As the city of New Orleans deals with the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, the Tulane football team’s Week 1 game against No. 2 Oklahoma, originally scheduled for Yulman Stadium, has been moved to the Sooners’ home stadium in Norman. The decision, of course, impacts the betting market.
As of Tuesday morning, the day after the game’s relocation was announced, Tulane is a 31.5-point underdog at FanDuel and +31 on DraftKings’ oddsboard. Before the change in venue, the line was about Oklahoma -27.
Some sportsbooks had yet to repost the game as of this writing.
Sportsbooks have different rules on how to handle the change in venue. Bets made prior to the decision to move the game are now void at some books, including BetMGM, PlayUp, and Circa in Las Vegas. At DraftKings, bets stand if the home team remains designated as such, director of race and sportsbook operations Johnny Avello told Louisiana Sharp in a text message. Tulane indeed remains the designated home team, per the OU athletic department.
Circa’s rules stipulate the game must be played within 100 miles of its originally scheduled location for action, according to a tweet from book director Matthew Metcalf.
previous oklahoma/tulane bets will be no action unless game is played within 100 miles of originally scheduled location.
— Matthew Metcalf (@MMpact) August 30, 2021
More Details
While the game is still scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. CT, television information and other details will be announced by the University of Oklahoma, Tulane athletic director Troy Dannen said in a statement.
As the designated home team despite the game being played at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Tulane will retain all net proceeds from ticket sales.
Going Forward
Tulane’s athletic department, including the student-athletes, have relocated to Birmingham, Alabama, and will remain there until New Orleans is deemed safe, Dannen’s statement said.
Decisions on the Green Wave’s Week 2 game against Morgan State, also scheduled as a home date, as well as the volleyball team’s home matches, have not yet been made.