Strictly opinion here, and that based on longer range steering that still may be nebulous. A weaker system that could have treked westward through the Greater Antilles could certainly reach the Gulf. Or, a potentially stronger storm having gone more WNW just north of the Greater Antilles could enter the Gulf as well. What I am seeing downstream appears to be a weakening trough which is bent N.E. / S.W. Looks to me that a big building ridge somewhere over the Southern Plains is moving or bridging eastward in time. Timing is everything here. My guess is that even if a storm were in the E. Gulf, that it would seem to have to be steered more westward in such a set up. That would tend to have the W. or N.W. Gulf more at risk. Again, this is assuming a big northerly retreat of the westerlies with a big mid level high over or near Texas. This would be my guess if this were work its way into the Gulf.

Remember, maps and models change, and its only a "best guess" based on current data that may not prove accurate.