cougars, losers of two consecutively outright, could be missing a pair of RBs, two more WRs, a couple of DL starters and a productive safety. Hence, this value play as long as the line stays north of seven.

This lines up as the ultimate "get-right" game for Houston, which looked like the class of the AAC West all season before suffering consecutive double-digit losses. Now, the Cougars need to beat Tulane on Thursday and hope for Memphis to beat SMU in order for them to regain the top spot in the standings. Tulane has won three straight against mostly meager competition and still needs one more win to become bowl-eligible. It will have to come next week against Navy because the Green Wave are getting throttled Thursday night in Houston.