Tulane Means Football!

The 2007 Tulane University Football Schedule is out:

Sept. 8 Mississippi State
Sept. 15 Houston
Sept. 22 Southeastern Louisiana
Sept. 29 LSU (ESPN)
Oct. 6 at Army
Oct. 13 at UAB
Oct. 20 at SMU
Oct. 27 Memphis
Nov. 3 Tulsa
Nov. 10 UTEP
Nov. 17 at Rice
Nov. 24 at East Carolina

Certainly an easier mix than last year: Southeastern, Memphis and East Carolina replacing Auburn, Southern Mississippi and UCF. Tulane had no chance in two of those three last year, probably wouldn’t this year either. Replacing two sure losses and a toss up with two toss-ups and probable win is helpful.

It is really hard, with a new coach, new quarterback and defense that ought to remain prone for the most part, to see them getting any of that opening four game homestand other than Southeastern. Mississippi State is certainly an upset candidate- but that is just that- it would be a surprise. And Houston is what passes for the class of C-USA.

That makes the Army game an important one- a true salvage the season game. Seven conference games follow. I dunno. It is unfortunate two of their three home games are Tulsa and UTEP; I doubt they can beat either- and some of those road games become a lot more do-able on our fast track: Rice, SMU and East Carolina. Frankly though, Tulane hasn’t played .500 in the League since Bowden left- and I am not real encouraged they will do so this year.

Today, I can’t see more than three wins out of the last eight conference games plus Army. That is four or so overall. But C-USA is a pretty bad League, so the number could change when we’ve seen the quarterbacks- close eyes, sigh- this spring.