NCAA Betting Preview: Tulsa Golden Hurricane at UL Monroe Warhawks

Thursday, 30 August 2007

Oddsmakers predict close game between UL Monroe Warhawks and Tulsa Hurricane The Louisana-Monroe Warhawks (Sun Belt Conf.) enter the 2007 season with plenty of confidence and a season opening home date with the Tulsa Golden Hurricane of C-USA to be televised by ESPN2 Thursday night (Aug. 30). Oddsmakers at online sports wagering giant Sportsbook.com have installed the Golden Hurricane a slight road favorite with a -5.0 chalk.

The Hurricane will bring what they hope to be a high-octane no-huddle offense this season and will do so behind the veteran arm of quarterback Paul Smith. The senior gunslinger is experienced and talented and barring an injury he should become the school's all-time leading passer this season. Smith unfortunately, will have a whole new wideout group cutting its teeth versus the Warhawks, as Tulsa suffered the loss of its top three receivers from a year ago. The Hurricane defense welcomes back six starters from last year's unit, which ranked 21st (296.9 ypg) in total defense, and that is good news for Tulsa.

Something will have to give in Thursday’s game because the Warhawks think their defense can stack up with just about any team regardless of what conference they come from. With veterans all along the defensive line and secondary and rising stars at linebacker, the Warhwaks believe they have something to prove. The unit exhibited its penchant for takeaways in each scrimmage during August camp and they know Tulsa’s offense is unproven and vulnerable.

"We know that we're tough and we're experienced," defensive tackle Kendall Mouton said. "We know that we work hard. And we know that we want to win. As a team, as a whole, we're ready to get prepared for that [Tulsa] game. "That's a big game for us. I believe the whole team believes that when we come out here on this new field, we want to make a statement on national TV. We are a good football team. We ought to be respected. We're coming together as a family. We're ready to kick off against Tulsa and get that win."

While confidence abounds from the Warhawks, pundits have them picked to finish in the middle of the pack in the Sun-Belt Conference after coming off a 4-8 campaign in 2006.

Reno Goldberg has inside information on what appears to be a close game between the Warhawks and Golden Hurricane that will give you an edge and a good College Football Wagering beginning for 2007. Click this link to view this pick and other games played on August 30.