Football Schedule Breakdown

Here's a schedule for the upcoming season as well as my outlook. Let me know what you think. looking at the schedule I think the Green Wave can rack up anywhere from three to eight wins. In the end, it's going to depend on whether Tulane can win the turnover battle, Matt Forte's health and whether Scott Elliot can trulylead this offense. My personal prediction: 5-7

Date Opponent 2006 Record Location Time

09/08/07 Mississippi State 3-9 (1-7 in SEC) Superdome 6:00 p.m.

The highlight of last season for the Green Wave was finally winning against an SEC team on the road, even if it was against a struggling Mississippi State team. But the Green Wave gave up 22 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and barely held on for a 32-29 win. The Bulldogs, led by stalwart defensive end Titus Brown, will be looking for payback and, as a result, probably be playing its best football. The Green Wave will have to do the same if it hopes to beat an SEC team for a second straight year.

Projection: Probably Loss

9/15/07 Houston 10-4 (7-1 in C-USA) Superdome 7:00 p.m.

The defending Conference USA champions may have lost its star quarterback in Kevin Kolb, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be just as good offensively under head coach Art Briles’ system. The Cougars have dominated Tulane over the past three meetings, including last season’s 45-7 blowout in Cougar Stadium. This game will be a true test of how well the Green Wave has improved, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

Projection: Probable Loss

9/22/07 SE Louisiana 1-5 (2-9 in Southland) Superdome 7:00 p.m.

There’s nothing like a Division I-AA team to boost your chances of becoming bowl eligible. But before the Green Wave fans declare this an unofficial bye week, remember that in 2005 the Green Wave barely edged out the Lions 28-21. A loss here would be catastrophic to Tulane’s bowl chances and would really hurt local recruiting, but it’s hard to imagine the Green Wave losing to a I-AA who’s seen better days.

Projection: Definite Win

9/29/07 No. 2 LSU 11-2 (6-2 in SEC) Superdome TBA

With No. 1 Southern Cal playing at No. 20 Nebraska on Aug. 15, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that LSU could be the top-ranked team in the nation when it strolls into the Superdome. Overlooked in last year’s 49-7 blowout was the play of Anthony Scelfo, who led two drives the length of the field in the fourth quarter, one of which ended in the first touchdown allowed by the Tigers in 2006. Meanwhile, Elliot looked like a deer in the headlights, although in his defense he played against the first-string defense. The Green Wave can chalk this game up as a moral victory if they can keep the margin of defeat within five touchdowns.

Projection: Definite Loss

10/06/07 at Army 3-9 (Independent) West Point, NY TBA

A very winnable road game for the Green Wave against a program it’s had some success against. Tulane-Army games have been known to be high-scoring and entertaining, and 2007 will probably be no different. This will be on of the few games the Green Wave will be favored in.

Projection: Probable Win

10/13/07 at UAB 2-6 (3-9 in C-USA) Birmingham, AL 6:00 p.m.

By this point in the season, the Blazers will probably be 1-4 with its tough non-conference schedule. While that might get it off ESPN’s college football “Bottom 10” list, the program is still a far cry from what it was just a few years ago when it was garnering top 25 votes. But don’t be fooled – this is a very good home team with an outstanding secondary that can create turnovers. For those reasons alone UAB fans are probably penciling this game in as a win, and the Green Wave will need to win conference road games like this consistently if it ever hopes earn the respect C-USA team. Tulane has more talent and better schemes on both sides of the ball, so if it hangs on to the ball the Green Wave should win this game easily.

Projection: Probable Win

10/20/07 at SMU 6-6 (4-4 in C-USA) Dallas, TX 2:00 p.m.

Last year’s 33-28 loss to SMU not only stung because the Green Wave had so many chances to take the lead, but it was also the team’s first game back in the Superdome since Hurricane Katrina. This is probably the best team SMU has had in 20 years. While that isn’t saying much, winning in Dallas against an offense that returns nine players (including quarterback Justin Willis, who carved up Tulane’s defense last year) will be a tough for any C-USA team.

Projection: Probable Loss

10/27/07 Memphis 1-7 (2-10) Superdome 2:00 p.m.

While the record may not show it, the Tigers played well toward the end of the season and returns many key skill-position players, including running back Joseph Doss. But the Green Wave does tend to play better on Homecoming, and Memphis has a lot of holes in its secondary. This should be a fun, high-scoring game to watch.

Projection: Toss-up

11/03/07 Tulsa (8-5) 5-3 Superdome 6:30 p.m.

Despite losing players on both sides of the ball, Tulsa has become the type of program that can reload quickly and compete for a conference championship every year. Last year’s game was ugly as the Golden Hurricanes simply manhandled the Green Wave on both sides of the ball in a 38-3 blowout. Things should be a lot better for the Green Wave this year, at least on the offensive side of the ball.

Projection: Probable Loss

11/10/07 UTEP 3-5 (5-7) Superdome 6:00 p.m.

Last season’s 34-20 loss in El Paso epitomized the Green Wave’s 2006 season. The offense showed plenty of talent and heart but turned the ball over a whopping five times, forcing the defense in tough positions. The Green Wave should have won that game, and they should win this game as long as most everyone (notably running back Matt Forte, who the Miners simply could not stop) is healthy and turnovers are kept to a minimum.

Projection: Toss-up

11/17/07 at Rice 6-2 (7-6) Houston, TX 2:00 p.m.

With quarterback Chase Clement and wider receiver Jarett Dillard returning, the Rice offense will be solid. The defense, on the other hand, lost a lot of key players on a unit that played just well enough to keep them in games. It’ll be interesting to see how the young Owls defense responds to new head coach David Bailiff, who put together some outstanding defenses at TCU. This should be a very competitive game.

Projection: Toss-up

11/24/07 at East Carolina 6-2 (9-5) Greenville, N.C. 12:00 p.m.

The Pirates lost one of the most fearsome offensive duos in C-USA in quarterback James Pinkney and wide receiver Aundrae Allison. East Carolina will be solid on both lines, but will it have the skill-position players to go back to a bowl game? This will be a tough road game to end the season, but a win would inject a lot of confidence into the program going into next season.

Projection: Toss-up