Okay, here's the deal: to hit New Orleans with the eye will require a near 45 degree left turn immediately. Yes, everything from NOLA (maybe even Red Stick) to past Fort Walton Beach is gonna significantly feel this. Hurricane force winds will go from NOLA to Pensacola.
The current longitude of the eye's center is still just at the Miss/Ala border, and in this intellicast view, I see it moving almost due north -- maybe 5 degrees left of that.
That border region is still most likely the target, though it could hang out to Gulfport or Biloxi.
I concur with your assessment. Is Cantore in Pascagoula yet?