Sports Network Preview - SMU big

[The PonyGrad]

The Sports Network

DATE & TIME: Saturday, September 30th, 7:30 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: Superdome (64,900) -- New Orleans, Louisiana. Television: CSTV. Home Record: SMU 2-0, Tulane 0-0. Away Record: SMU 0-2, Tulane 1-2 Neutral Record: SMU 0-0, Tulane 0-0. Conference Record: SMU 0-0, Tulane 0-1. Series Record: Tulane leads, 10-4.

GAME NOTES: In the first college football game to be played at the Superdome since the Hurricane Katrina disaster, the Tulane Green Wave will tangle with the SMU Mustangs this Saturday in a Conference-USA showdown. The Mustangs opened their season on the wrong note, losing to Texas Tech (35-3) and North Texas (24-6). However, since then the team has been on fire, winning two straight contests, including a whopping 55-9 victory over Arkansas State last week. The 2-2 start to the season is the best opening to a campaign for a SMU team since 1996 when the Mustangs also opened with a 2-2 mark. If the Mustangs are victorious this weekend it would be the first time since 1992 that a SMU team closed out the month of September with a winning ledger. As for the Green Wave, this will be their first home game of the season. Tulane opened the 2006 campaign with an embarrassing 45-7 setback to Houston, but rebounded with a hard-fought, 32-29 victory over Mississippi State. Last week the Green Wave were trounced by SEC powerhouse LSU, 49-7. In regards to the all-time series between the two schools, the Green Wave hold a solid 10-4 advantage over SMU. Tulane has won six out of the last seven meetings, including five consecutive matchups. Last year, the Green Wave dominated SMU, 31-10.

The Mustangs' offensive unit has been red-hot, scoring 100 points in the last two games. That is the best offensive outburst by a SMU team since 1928 when the Mustangs totaled 113 points in two contest. The Mustangs are currently averaging 27.2 ppg on the year and 339.8 ypg. SMU is posting 177.2 ypg through the air, but the main reason for the team's success is its ability to run the football. SMU is churning out an impressive 162.5 ypg on the ground, while averaging a solid 5.0 ypc. In the victory over ASU, the Mustangs accumulated 457 total yards, including 226 yards on the ground. James Mapps led the team with 132 yards and one score on 14 carries. Mapps is currently leading SMU with 200 rushing yards and one touchdown. The passing attack was also impressive in the victory, as quarterback Justin Willis completed 15-of-24 pass attempts for 151 yards and four touchdowns. Willis has been sensational this season for SMU, completing an eye-popping 73.1 percent of his passes for 580 yards. Willis has already thrown 10 touchdowns on the season and has just two interceptions to his name. The main reason for Willis' success is the plethora of targets he has at his disposal. Against ASU, Willis hit seven different receivers with passes. Bobby Chase caught three passes for 122 yards and one score, while Ryan Kennedy also had three receptions, for 40 yards and three touchdowns.

Just like the offense, the defensive unit has also played much better over the past two contests. Overall, the Mustangs are surrendering just 20.5 ppg and 346.5 ypg. The team has done a terrific job against the run, holding the opposition to just 110.2 ypg. Unfortunately the team has struggled against the pass, and is allowing opponents to produce 236.2 ypg through the air. SMU possibly had its best defensive performance of the season against ASU this past week. The Mustangs surrendered just 262 total yards, including just 69 rushing yards on 41 carries (1.7 ypc). The defensive unit was tenacious throughout the contest and forced five turnovers and recorded five sacks in the win. SMU allowed ASU to convert on 6-of-16 third down attempts, but held the Indians to just 1-of-3 on red zone chances. Tony Hawkins led the way with nine tackles, while Joe Sturdivant added eight stops.

