Tulane (No. 9 seed) meets Charlotte (No. 5 seed) in the American Conference Tournament second round on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. ET at Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama. Tulane advanced with an 81-69 win over Memphis on Wednesday night, while Charlotte enters off a first-round bye.
This is a near pick’em (Charlotte -1.5) with a mid-140s total, and the bracket context matters: Tulane is on no rest, while Charlotte is playing its first game of the tournament. The winner advances to face No. 4 seed UAB in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Odds
Odds from BetOnline. Odds as of 9:04 a.m. ET on March 12, 2026.
| Market | Tulane | Charlotte |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | +1.5 (-120) | -1.5 (-102) |
| Moneyline | -102 | -118 |
| Total | Over 144.5 (-115) | Under 144.5 (-105) |
Team Snapshot
Here’s a side-by-side snapshot of where each team stands entering Thursday.
| Team | Record | Last 10 | ATS | O/U | Off Eff | Def Eff | Tempo | Key Injury Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulane | 18-14 (6-4 away, 10-8 home) | 5-5 | 15-16 | 13-18 | N/A | N/A | 65.9 pace | No injuries reported |
| Charlotte | 15-16 (4-8 away, 11-6 home) | 3-7 | 16-14 | 18-12 | 111.8 | 111.8 | N/A | Ethan Butler (Q), Major Freeman (Q), Francis Oguche (Q), Diego Gomez (Q) |
Recent Form & Statistical Edge
Tulane
Tulane’s clearest path is getting to the line and winning the possession battle. The Green Wave are averaging 23.9 FTAs per game and 18.2 made free throws, both well above national average, but the shot-making profile is volatile: 42.7% from the field and 32.5% from three.
Form is uneven but not hopeless: Tulane is 5-5 straight up over its last 10 (6-4 ATS), and it just played a high-usage game Wednesday with Rowan Brumbaugh scoring 35 in the win over Memphis. The red flag is rebounding: 27.3 rebounds per game and only 6.3 offensive rebounds per game, both near the bottom nationally.
Charlotte
Charlotte’s recent 3-7 stretch over the last 10 masks a team that can still control key defensive outcomes. The 49ers hold opponents to 44.4% shooting and 34.4% from three, and they limit rebounds to 29.2 per game, a meaningful matchup point against a Tulane team that struggles on the glass.
The situational edge is rest: Charlotte is playing its first game of the tournament, while Tulane is on the second night of a back-to-back. If Charlotte’s questionable pieces are limited, rotation depth becomes more important, especially guarding without fouling against Tulane’s free throw volume.
Matchup Keys
- Rest and legs: Tulane played Wednesday night; Charlotte is on a bye and should have fresher minutes, which often shows up in late-game shooting and defensive rebounding.
- Free throws vs. whistle: Tulane’s offense leans on getting to the line (23.9 FTA, 18.2 FTM per game). If Charlotte avoids fouls, Tulane’s 42.7% FG rate becomes a bigger problem.
- Rebounding gap: Tulane’s 27.3 rebounds per game and 6.3 offensive rebounds per game are major concerns against a Charlotte defense allowing only 29.2 rebounds per game.
- Turnover environment: Tulane takes care of the ball (10.9 turnovers per game). Charlotte does not generate many opponent turnovers (9.2 per game), which points to cleaner half-court possessions and fewer “free” transition points.
- 3-point math: Tulane shoots 32.5% from three, while Charlotte allows 34.4%. If Tulane can get hot from deep, it can offset the rebounding disadvantage.
Best Bet
Under 144.5 (-105)
Tulane’s offensive efficiency is heavily dependent on free throws, and that tends to be harder to sustain on no rest in a tournament setting. The Green Wave also bring low rebounding and low offensive-rebound volume (6.3 OREB per game), which reduces second-chance points and can shorten games into one-shot possessions. With Charlotte coming in rested and Tulane potentially dealing with tired legs after a 35-point, high-usage performance from Brumbaugh on Wednesday, the under is the cleaner angle than picking a side in a 1.5-point game.
Projected Score
Charlotte 73, Tulane 69
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