The September 20, 2025, matchup between the Ole Miss Rebels and the Tulane Green Wave in Oxford is a compelling clash of styles and expectations, with Ole Miss entering as a double-digit favorite at home but Tulane bringing enough recent form and belief to make this game more interesting than the betting line suggests. Ole Miss has looked every bit the SEC powerhouse in its early outings, blowing out Georgia State 63-7 in its home opener and showcasing a roster filled with explosive playmakers on both sides of the ball, giving fans confidence that Lane Kiffin’s squad can once again contend for SEC relevance. The Rebels’ offense has been sharp, with balance between a quick-strike passing game and a running attack that keeps defenses off balance, while their defense has tightened up against weaker opponents and shown the ability to generate turnovers. Tulane, meanwhile, has made waves with its upset victory over Duke, winning 34-27 in a game that highlighted its resilience, opportunistic defense, and ability to string together explosive drives when needed, reminding the college football world that the Green Wave is still dangerous despite being underestimated at times. Their running game has been a cornerstone, helping control tempo and giving their passing attack opportunities to exploit mismatches, and if they can establish the ground game against Ole Miss, they could force the Rebels into longer defensive series than they are used to. Historically, Ole Miss has dominated this series, winning every meeting since 1988, but Tulane has been a program on the rise, fueled by belief in its ability to challenge bigger-name opponents, making this an intriguing test of whether recent form and momentum can overcome decades of SEC superiority.

From a betting perspective, the spread sits around 12.5 points, reflecting confidence in Ole Miss’s ability to win at home but also acknowledging Tulane’s potential to keep it competitive, particularly if they protect the football and avoid the kinds of costly turnovers that shift momentum in hostile environments. The Over/Under, hovering around 57.5, also signals expectations of scoring fireworks, with both offenses capable of producing quick points, and bettors may lean toward the Over if Tulane can match pace with Ole Miss, though the Under remains viable if the Rebels’ defense clamps down and shortens possessions. Key factors include Ole Miss’s ability to start fast and prevent Tulane from gaining early belief, Tulane’s discipline in the red zone to avoid settling for field goals, and the turnover battle, which has the potential to swing this game dramatically given the explosiveness of both sides. Ultimately, Ole Miss has the home crowd, the talent edge, and the history to back up their favorite status, but Tulane’s resilience and recent upset of Duke show they are not likely to be intimidated, setting up a matchup that will test whether Ole Miss can deliver another statement win or if Tulane can hang around long enough to cover the spread and push the Rebels deeper into the fourth quarter than expected.