Tulane, LSU teams defy Vegas odds; you can book it

By Ed Daniels
Clarion Herald Sports

So much for predictions.

In July, according to the Westgate Super Book in Las Vegas, the total on Tulane victories was 6. You could bet the over or the under.

That same book had the LSU win total at 6.5.

Fast forward three months later, and Tulane and LSU are two of the best stories in college football this season.

Tulane has a challenging schedule ahead that includes Central Florida at home and a road game at Cincinnati.

But, as the calendar turns to November, Tulane has a chance to play in a New Year’s Six Bowl game.

A New Year’s Day Bowl game hasn’t happened for the Green Wave since it lost to eventual national champion Texas A&M in the Jan. 1, 1940, Sugar Bowl.

When LSU was drubbed at home by Tennessee in early October, Tiger fans were hoping for a winning season.

Instead, the Tigers picked themselves off the deck with a win at Florida followed by their most impressive effort of the season, a 45-20 drubbing of then-No. 7 Ole Miss.

Did Brian Kelly see the turnaround coming?

“I coached a bad game (against Tennessee),” said Kelly.

Kelly said after looking at the tape, his team was not nearly as bad as it looked in a 40-13 loss. He was right.

LSU and Tulane have similarities.

Their head coaches, Kelly and Willie Fritz have both left their 60th birthdays in the rearview mirror: Kelly turned 61 Oct. 25; Fritz turned 62 in April.

Both have outstanding quarterbacks.

LSU’s Jayden Daniels has played like a Heisman Trophy candidate the past two weeks. In wins over the Gators and Rebels, Daniels has completed 44 of 60 passes, five for touchdowns.

Daniels has rushed for six scores in the last two games, setting a TD rushing record for an LSU quarterback in a single season with nine.

In wins over South Florida and Memphis, Michael Pratt has completed 43 of 65 passes, three for touchdowns. He has also rushed for three touchdowns in those victories.

Both teams have strikers as defensive backs. The 100,000 at Tiger Stadium reacted with a collective ooohhh as Jay Ward rocked Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart with a big hit in the first half at Tiger Stadium.

Tulane’s Macon Clark, a senior from Destrehan, is in the midst of a potential All-America season. Clark has two interceptions and three forced fumbles. His hit last Saturday before a sellout crowd at Yulman Stadium, forced a fumble that halted a Memphis drive.

Both clubs appear to have bright futures. LSU starts two true freshmen at tackle, Will Campbell and Emery Jones. The Tigers also start a true freshman, Mason Taylor, at tight end.

Tulane, with Pratt and running back Tyjae Spears, could be in a position to again contend for a league title in 2023, especially with Central Florida, Houston and Cincinnati departing for the Big 12.

On social media, LSU posted a video of Brian Kelly telling his team, “October is for pretenders; November is for contenders.”

As the calendar turns to the 11th month, two nationally ranked clubs plan to be the latter.

Ed Daniels is sports director at ABC26 WGNO. He can be reached at [email protected].