College Football Predictions – Tulane Green Wave 2017 NCAA Football Preview
2016 Recap
2016 Record – 4-8
2016 ATS – 6-6
Tulane showed improvement on both sides of the ball in the first year of the Willie Fritz era. The win total only bumped up from three to four, but to be fair, it was expected to be a struggle. Their four wins were against weak competition – Southern, Louisiana, Massachusetts and Connecticut – but you have to start somewhere. It was a season to build upon.
2017 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
East Division – #6
American Athletic Conference – To be determined
OFFENSE
There were some bumps in the road implementing the Willie Fritz spread option last season, and in particular, the passing game was a complete disaster (#126 FBS – 113 yards per game). The key to the offense is the running game but you have to be able to make the defense believe you can MATRICULATE in the passing game once in a while.
Tulane brings in transfer Jonathan Banks to run the offense this season at QB. It will be interesting to see how things develop over the summer but the feeling is that he is a good fit for the offense. The running game should be very good. Tulane brings back a deep RB group including last season’s leading rusher Dontrell Hilliard (759, 9 TD). The offensive line should improve in the 2nd year of the new offense but depth is a bit of a concern. The top two WR from the 2016 squad are back for action. It seems to us that the Green Wave is poised for more improvement provided that Banks does a decent job.
DEFENSE
The defense looks to be in pretty good shape. Tulane returns 8 starters to a unit that allowed only 27.7 points per game and they have experience at every level. The DL held opponents to just 159 yards rushing per contest and bring back 3/4 starters from the 2016 group. Things could get really good if they find a way to get just a little more PENETRATION (#5 AAC sacks per game; #4 TFL in 2016). Tulane brings back 5/7 starters at LB and DB including excellent CB Parry Nickerson who was a 2nd Team AAC selection in 2016 (4 INT, 9 PBU).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Tulane breaks in a new PK but P Zachary Block is back and he did a decent job last year. The Green Wave were #111 in the FBS on punt returns but #40 in kick returns in 2016. Sherman Badie did a fine job (27.8, TD) and will resume his KR duties in 2017.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot
September 16 – at Oklahoma. We have a baaaaaaaaaad feeling about this one. Sandwiched between two option opponents (Navy, Army) and taking place in Norman where blowouts happen on a regular basis.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
GAME IS OVER GUY got another one wrong last year when Tulane played Louisiana. The under was a MORTAL LOCK until a 16-16 tie became a 4-OT 41-39 final.
Tulane won the SEC conference championship in 1949. (SEC ! SEC !)
MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 8.5
MEGALOCKS says:
Overall, we give the GREEN WAVE a 8.5 ATS Value Rating (Excellent) this season.
We admit. We love cheering for the underdogs and programs that struggle to find success. Last season we had Tulane pegged as a good ATS play (7.0 rating) and they finished up .500 vs the number despite struggling in year one of the new offense.
This year they are a lot more experienced and HC Willie Fritz is a MEGALOCKS favorite. They will be a tough team to prepare for and will be underdogs on most occasions. They may not get to a bowl game but we can easily see these guys bagging 8+ wins vs the point spread.
Want more Tulane football?
Website
http://tulanegreenwave.com/index.aspx?path=football
Forum
Free
http://www.yogwf.com/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=15f2e73771fa25d34fef5d71ae61b080
http://gotula.net/viewforum.php?f=3&sid=dcc3206967a859ddb0e682dc953e9755
News
http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/sports/tulane/
http://bleacherreport.com/tulane-football
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/tulane-green-wave
Twitter
Hashtag – #RollWave
Accounts
https://twitter.com/GreenWaveFB @GreenWaveFB
https://twitter.com/Guersmith @Guersmith Guerry Smith