Just a wee little reference to UNT
Mandel’s Upset Special
No. 22 Tulane (-10.5) at Rice, 4 p.m. (ESPN2)
This is a big opportunity for Mike Bloomgren’s Owls, 4-3 and aiming for their first winning season since 2014. Tulane is 6-1 but by no means on the same level as last year’s Cotton Bowl squad. It took the Green Wave all four quarters last week to put away 3-4 North Texas. JT Daniels earns his biggest win since leading Georgia in the 2020 Peach Bowl.
Rice 26, Tulane 24
The pick: Rice +10.5