There's been a surprise shake-up in the Tulane vs. Houston matchup.
Tulane starting quarterback Michael Pratt will not play in the game due to an injury.
Tulane starting QB Michael Pratt is out tonight vs. Houston, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. Pratt was injured in last week’s loss to Southern Miss. Redshirt freshman Justin Ibieta will get his 1st career start for the Green Wave
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 30, 2022
The backup quarterback on Tulane's depth chart is 6-5 freshman Justin Ibieta. He appeared in two games last season, going 13-of-21 for 166 yards through the air.
Ibieta also contributed with his legs, registering 57 rushing yards and an additional touchdown across 2021.
The consensus betting line and over/under earlier this week was Houston -2.5 and 54.5, respectively, before odds flew off the rails this morning.
There weren't many signs that Pratt would be out until the line started moving on Friday morning.
The line before kick is anywhere from Houston -5 to -6 at most legal sportsbooks as of Friday evening. The total has steadily dropped from as high as 55 to where it sits now around 53.
Pratt was notably swung down by his helmet in the waning seconds of last Saturday's loss in Week 4.
After pulling off a win as a 17-point underdog to Kansas State in Week 3, Tulane lost as a double-digit favorite to Southern Miss
Houston stumbled through a gauntlet of a non-conference schedule. They beat UTSA in overtime to start the season then lost to Texas Tech in overtime, before getting obliterated by college football's newest power, the Kansas Jayhawks.
Tulane is just 4-14 against the spread vs. Houston over the last 18 meetings, while the Cougars have covered just two of their last seven dating back to last season.
Entering Week 5, Action Network college football analyst Collin Wilson tabbed Houston No. 48 in his 2022 Power Ratings, with Tulane eight paces back at No. 56.
