EXPERT: Larry Ness
TITLE: Larry's LEGEND Play-CFB (11-3 in CFB s/'05)
REASON FOR PICK: Tulane opened the '08 season with two impressive games. The Green Wave 'hung tough' at Alabama in their season opener, losing 20-6 to the team which enters this weekend 11-0 and No. 1 in every poll, as well as being No. 1 in the BCS standings. Tulane then almost upset East Carolina (lost 28-24) on September 13, a team which came in ranked No. 14 at the time, after opening its season with wins over then-No. 17 Va Tech and then-No.8 West Va. Tulane evened its record at 2-2 with wins over Louisiana-Monroe and SMU but Tulane never recovered after losing 44-13 at home (as 27-point favorites!) to an Army team on a 10-game losing streak. Tulane enters this game on a seven-game losing streak (2-5 ATS), having been outscored 284-106 (just one loss has come by less than 17 points). The Green Wave have been hit hard by injuries, none more devastating than the loss of RB Andre Anderson. From Sep 20-Oct 18, Anderson averaged 184.5 YPG (6.0 YPC) over Tulane's four games. However, since being lost for the season due to a dislocated shoulder, the Green Wave have averaged a miniscule 76.0 YPG (2.6 YPC) on the ground over their last four games as an entire team. QB Kevin Moore has three TD passes and seven INTs during the team's seven-game losing streak with five INTs and just one TD over the team's last five games (118 attempts). The defense has allowed 40.6 PPG during its seven-game slide and over the last three games, has allowed 570.7 YPG (46.3 PPG). I think you may have guessed that I'm NOT taking the points with Tulane. Memphis opened 0-3 but evened its record at 3-3. However, on a Friday night at home vs Louisville (Oct 10), the Tigers dominated Louisville in the boxscore (481 yards to 299) but lost, 35-28. The Cards scored on a 95 KO return plus returned two fumbles for TDs, including the game-winner in the fourth quarter. After all that, the Green Wave had pulled to within striking distance of first place in the C-USA East Division heading into last week's home game but lost 28-21 to UCF, falling out of contention. QB Arkelon Hall returned in that game and had a tough time against a solid UCF secondary, completing 15-of-35 passes for 183 yards (one TD / one INT), while rushing for 42 yards. Memphis outgained UCF 305-194 in yards and held them to just 10 FDs. Head coach Tommy West is in his eighth year at Memphis and he's led the Tigers to bowl games in FOUR of the last five seasons. Memphis can become bowl-eligible with a win here (although at 6-6, would surely not be guaranteed one) and I expect a good effort here against hapless and injury-riddled Tulane. RB Curtis Steele (1,040 yards / 5.7 YPC) was battling an illness last week, as he ran for only 38 yards on 15 carries. However, West said at his weekly press conference that he thinks Steele (hamstring) will be 100 percent this week and that QB Hall was basically "working off the rust" last week. Tulane's rush D allows a pathetic 203.8 YPG (5.7 YPC) so Steele should get "healthy in a hurry," while Hall should have little trouble vs the Green Wave pass D. Tulane only allows 178.6 YPG in the air (teams are too busy running the ball) but allows 63.0 percent completions, while giving up 18 TDs against just nine INTs. Memphis may not be bowl-bound even if it wins here but Tulane just doesn't have enough 'fight' left. LEGEND Play on Memphis (10*).
TITLE: Larry's LEGEND Play-CFB (11-3 in CFB s/'05)
REASON FOR PICK: Tulane opened the '08 season with two impressive games. The Green Wave 'hung tough' at Alabama in their season opener, losing 20-6 to the team which enters this weekend 11-0 and No. 1 in every poll, as well as being No. 1 in the BCS standings. Tulane then almost upset East Carolina (lost 28-24) on September 13, a team which came in ranked No. 14 at the time, after opening its season with wins over then-No. 17 Va Tech and then-No.8 West Va. Tulane evened its record at 2-2 with wins over Louisiana-Monroe and SMU but Tulane never recovered after losing 44-13 at home (as 27-point favorites!) to an Army team on a 10-game losing streak. Tulane enters this game on a seven-game losing streak (2-5 ATS), having been outscored 284-106 (just one loss has come by less than 17 points). The Green Wave have been hit hard by injuries, none more devastating than the loss of RB Andre Anderson. From Sep 20-Oct 18, Anderson averaged 184.5 YPG (6.0 YPC) over Tulane's four games. However, since being lost for the season due to a dislocated shoulder, the Green Wave have averaged a miniscule 76.0 YPG (2.6 YPC) on the ground over their last four games as an entire team. QB Kevin Moore has three TD passes and seven INTs during the team's seven-game losing streak with five INTs and just one TD over the team's last five games (118 attempts). The defense has allowed 40.6 PPG during its seven-game slide and over the last three games, has allowed 570.7 YPG (46.3 PPG). I think you may have guessed that I'm NOT taking the points with Tulane. Memphis opened 0-3 but evened its record at 3-3. However, on a Friday night at home vs Louisville (Oct 10), the Tigers dominated Louisville in the boxscore (481 yards to 299) but lost, 35-28. The Cards scored on a 95 KO return plus returned two fumbles for TDs, including the game-winner in the fourth quarter. After all that, the Green Wave had pulled to within striking distance of first place in the C-USA East Division heading into last week's home game but lost 28-21 to UCF, falling out of contention. QB Arkelon Hall returned in that game and had a tough time against a solid UCF secondary, completing 15-of-35 passes for 183 yards (one TD / one INT), while rushing for 42 yards. Memphis outgained UCF 305-194 in yards and held them to just 10 FDs. Head coach Tommy West is in his eighth year at Memphis and he's led the Tigers to bowl games in FOUR of the last five seasons. Memphis can become bowl-eligible with a win here (although at 6-6, would surely not be guaranteed one) and I expect a good effort here against hapless and injury-riddled Tulane. RB Curtis Steele (1,040 yards / 5.7 YPC) was battling an illness last week, as he ran for only 38 yards on 15 carries. However, West said at his weekly press conference that he thinks Steele (hamstring) will be 100 percent this week and that QB Hall was basically "working off the rust" last week. Tulane's rush D allows a pathetic 203.8 YPG (5.7 YPC) so Steele should get "healthy in a hurry," while Hall should have little trouble vs the Green Wave pass D. Tulane only allows 178.6 YPG in the air (teams are too busy running the ball) but allows 63.0 percent completions, while giving up 18 TDs against just nine INTs. Memphis may not be bowl-bound even if it wins here but Tulane just doesn't have enough 'fight' left. LEGEND Play on Memphis (10*).
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