Tulane vs UMass Preview and Prediction

The Tulane Green Wave football team (2-2) travels up to the New England area just outside of Boston this evening, as they face the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Minutemen (1-3). Here’s our quick Preview and Prediction…..

WHO: Green Wave (2-2) vs UMass Minutemen (1-3)

WHEN: Saturday, Oct.1st, 3 p.m. Eastern time

WHERE: Warren P. McGuirk Alumni Stadium – Hadley, Mass.

TV: ESPN 3

Series: First-Ever Meeting

Tough Road: Tulane is 2-8 in its last 10 road games

The Green Wave are coming off a 2-1 homestand with an exciting quadruple overtime 41-39 win over in-state rivals the University of Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns’.

The Minute Men are on a 4 game home stand, this game was originally slated for Gillette Stadium (where UMass plays occasionally), but UMass changed the venue to Warren P. McGuirk Alumni Stadium to accommodate the Homecoming crowd.

The Minutemen are coming off a 47-35 loss to Mississippi State, where UMass gave up 28 third quarter points.

In last week’s wild quadruple overtime victory over ULL, Tulane was able to do what they hadn’t done well all season: finish the game.

Sep 17, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tulane Green Wave head coach Willie Fritz reacts to a turnover against the Navy Midshipmen in the second half at Yulman Stadium. Navy defeated Tulane 21-14. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

The Green Wave had an effective passing game, and it allowed them to score often in the second half.

The Green Wave scored 10  third quarter points against the Ragin’ Cajuns, but was held scoreless in the 4th quarter. But Tulane was able to erupt for a total of 25 points in quadruple overtime.

One major concern is that Tulane was 0-16 on third down, which normally would sink a team, but the defense rose to the occasion with 4 turnovers. The victory was Tulane’s first ever four-overtime game in program history and ironically, Louisiana-Lafayette’s third 4-OT contest.

Tulane QB Glen Cuiellette — who hadn’t thrown a single TD in the first 3 games — threw 4 against the Ragin’ Cajuns; including the decisive 7 yard TD to Terren Encalade, and Kendall Ardoin caught the 2pt conversion pass.

Sep 1, 2016; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Tulane Green Wave quarterback Glen Cuiellette (14) watches a replay in the third quarter against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at BB&T Field. Wake defeated Tulane 7-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Cuilette, who was 10 of 23 for 165 yards passing, finished with 4TD’s and 1 interception.  Two of Cuilette’s TD strikes of 27 and 34 yards went  to Terren Encalade. He also threw a 25-yard TD pass to Darnell Mooney.

Cuillette on the win and being named the starter again:

"“I did lose my confidence,”.“I didn’t show it, but you could tell. I’m passionate about what I do, so it’s going to eat at me a little bit. I would be in my bed at night just thinking ‘Am I ever going to get another chance?, like I just don’t have any shot now.’”“I went down on my knees,”“I was in tears really. I said to myself, ‘You’ve worked two hard, long years, just grinding in the hot sun, just running all the time with my teammates and doing extra afterward when no one wanted to throw. Throwing in the net, just working on something.’ And just seeing all that pay off in a big win like this is unreal.” “It’s something I will never forget.”"

Tulane Kicker Andrew DiRocco, who was named AAC Special Teams Player of the Week for his 4FG’s. Andrew DiRocco scored 10 points of the Green Wave’s first 16 points and help keep the Ragin’Cajuns close.

The Green Wave Defense focus was on Ragin Cajun’s running back Elijah McGuire. McQuire led ULL with 3 total TD’s scored on a pair of 1 yard runs, and a 22 yard TD pass.

Tulane’s defense once again rose to the occasion

, and was able to stifle the Ragin Cajuns run game to 2.1 yards per carry; including 38 rushes for 89 yards for McQuire. The defense also forced 4 turnovers and LSU transfer QB Anthony Jennings completed only 50% of his passes.

UMass is an FBS independent and has shown a willingness to schedule tough opponents.

Sep 24, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; Massachusetts Minutemen head coach Mark Whipple reacts during the third quarter against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Gillette Stadium. Mississippi State won 47-35. Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The 1-3 Minutemen have played 2 SEC teams (Florida and Miss. State), and one ACC team, annual in-state rival Boston College. The Minutemen’s lone win came against Florida International Univeristy, 21-13.

Last week against Miss.State, UMass led at the half 14-13. Their poor performance in the 3rd quarter was the undoing of any upset possibility.

UMass gave up 28 points in the 3rd quarter, which led to a 47-35 loss. Against Miss. State, the Minutemen defense gave up a whopping 598 yards in total offense (299 rushing, 299 passing).

The Minutemen offense is led by Virginia Tech transfer QB Andrew Ford.

Sep 24, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; Massachusetts Minutemen quarterback Andrew Ford (7) makes a pass while defended by Mississippi State Bulldogs line backer Richie Brown (39) during the third quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mississippi State won 47-35. Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Ford this year has completed 63% of his passes, for 551 yards, 7 TD’s and 4 interceptions. Miss. State forced Ford into 3 of those interceptions last week.

RB Marquis Young is a versatile offensive threat for the Minutemen. UMass will try to find as many touches as Young can handle.

Da’Sean Downey leads the Minutemen defense.

Downey a junior is very active and disruptive. Downey has accumulated 3 forced fumbles, 4 sacks, and 19 tackles. The Green Wave offense can use hopefully Downey’s aggression against him.

Sep 24, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs running back Ashton Shumpert (32) is tackled by Massachusetts Minutemen safety Jesse Monteiro (27) and line backer Da

On the backend, safety Tedrick Lowery — who has a sack — is the UMass team leader with 30 tackles. Lowery can play in the box or centerfield, and is essentially the Minutemen’s “eraser” on defense.

Offensive Rankings (out of 128 FBS schools):

Tulane (#121)  at 284 yards per game

UMass (# 125) at 278 yards per game

Defensive Rankings:

Tulane (#16)  at 299 yards per game

Umass (#61) at 405 yards per game

Turnover margin:

Tulane  at plus 7

UMass at minus 3

FINAL ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION:

Both offenses have played poorly and are inconsistent. However, the Green Wave has the better defense and Special Teams.

The Minutemen, who are playing a “Homecoming” game this week, will keep it close. But the Tulane offense wears down the Minutemen defense, and the Green Wave defense gets at least 2 turnovers.

Tulane spoils “Homecoming” for the Minutemen, and the cries of ROLL WAVE! reverberate all the way back to NOLA…..

TULANE 31, UMASS 23……