Things have not gone swimmingly for the Green Wave this season, especially on offense where the team is averaging a meager 15.3 ppg. Tulane is posting a respectable 195.3 ypg through the air this season, but its rushing attack is simply dreadful. The Green Wave are churning out just 98.7 ypg on the ground. In the setback to LSU, the Green Wave were held to just 17 first downs and 231 total yards. Matt Forte, who leads the team with 215 rushing yards, was held to just 25 yards on 11 attempts. Overall the team finished with only 112 yards on 35 carries (3.2 ypc). The passing attack was just as bad in the loss, as the Green Wave finished with just 119 yards through the air. Three different quarterbacks saw time under center for Tulane. Starter, Lester Ricard completed just 6-of-15 passes for 44 yards before leaving the contest with an apparent shoulder injury. Ricard has been solid thus far for the Green Wave, and has completed 57.1 percent of his passes for 498 yards and five touchdowns. Scott Elliott and Anthony Scelfo were the other two QBs for the Green Wave. Scelfo only completed 2-of-4 passes in the loss and also tossed an interception against LSU, but the redshirt freshman did plenty of damage with his legs, rushing for 41 yards and the only Tulane score.

Sadly enough the Green Wave are actually worse defensively this season. Tulane is allowing a whopping 41.0 ppg and has been abused through the air as well as on the ground. Opponents are churning out 171.3 rushing ypg, and a whopping 276.7 passing ypg. Against LSU the defense surrendered 373 total yards, including 172 yards on the ground. The team only allowed 201 yards through the air, but struggled to put pressure on the quarterback and finished with just one sack. Tulane only allowed 21 first downs in the loss, but also allowed LSU to convert on 5-of-10 third down attempts and all seven redzone chances. Josh Lumar and Joe Goosby both recorded seven tackles apiece in the loss. Goosby has been the spark plug to this defensive unit and now has a team-high 19 tackles.

It is undoubtedly going to be an emotional day for Tulane and its fans, as the team gets to return to the Superdome for the first time since Katrina devastated New Orleans. While the New Orleans Saints rode the emotions in their victory on Monday night, it is going to be hard for the Green Wave to pull off the same feat. With the way SMU has played lately, especially on offense, it is going to be a long day for Tulane.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: SMU 45, Tulane 17

[Duke Blue Blood]

Wow!!! In our dreams, but thanks for the boost!

DBB

[friarwolf]

45 - 17???????? Jesus, I hope he's right but I'll gladly take a 1 point victory.........

[Kiper]

.... Sadly enough the Green Wave are actually worse defensively this season. Tulane is allowing a whopping 41.0 ppg and has been abused through the air as well as on the ground. Opponents are churning out 171.3 rushing ypg, and a whopping 276.7 passing ypg. Against LSU the defense surrendered 373 total yards, including 172 yards on the ground. The team only allowed 201 yards through the air, but struggled to put pressure on the quarterback and finished with just one sack. Tulane only allowed 21 first downs in the loss, but also allowed LSU to convert on 5-of-10 third down attempts and all seven redzone chances. Josh Lumar and Joe Goosby both recorded seven tackles apiece in the loss. Goosby has been the spark plug to this defensive unit and now has a team-high 19 tackles....

There's the key to the game. I'm not going to suggest SMU's defense can pitch a shutout against the Wave, and doesn't need to. But if Willis and the rest of the offense can continue to spread the ball around and keep Tulane's defense off-balance, I like our chances. Survive the emotional start to the game, and then get down to business.
BRING HOME A WIN!

[smu diamond m]

Hell, after reading that article I'd think we'd blow them out too. But I think the game will be a bit closer than that.

[MustangIcon]

That score seems to be a pretty bold prediction to me. Remember UH and LSU beat Tulane 45-7 and 49-7 respectively. Granted both teams let up in the second half (UH pulled Kolb in the 3rd Qtr), but I doubt we will match that offensive production. Tulane was on the road for those games and this will be their emotional first game at home and I dont see us putting 45 pts on them.

SMU 34
Tulane 20

[mrydel]

I wonder about this emotion thing. Yes it can help, but it can hurt also. If I am a Tulane player and I am coming home after a year and a half on the road to a newly rennovated stadium and I have just witnessed the awesome display at the Saint's first home game, and then I run out on the field to the screams of 15,000 echoing in the Dome, I become pretty depressed and lethargic. It will be very intersting to see what role if any emotion plays in this game.

[MustangStealth]

Also keep in mind that 15,000 in the Superdome looks about like 6,000 in Ford.