TCU vs. Tulane
Monday • 7 p.m. • TCU at Tulane • New Orleans
Louisiana Superdome
ESPN • ESPN Radio 103.3 FM
Analysis compiled by Brent Yarina and Braden Howell

PREDICTION:
BRENT YARINA: FROGS 27-14
BRADEN HOWELL: FROGS 34-10

TCU PASSING GAME
QB Tye Gunn will get his first chance to prove that he has fully recovered from his season-ending knee injury. Gunn has looked good in practice but his rehabillitated knee is untested in game situations. The receivers are very inexperienced. Of the seven receivers that could see action only two, senior Bruce Galbert and junior Reggie Harrell, are upperclassman. The 6-foot-3-inch Harrell has made some nice catches in practice, and should have success against the young, undersized Tulane secondary.

TULANE PASS DEFENSE
Tulane lost every starter in the secondary from last year’s team. The new starters had a combined total of four interceptions last season. While the group posses talent, they are still lacking a leader. The Green Wave also lost every starter on the defensive line from last year’s team, making the possibility pressuring Gunn unlikely. If Gunn has time to sit in the pocket, his rehabillitated knee will not even be a factor. With plenty if of time, Gunn, who completed 62.6 percent of his passes last season, will be able to pick apart the young secondary.

SPECIAL TEAMS
If it comes down to a battle of kickers, look for the Frogs to emerge victorious. Lou Groza Award Ccandidate Nick Browne is as consistent as they come, and good in pressure situations. Tulane must rely on inexperienced freshman Barrett Pepper to handle the kicking duties.

TCU RUNNING GAME
Depth is a luxury for the Frogs’ running attack. With Lonta Hobbs returning for his first full year of action, and senior Ricky Madison sharing the repetitions, the Frogs will be able wear down the Tulane defense, providing more possibilities for big plays. If the Tulane defense is able to contain both backs, the Frogs could turn to red shirt freshman Robert Merrill for a change of pace. With three solid options to run the ball against an inexperienced defensive line, the Frogs should have a field day on the ground.

TULANE RUNNING DEFENSE
It could be a rough opener for the Green Wave defense. With the loss of all four starting lineman from last years team, Tulane has four inexperienced lineman going against the powerful TCU running game. Going against the Frogs’ large offensive line will be a good test for the new starters, and serve as a good measuring stick for coach Scelfo; but don’t expect too much too soon.

TCU RUNNING DEFENSE
The defensive line gets the chance to prove they are the strength of the vaunted Frogs defense, going against one of the best offenses in the game. In the middle, Chad Pugh and Richard Evans will be called on to stuff the talented Moore. Linebackers Josh Goolsby and Martin Patterson will need to have an eye on Moore at all times. If Pugh and Evans can keep the offensive lineman off Goolsby and Patterson, the linebackers should have a big day.

TULANE RUNNING GAME
Moore is the nation’s top returning all-purpose back. He is the first player in NCAA Division I-A history to rush for over 1,250 yards, and catch more than 60 passes in a season. If he is able to find the seams in the defense, he has the ability to run all over the Frogs. Senior Kris Coleman excels as a blocking fullback and will pave the way for Moore.

TCU PASS DEFENSE
The Frogs’ secondary gets a tough challange to open the season. Tulane QB J.P. Losman and WR Roydell Williams are going to attack the secondary early, and often. After the departure of the Jason Goss, last season’s leading pass defender, the secondary is looking to prove itself on national television. To help the frogs secondary, defensive ends Bo Schobel and Robert Pollard will need to be in the backfield constantly.

TULANE PASSING GAME
In Losman, Moore, and Williams, the Tulane offense possess three of the most talented players in school history. Losman is considered by many scouts to be the top quarterback in the nation. In 2001, Williams led Conference USA with 11 touchdowns, catching 56 passes for 886 yards. He missed last season due to an ankle injury and will be looking to make a statement in his first game back