Game Analysis

WAKE FOREST (-15)  28   Tulane  11

Wake Forest is steadily getting better offensively under 3^rd year head coach Dave Clawson and the Demon Deacons’ defense is ready to take the next step from solid to good this season. Wake is certainly not going to be a juggernaut offensively but junior quarterback John Wolfword is a decent talent and the Demon Deacons should be much better in the passing game with all but one of last year’s top receivers returning. I still rate the Wake attack well below average but overall the Demon Deacons are pretty close to an average FBS team if their defense plays as well as expected.

Tulane fans are hoping that Willie Fritz can do for them what he did for fledgling FBS newbie Georgia Southern the last two years. Georgia Southern was 9-3 in their first season of FBS play and won the Sun Belt Conference with 9 more wins last season. While Fritz is a good hire I think it will take time more time for Tulane to succeed. Georgia Southern was already built for his option offense while Tulane’s personnel was recruited to run a pro style attack. That transition can be ugly and I expect growing pains this season before Fritz’ recruits can make an impact in the next couple of years. The offense may not be horrible but it will probably take some time.

Tulane does have an experienced defense with some potential to be decent this season but my ratings still favor Wake Forest by 16 points in this game and Tulane applies to a 14-38-1 ATS week 1 new head coach situation. Slight lean with Wake but not worthy of any sort of investment.