Counting down ULM's most intriguing games: No. 7
There are two ways to look at ULM’s schedule.
ULM plays six teams — Nicholls State, Tulsa, Idaho, Troy, Hawaii and New Mexico State — that combined for a record of 12-60 last season. Three of those games fall during the first seven weeks of the season.
On the flip side of things, not only does ULM open at Georgia and visit Alabama three weeks later, but the only bye week on the schedule is during the third week of the season. The trip to Tuscaloosa marks the beginning of an 11-game stretch in as many weeks that takes the Warhawks through the regular season finale against New Mexico State.
That doesn’t even include a taxing late November game at Hawaii
Handling the grind from Week 4 through the end of the season at a relatively injury-free pace will determine how things play out for the Warhawks in 2015.
The News-Star will rank the most intriguing games on ULM’s schedule leading up to the season opener at Georgia on September 5.
No. 7 ULM at Tulsa, Oct. 10, TBA
Series history: 1-2
Last meeting: ULM led 17-14 at halftime but were shutout by Tulsa in the second half and lost 35-17 in the 2007 season opener at Malone Stadium. The Warhawk offense sputtered through the air, completing on 7-of-22 attempts for 66 yards and couldn’t compliment a running game that produced 212 yards against the Golden Hurricane.
Key matchup: ULM’s pass offense vs. Tulsa’s secondary. The big play haunted Tulsa’s secondary in 2014. The Golden Hurricane allowed 272.1 yards passing per game and 39 points per game. Despite a rash of injuries in fall camp, wide receiver is a position of strength for ULM with All-Sun Belt selection Rashon Ceaser back for his senior year and junior Ajalen Holley, a second-team all-conference pick.
Why it matters: ULM’s trip to Tulsa has the potential to be the line of demarcation for 2015. A win would give the Warhawks some momentum after games against Georgia, Alabama and Georgia Southern going into the bulk of the Sun Belt schedule. A loss could make Week 6 the annual point where ULM fans check out on the season.
ULM’s most intriguing games of 2015
No. 13 Georgia
No. 12 Hawaii
No. 11 Alabama
No. 10 Nicholls State
No. 9 Idaho
No. 8New Mexico State
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