Tulane Football: Can Green Wave maintain their momentum in 2020?

How will Tulane football fare in 2020?

Scratched off of Tulane’s schedule is Northwestern. The Green Wave’s trip to Evanston fell victim to the Big Ten’s decision to go to a conference-only schedule, leaving them with only one opportunity to prove themselves against a Power Five opponent. The season is still due to open with FCS Southeastern Louisiana at home, but now there will be a 16-day gap before the Green Wave take on Navy in the early conference opener.

At the end of September, the one true non-conference test on Tulane’s schedule comes to the forefront when the Green Wave travel to Starkville to play Mike Leach’s Mississippi State Bulldogs. After that game, Fritz’s charges get another bye week before diving headlong into conference play.

Trips to Houston and UCF look like dangerous games, and road contests at East Carolina and Tulsa are never easy. The home games in conference play are equally tough, with Tulane facing SMU, Memphis and Temple in New Orleans. Also on the schedule is a home trap late in the season against Army.

What’s next for Tulane?

Tulane needs to come stampeding out of the gate against the Lions in their in-state FBS/FCS duel. This game will set the tone for the rest of the season, as the Green Wave need every win they can if they are going to eke out bowl eligibility this season.

Prediction: 6-5 (4-4 AAC)

The 2020 season projects to be a third straight season of bowl eligibility for the Green Wave, but Willie Fritz’s crew will get there by the seat of their pants. They will be at 2-2 in the standings and 1-1 in conference play after their Thursday-night duel against Houston at the beginning of October. Back-to-back games against SMU and UCF will put Tulane in a deficit, though, but a Halloween victory at home against Temple will provide an opportunity to regain momentum.

Tulane will have to go 3-1 in the final month of the season to reach six wins, a likelihood even if the Green Wave had taken on Northwestern this year. Look for them to reach that mark prior to the regular-season finale against Memphis.

It won’t be a season that puts Tulane in contention for the AAC crown, but if bowl games are held this year the Green Wave will be in position for their first three-bowl run in school history.