Rice Owls vs Tulane Green Wave Picks and Predictions for Sunday February 22 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 02/22/2026, 12:15 AM ET

The Rice Owls travel to Devlin Fieldhouse in New Orleans, Louisiana, to face the Tulane Green Wave on Sunday, February 22, 2026. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 PM with coverage available on ESPN+. Tulane enters this American Conference matchup as a 6.5-point favorite, and the total is set at 145.5. The moneyline is currently OFF. Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more expert breakdowns and daily best bets.

Owls Trying to Find Consistency

Rice comes into this contest with an 11-15 overall record and a 5-8 mark in the American Conference. The Owls have gone 2-3 in their last five games, recently losing to ECU and Charlotte while picking up wins over FAU and North Texas. They also dropped a road game at UAB during this stretch, showing inconsistency on both ends of the floor.

On the season, Rice is averaging 74.7 points per game while allowing 74.9 per contest. They are shooting 42% from the field and pulling down 38.2 rebounds per game. The Owls add 12.3 assists, 4.0 blocks, and 7.1 steals per contest.

The key stat for Rice is rebounding. Their 38.2 boards per game give them opportunities to extend possessions, but their 42% shooting has limited their offensive ceiling. If they are going to keep this one close, they will need improved efficiency from the field.

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Green Wave Riding Strong Form

Tulane enters at 16-10 overall and 7-6 in American Conference play. The Green Wave have been playing well, going 4-1 in their last five games. They recently defeated North Texas, UAB, Temple, and Memphis, with their only setback coming against Wichita State. The road win at UAB stands out as a significant result.

Tulane averages 72.8 points per game and allows 73.5 per contest while shooting 43% from the field. They collect 31.2 rebounds per game and contribute 12.8 assists, 4.9 blocks, and 7.9 steals per contest.

One of Tulane’s strengths is defensive disruption. Their 4.9 blocks and 7.9 steals per game show their ability to create turnovers and protect the rim. When they control the defensive end, they are able to dictate tempo and grind down opponents.

Rice Owls vs Tulane Green Wave Pick

Rice Owls vs Tulane Green Wave Spread Pick

Pick: Tulane -6.5

Tulane enters this game in much better form, winning four of their last five, including a road victory at UAB. Rice has struggled with efficiency, shooting just 42% from the field, and has been inconsistent away from home. With Tulane’s defensive activity and home-court advantage, laying the points is the stronger side.

Rice Owls vs Tulane Green Wave Total Pick

Pick: Under 145.5

I’m leaning toward the under in this matchup. Tulane averages just 72.8 points per game, and Rice sits at 74.7. Both teams allow around 74 points per contest, which suggests a balanced but not explosive scoring environment. With Tulane’s defensive pressure and Rice’s inconsistent shooting, I expect this to stay under the posted number.

Final Score Prediction: Tulane 74, Rice 67

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