Looking ahead to Tulane’s bowl matchup with Nevada

Tulane has made 13 appearances in bowl games, winning six including the last two. The Green Wave is on a collision course with the Nevada Wolf Pack. The programs meet December 22 at 12:30 p.m. Central at Albertsons Stadium in Boise at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

The Green Wave locked up third straight six-win regular season with a 35-21 decision over Memphis in the season finale.
There are quite a few intriguing storylines for this matchup.

Tulane is averaging 35.3 points per outing, ranking 22nd nationally. Nevada produces 29.8 points per game. The Wave allows 27.1 points to opponents while the Wolfpack produces 22.8 points.

The rushing attack is Tulane’s bread and butter. Averaging 218 yards per contest, the more pass oriented Nevada manages to run for 111.5 yards per game. The Green Wave throw for 177.4 yards each week on average; Nevada (10th ranked nationally) tosses for 325 yards each game.

Both defenses have been somewhat liberal, allowing opponents success through the air in potent passing conferences. On the flip side, Tulane is successful 34.3% of the time on third down, and Nevada is an impressive 42.3% on third down.

The Wave paces the AAC with 38 sacks which ties them for second nationally with Clemson. Nevada has just 15 sacks defensively. Tulane finished strong winning four of their final five games.

The Greenies ground attack is led by three backs who complement each other so well. The 5-foot-9, 190-pound senior Stephon Huderson, 230-pound sophomore Cameron Carroll and electric junior Amare Jones. Huderson leads the trio with 721 yards (6.1 yard average) and adds four rushing scores while Carroll is the best scoring option with 621 yards (5.5 yard average) and a team-high 11 touchdowns. The versatile Jones has compiled 389 yards rushing (5.8/carry) and two scores.

The triggerman is true freshman Michael Pratt, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound slinger has totaled 1,638 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions, completing 55.9% of his throws. He has demonstrated consistent improvement as the ’20 campaign progressed, tallying 14 TD passes in the final six games.

Pratt’s primary targets including junior Duece Watts (6-3, 200), who has 31 grabs for 512 yards and six scores, and sophomore Jha’Quan Jackson (5-10, 170) with 29 catches for 356 yards and six touchdowns.

Tulane’s front line defensively is the strength, but the linebackers are solid. Dorian Williams (6-1, 220, sophomore) leads the team with 84 stops, 14.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Nick Anderson (5-11, 235, Jr.) with 79 tackles, 10.5 TFLs and 3.5 sacks. Marvin Moody (6-2, 235), a senior, chips in with 68 tackles and 6.5 tackles.

Stalwart defensive ends Patrick Johnson (6-2, 250, Sr.) and Cameron Sample (6-3, 280, Sr.) are a dangerous tandem.

Johnson has racked up 10 sacks and 14.5 TFLs while Sample has managed five sacks and 7.5 TFLs. Interior performers include nose tackle Jeffery Johnson (6-3, 320, Jr.) with six TFLs and 3.5 sacks as well as DeAndre Williams (6-3, 290, Sr.) with 4.5 TFLs.

On the back end, cornerback Jaylon Monroe ( 5’9-175, Sr.) was a ball hawk, deflecting 9 passes. Safety Larry Brooks ( 6’0-200, Jr.) pilfered 3 passes.

So what type of opponent will Tulane be facing in the Nevada Wolf Pack?

The Pack finished 6-2 in the Mountain West and just missed playing in the conference title game following a winnable loss to San Jose State last week. Nevada started the season with five consecutive wins. Head coach Jay Norvell, in his fourth season, is 24-22 overall. He is a great offensive mind, having worked with Peyton Manning on the Colts staff 1998-2001.

Norvell is being considered for a few current head coaching openings around the country. If he happens to accept one of those offers prior to game time, look for Matt Mumme to operate the offense. Mumme is a disciple of the “Air Raid” attack that his dad, Hal Mumme, ran while the head coach at Kentucky and Southeastern Louisiana. He re-started the Lions’ program in 2003. Matt served in Hammond where quarterback Martin Hankins threw for an impressive 7,777 yards and 65 yards in 2003-’04.

Nevada quarterback Carson Strong (6-4, 218, Soph.) is very cool under pressure. The native of Vacaville, Calif. operates the Pack Attack. He started as a redshirt freshman in 2019 and is currently a team captain. Strong threw for 2,967 yards, 22 touchdowns and only four interceptions, completing 69% of his tosses in their eight games.

The Wolf Pack backup quarterback is a noteworthy prospect from Louisiana. Nate Cox, a 6-foot-9, 240p ounder, prepped at St. Thomas More in Lafayette where he set a state title game record with 447 yards and six touchdowns in a 54-29 win over Parkview Baptist in 2016. He initially walked on at Louisiana Tech and then transferred to Garden City JUCO before landing at Nevada.

Running back Toa Taua (5-9, 209) averages 6.1 yards per carry with three touchdowns but is often an option out of the backfield. Devonta Lee (5-9, 235) is called a “Rhino runner, a hard-nosed, between-the-tackles rusher who averages five yards a pop with a pair of scores.

Wideout Romeo Doubs (6-2, 200, Jr.) is the 10th rated receiver in the country. With 4.4 speed, he is the Wolf Pack’s top receiver as well as an exceptional punt returner. He has 53 grabs on the season for 960 yards and nine touchdowns. The Los Angeles native drew interest from USC and Oregon coming out of high school. He is a super talent.

Tight end Cole Turner (6-6, 240, Jr.) is a converted receiver. He has tacked nearly 50 pounds on his frame the past two years. Turner had 44 catches for 545 yards and seven scores this season. He tallied seven grabs for 119 yards against Wyoming.

Linebacker Lawson Hall (6-0, 235, Sr.), Nevada’s team captain, paces the defense with 56 tackles, 6.5 TFLs and a sack. He recorded 10 stops against both Hawaii and New Mexico.

Sam Hammond (6-5, 275, Sr.) was a walk-on in 2016. Now a team captain, the versatile tackle and end is a leader on defense. Very athletic and tough to block, Hammond possesses a hot motor. He will line up inside or outside. He has 7.5 TFLs, four sacks and two interceptions.

Dom Peterson (6-0, 300, Jr.) is an NFL prospect. He has 12 career sacks and 25.5 TFLs. Peterson plays with energy and a chip on his shoulder.

Cornerback E.J. Muhammad (5-11, 195, Sr.) from DeSoto, Texas was granted a sixth season due to medical hardship this season. He has 35 game appearances with 26 starts. Blessed with excellent ball skills, he is a good cover corner.

Berdale Robins (5-9, 170, Sr.) lines up at corner. He has four interceptions for his career.

It will be a reward for Tulane, earning their third consecutive trip to postseason play and a worthy challenge to gauge just where the program is headed.