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Tulane University sits along the Mississippi river just west of downtown New Orleans. The Green Wave are no strangers to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, home to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. For years, Tulane University has called the Dome home for Green Wave football games. From Lafayette Square, Tulane’s campus is less than 5 miles from the dome via St. Charles Ave.
Fun fact: the Square which sits in the shadow of the Mercedes Dome was named for Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette, a French aristocrat and general who fought for the U.S. in the American Revolutionary War. La Fayette fought far from his native France and made a name for himself on American soil.
This week, Tulane leaves their home to travel to North Louisiana to battle Louisiana Monroe in a Conference USA v. Sun Belt Conference match up. Monroe sits closer to Arkansas than the state’s capital Baton Rouge. Like La Fayette, Tulane is fighting on foreign soil.
The Louisiana Monroe Warhawks are battle tested and fresh off a tough road trip loss. Monroe took it on the chin hard in Texas, losing to Baylor by 63 pts. The retreat from Texas must have been a long one for the boys from Monroe. Louisiana Monroe have fought two top 25 teams in their first 4 weeks after falling to Oklahoma in week one. If they have any fight left in them, they will be bringing it against Tulane.
#RLBowl Week 5 Matchup Predictions
The Green Wave aren’t going to retreat and surrender. Tulane, set to leave the Conference USA after this season, is looking for its first bowl appearance since 1998. Gaining a spot in the R+L Carriers Bowl and playing on a home field would make for a great season finish. Like Monroe, Tulane is coming off a big loss as well. The Green Wave were held to only two touchdowns in the 35 point defeat in Syracuse by the Orangemen.
Monroe’s QB Kolton Browning is averaging over 200 passing yards per game. Last season he rushed for 7 TD’s and is poised to post his first one this week. Tulane’s defense has held their opponents to only a point more than the offense has scored through 4 games. Tulane’s D has had 7 interceptions returned for over 100 yards. They are equally aggressive on fumble recovery. This puts pressure on Kolton who has thrown 6 interceptions already this season .
Monroe’s leader Nick Montana looks strong on paper. Averaging almost 230 passing yards per game and 8 touchdowns by air, he is in the negative for rushing yards. Watch for QB Montana to keep the ball in the air instead of carrying it himself against the Monroe Defensive Line. Tulane’s passing and strong defense points to a close game among these two Louisiana schools.
Matchup History
For some history, in 1824 then President Monroe invited La Fayette to the U.S. where the French hero toured all 24 American states and later became an American citizen. Tulane is looking to make some history in Monroe as well. They are coming to play ball and not as tourists hoping to avenge a big loss against Monroe last year. In 2012, the Warhawks sent the Greenwave a 63-10 retreat. That is fresh in their memory as they both look to improve to a 3-2 season.
You can watch the game on CBS Sports Gametracker, Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. Who are you rooting for? Show your school spirit and cast your vote!
