Rent-A-Win?

One of the best part about whipping SEC teams is the utter bitterness of the recriminations. The opening quote: Well, wasn't that just pathetic?- goes a long way to giving you, gentle reader, the simple titch of the article. Relief in Starkville is not far away though; maybe he should have spoke to the Bulldogs before taking the field?

Tulane is now officially a “hard team to get a handle on”, right? I know I am relishing putting any sort of intelligent framework on picking Tulane +36.5 this weekend.

This might not be exactly a great win for Tulane. The Bulldogs were -11 over Tulane; again terrible is eleven better than horrible. I liked Tulane here cause I thought Houston made Tulane look horrid- rather than actually being horrid. Turned out Mississippi State decided to be horrid for a half-plus, and Tulane was pretty okay. The defense wasn’t tested much- and folded when pushed a little by a wide-receiver playing qb- but we know there are huge problems over there.

But, the veterans were efficient with the ball. Under Ricard, Tulane is normally plagued by an inability to turn good offense into points- but they did yesterday. Ricard avoided the killer turnover, and Forte had his best game as a collegian. Forte clearly looked to be a pretty improved player in the spring. He’s still not exactly good- but if five one hundred yard rushing games is a sort of success- Ihe probably can give them that.

So maybe instead it was simply darned satisfying. I am sure Scelfo and Ricard and Forte and crew and supporters haven’t enjoyed a bus ride home like that in a long time. Since TCU two years ago I guess? The Green Wave doesn’t win many road SEC games- and man, it was extra special Sunday morning to wander around the ancestral home prior to the Eagles’ game badgering my two brothers and father asking when the last time Pitt won an SEC game down south? Further, if the Houston beat down was a kick in the teeth for the yogwf-ish 7-8 win crowd, this win provides much aid and comfort to the 5-6 win group.

The 3-4 win group (me!) still points grimly at Auburn & LSU.

After the Houston game, I was pretty sanguine. Houston was, again, sort of uniquely designed to torment the Wave- and thus not real indicative of Tulane’s ability level. But conversely, I wrote on Prediction Thursday that Tulane was a pretty strong pick in this spot. Mind you, I didn’t think they’d win- and kudos to those on here who did- but I did write that this was, of the eight games on the schedule Tulane figures to be a touchdown– plus dog, the most winnable.

If you had to design a team Tulane could upset- one that had huge quarterback issues (keep the point total down), distracted (you know they think Tulane is a rent-a-win there) and featuring one of a dozen or so coaches Scelfo could confidently be counted on to out-prepare- well, it would look a lot like Mississippi State. And geez, forget the talent part- Croom is doing himself no favors right now with the way this team actually plays.

So, after two games, the jury is still out. But for Tulane to have a nice season, I think we all agreed it was an utter must to steal one of the these first two. Good for them- they did it. They have checked a key block toward giving themselves a chance.

I had them at three (maybe four)- get three of the toxic Rice, SMU, Marshall and Army collection. So this is one I didn’t figure they’d get- and moves my in-season running total to four solid. I can’t say “maybe five”- because I had “maybe four” as a result of an upset of MSU or Houston or someone other than the SEC heavies.