The Tulane Green Wave are destined for a 2-10 season.
I’m not God, or a coach, or a Tulane basher, or a rival alumnus, but I do have eyes and a brain (somewhat fully functional) that tells me the Green Wave’s chances at snagging another win will never be as high as they are against UConn this Saturday in New Orleans.
Here is a countdown for five neatly organized, and thought out, reasons why UConn is Tulane’s last chance at victory in 2014. Tulane fans: read, digest, and remember that I only analyze what I see.
1. Tulane QB Controversy May Arise from UConn Game
“If you have two quarterbacks, you actually have none,” is the cliche.
Well, Tulane may have no quarterbacks after the UConn game if backup and 2013 starter Nick Montana leads the offense against the Huskies in relief of the banged up Tanner Lee. Head coach Curtis Johnson told NOLA.com Tuesday that Lee’s rehab is progressing smoothly, but he won’t confirm if Lee will be ready to play Saturday.
“We’ve practiced both Nick (Montana) and Devin (Powell),” Johnson said.“Whoever is best and ready to help us win will start, whether it’s Tanner, Nick or Devin. I feel comfortable and confident in all three of them.”
Johnson says he’s confident in whoever the starter is, but there’s a reason why he named the freshman Lee as the starting QB after Spring practices above the more experienced Montana and Powell. Lee is Tulane’s future, Montana was (supposed to be) last years’ news. Now, Joe’s youngest son may get another chance to lead the Green Wave.
If Montana, or the fat chance Powell, starts against UConn and plays well enough to cash in another win, look out for a quarterback controversy emerging in next week’s practice.
2. Huskies are Ranked No. 121 Nationally in Sacks Allowed
If the title doesn’t give it away, let me elaborate: UConn can’t protect the quarterback. Period.
Only one other team in the AAC is worse at keeping its QB upright, and the mascot’s a pony. The Huskies have allowed 20 sacks on the season for an average of four sacks per game. Former UConn starting quarterback Casey Cochran was buried so hard in the teams’ Week 1 loss to BYU that he suffered another concussion, regrettably causing the sophomore QB to end his playing career.
Current UConn quarterback Chandler Whitmer was sacked twice, then three times in losses to AAC rivals South Florida and Temple.
Tulane’s front seven should have ample opportunities to knock Whitmer around and keep the UConn offense from gaining momentum.
Four of the Green Wave’s last six opponents following UConn are giving up less than two sacks per game. Tulane won’t find it as easy to sack the likes of Gunner Kiel, Shane Carden, Paxton Lynch, and PJ Walker in the coming weeks.
3. Saturday is Tulane’s Final Home Game Against Team With Losing Record
Home-field advantage is huge in college football, but it’s actually even bigger if the visiting team has a losing record. You can’t lose at home to a team with a losing record, right?
Well, Tulane (1-4, 0-1 AAC) has the same identical record as 1-4 UConn, so throw should win out the window. The Green Wave aren’t entitled to beat the Huskies on Saturday, but if they don’t, remaining home games against Cincinnati (2-2), Memphis (3-2), and Temple (3-1) means the Green Wave faithful will have to wait till 2015 to see their team win another game in brand-new Yulman Stadium.
Make the home crowd happy, Tulane, because they’ll be shedding tears the rest of the year.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp62R70RYho?list=UUNSyUGDZ0M4ATau4PkmNp9g]4. UConn Has AAC’s Second-Worst Offense
SMU edged UConn in the battle for AAC’s worst offensive unit through Week 6, but the Huskies are inept enough on that side of the ball to even the score in the next few games.
The Huskies are 11th in the AAC in red-zone scoring (7-of-13), 10th in yards per game (264), yards per play (4), and points per game (14.8), and ninth in third-down conversion rate (30 percent).
Ineptitude only the Pony boys can relate to.
Tulane won’t face another offense as bad as the Huskies. In fact, three of the Green Wave’s next opponents (Cincinnati, Memphis, and East Carolina) are ranked one, two, and three in total offense in the AAC.
Tulane, it’s your last chance to play an offense with a pace-maker. The rest can pick up the pace all on their own.
5. Tulane Has Toughest Remaining Schedule in AAC
Tulane, with out hesitation, plays the most grueling remaining schedule in the AAC.
Here is the forecast for the Green Wave after UConn visits New Orleans:
- at UCF (2-2)
- Cincinnati (2-2)
- at Houston (2-3)
- Memphis (3-1)
- at ECU (4-1)
- Temple (3-1)
The gauntlet awaits Tulane after it plays UConn, and a murders row containing the current Top-3 teams in the AAC follows a game at Houston.
The ESPN Football Power Index ranks Tulane’s remaining schedule as the toughest among AAC teams. According to the FPI, the Green Wave are favored by 52.7 percent to defeat UConn, but the highest confidence rating they are given for the final six games is 24 percent against Cincinnati.
The computers agree with the point of this article: Tulane’s last chance at victory (barring future miracles) is against the UConn Huskies on Saturday.
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