This will be a clash of a quarterback against his former team.
Darian Mensah was Tulane’s signal caller last year and was one of the best passers in the Group of Five. But then he entered the transfer portal and went to Duke.
Now, he’ll have to face his old team, which could be even better than it was in 2024.
Tulane has begun the year 2-0 overall and is in the No. 2 spot in the HERO Sports G5 Top 25 media poll this week. The Green Wave already have a Power Four win, having defeated Northwestern 23-3. They followed that up with a close 33-31 victory on the road at South Alabama.
Duke, meanwhile, is 1-1 after losing to Illinois 45-19 last week, though Mensah has thrown for 723 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception on a 73.5% completion rate.
Duke vs. Tulane Betting Odds
Tulane is a -1.5 college football betting odds favorite against Duke, with the Over/Under being 52.5.
The moneyline for Duke is +100, and it’s -120 for Tulane.
Duke vs. Tulane On TV
The matchup between Duke and Tulane will be televised on ESPN2.
The game will kick off at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 13. The contest is taking place at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Duke vs. Tulane Prediction
I predict Tulane will win and cover the 1.5-point spread. I also project the game will go Under 52.5 total points.
Both teams are going to be highly motivated for this one. Duke quarterback Darian Mensah is going to try and prove he made a good decision to transfer away from Tulane after he threw for 2,723 yards, 22 touchdowns, and six interceptions on a 66% completion rate last year.
The Green Wave are going to want to prove they are just fine without him. And so far, they have been. Having beat Northwestern so convincingly in Week 1, and to come back and beat South Alabama on the road in Week 2, I think this Tulane team has as good of a chance as anyone in the American to make it to the College Football Playoff. Maybe that G5 CFP berth will even be decided in the American Conference Championship.
But until then, I think Tulane has the defense to keep on winning. I expect the Green Wave will frustrate Mensah, and that Tulane’s offense will control the game on the ground and will make just enough plays to win by a touchdown.
