2005 Tulane Green Wave Handicapping Review

 

By Tom Wilkinson

 

The Tulane Green Wave have been an extreme case of sports handicapping feast or famine since their 2001 season in which they finished 3-8 against the odds. Tulane has often provided sharp and pointed lessons about sports handicapping value fluctuation. In 2002 they turned the equation all the way around with a 9-3 mark against the odds. In 2003 got the cash in their first three games, only to then lose five consecutive games against the odds before rallying once again to the get money in their final three games of the season. Thus, entering the 2004 campaign, Tulane was a team that, while known as a usual straight up loser, was often more difficult to figure against the odds.

The Green Wave began the 2004 campaign at Mississippi State as 6.5-point dogs and was easily handled 7-28. After a home win in an unlined game against 1-AA Florida A&M, the Wave hosted Southern Miss and as 13.5-point home dogs, lost 14-32. At this point many sports betting bloggers vowed to keep Tulane of their lists of football picks, or to end up taking their opponents.

Tulane slipped under the sports handicapping radar screen in their next game at East Carolina in a matchup the attracted little attention. As 3.5-point dogs, Tulane got the cash in a 25-27 loss. In their next game, however, at Memphis, it was business as usual as the Green Wave was clobbered 24-49 as 23.5-dogs to fall to 1-3 against the odds while posting just one straight up win over a 1-AA opponent.

Tulane next hosted up and coming Alabama-Birmingham in their homecoming game and was installed as a whopping 18-point dog, winning the game in a stunning upset 59-55. This was a classic lesson in sports handicapping value and on the risks of laying big numbers on the road with mid-majors that are emerging as good teams, but yet to fully arrive.

After an uninspired 3-24 loss at Houston as 9.5-point dogs, Tulane would stun many members of the sports handicapping community with a streak of three wins both straight up and against the odds, which improved their record to 5-5 straight up and 5-4 against the line heading into their season finale at home against Louisville. While Tulane was playing for a bowl, Louisville was playing for a possible at large BCS berth. Tulane was bombed 7-55 as 30.5-point home dogs.