The 2019 football season is nearly upon us, and for the Tulane Green Wave their 2019 campaign kicks off at home on Thursday, August 29th 7pm CT against the Florida International Panthers out of Conference USA.
Last season, the Green Wave and Panthers faced off for the first time in the history of both schools. FIU beat the Wave by a score of 23-10 led by school record breaking QB James Morgan. The Panthers finished the 2018 season with an overall record of 9-4 (6-2) including a 35-32 victory in the Bahamas bowl against the Toledo Rockets.
Tulane is coming off their best season since 2013, posting a 7-6 (5-3) overall record, while also winning the AutoNation Cure Bowl against Louisiana 41-24, the Green Wave’s first bowl win since 2002.
Head Coach Willie Fritz and his squad will look to continue its train of success into the 2019 season on the backbone of its young, but very stout defense. Defensively, the Green Wave should show even more improvement, especially in the turnover department where they accounted for 12 interceptions and 6 fumble recoveries.
Offensively, Tulane regressed in Fritz’s 3rd year as Head Coach, but later found resurgence with grad-transfer QB Justin McMillan. If McMillan keeps showing the same promise in the later half of the 2018 season, Tulane can provide its young defensive core ample time to rest, furthering their defensive production and aggressively competing in every game for 2019, including huge matchups against Auburn, Army, and UCF.
In regards to the season opener against FIU, look for Tulane’s tenacious defense to hold the FIU rushing attack in check, a core that was extremely hit-or-miss last year. The key matchup to watch will be how the Wave’s young, but talented, DBs can defend against an extremely aggressive passing attack in Coach Butch Davis’s offense for the Panthers. Tulane’s ability to defend through the air can be the deciding factor in the game, as their front 7 should hold the FIU rushing attack in check for most of the night.
Tulane Keys to Victory:
- Hold FIU standout QB James Morgan in check through the air.
- Establish run game early to open up easy passing lanes for QB Justin McMillan.
- Continue forcing takeaways and points off turnovers to take burden away from offense.
Key Returners
- QB Justin McMillan– 1,304 passing yds (79-157 ATT) 51.3% 10 TD 4 INT
- RB Darius Bradwell– 1,134 rushing yards (200 ATT) 5.6 AVG 11 TD
- WR Darnell Mooney– 993 receiving yards (48 REC) 20.7 AVG 8 TD
- DE Patrick Johnson– 50 TKL 10.5 Sacks 4 Forced Fumbles
- DB P.J. Hall– 46 TKL 1 INT 1 Forced Fumble 1 Fumble Rec. 9 Passes Defended
Prediction: Tulane 28, FIU 24
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