Starting the season with a 6-2 record wasn’t enough for the Tulane Green Wave to use the momentum and translate it into a two-loss or three-loss season. The Green Wave processed to lose three of their final four games of the season to drop their record to 7-5 on the year.
On the other side of the field, the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns have had a solid season after posting a 9-4 record a season ago. With an 8-4 record on the season, the Ragin’ Cajuns are looking to finish with the same record that they posted a season ago.
Tulane has been extremely lethargic on offense this season, ranking in the bottom-25 in most offensive categories in the nation. The passing offense ranks 104th in the nation behind the arm of junior quarterback Nick Montana who has passed for just 1,654 yards and 14 touchdowns on the year. Running the ball hasn’t been any easier for the Green Wave as their run offense ranks 102nd in the nation behind Orleans Darkwa‘s 780 yards and nine touchdowns on the year. Wide out Ryan Grant leads the team with 926 receiving yards and nine scores on 70 catches.
Louisiana-Lafayette has had a much more impressive offense than Tulane has had this season, ranking 78th in the nation in passing yards per game as well as 26th in the nation in rushing yards per contest. Terrance Broadway is the leader of the offense at quarterback, passing for 2,276 yards and 19 touchdowns while hitting his favorite target, Jamal Robinson, 50 times for 812 yards and eight touchdowns. Alonzo Harris and Elijah McGuire lead the run game with a combined 1,686 yards and 20 combined touchdowns.
Defensively, the Green Wave have made up for their lackluster offense. Tulane ranks 19th in the nation in points allowed per game while also ranking 21st in total yards allowed per contest. Louisiana-Lafayette hasn’t been quite as impressive on defense, ranking 67th in points allowed and 59th in yards allowed per game.
Tulane and Louisiana-Lafayette will face off in the 2013 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl in New Orleans, La., at 9 p.m. EST on Saturday, Dec. 21. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN.
PREDICTION: Tulane 14, Louisiana-Lafayette 31
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].