You may scoff at this Tulsa vs. Old Dominion pick and prediction for the 2021 Myrtle Beach Bowl. Scoff no more when you consider just how miraculous ODU’s 2021 college football season was. For a team that didn’t play a snap of football during the 2020 COVID-19 campaign, ODU’s bowl eligibility came as a surprise. Even if it’d be more of a surprise to beat Tulsa, the Monarchs returning to a bowl game is a victory in and of itself.
Tulsa vs. Old Dominion betting odds and trends
- Opening Line: Tulsa -7.5 (Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Current Line: Tulsa -9.5
- Over/Under: 52
- Moneyline: Tulsa -335, ODU +260
The Monarchs certainly aren’t getting much love at this point, and it may be warranted. ODU finished the season 6-6, much like Tulsa, and they both ended the year on winning streaks. Tulsa won three straight, squeaking out victories against Tulane and SMU while handling Temple with ease.
It seems that their three-game winning streak and their level of play inside the AAC have been more relative for bettors. The line has moved up two points, encroaching on a 10-point spread in favor of the Golden Hurricane. Paced by QB Davis Brin, Tulsa battled through a tough out-of-conference schedule to start the year, leading to their 6-6 record.
That schedule saw losses to Ohio State and Oklahoma State in out-of-conference play. Additionally, they dropped two more games to in-conference foes Houston and Cincinnati, each who represented the AAC in the championship game. So, it would make sense to take the battle-tested team out of the two in the Myrtle Beach Bowl, right?
Tulsa vs. Old Dominion prediction
Considering it all, Tulsa seems to be the better team. Brin is a terrific thrower of the football who fell on some bad luck through their tough schedule this season. But ODU won five straight to end the year for a good reason. Hayden Wolff returned as the starter in Week 7 against Western Kentucky, a game that was close for the majority of the contest. He wouldn’t lose another start for the rest of 2021.
ODU averaged 36 points per game in Wolff’s five starts to close the season as he began to dominate. Wolff threw 10 touchdowns this year, 9 of which came during their final five-game win streak. Tulsa may be the better team, but Wolff is playing the best football among anyone.
It’s a win for ODU just to be in this bowl game. Expect a fiery bunch who battles tough all game long. They don’t get it done in the end, thanks to some shaky pass defense, but Wolff keeps them in it.
Wolff huffs, puffs, and covers.
Tulsa vs. Old Dominion Prediction: Tulsa 33, ODU 28