Louisiana @ Tulsa preview

A week after getting blown out by nationally ranked Oklahoma State, Tulsa opens its home schedule against Louisiana on Saturday. Coach Philip Montgomery and the Golden Hurricane will look for a better result and will try to extend their streak of victories in home openers to six against the Ragin' Cajuns.

The biggest question for the Golden Hurricane is who will be under center at the start of the game after sophomore Chad President wasn't confirmed as the opening week starter until he took the field with the offense. President played all but two series against Oklahoma State, passing for 178 yards and rushing for 69 more, but Luke Skipper got in for those two series and Montgomery continues to say the competition is open. One big positive in the opener was the play of sophomore running back Corey Taylor II, who came into the contest with four career rushing yards but finished with 111 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Louisiana comes into the contest off a wild 51-48 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in which the two teams combined for 877 yards of total offense.

TV: 4 p.m. ET. ESPN3. LINE: Tulsa -14

ABOUT LOUISIANA (1-0): While the Ragin' Cajuns put 51 points on the board in their opener, they needed two kickoff returns for touchdowns to reach that mark. That means quarterback Jordan Davis needs to show more than he did in his first game as the team's starter under center, when he was 12-of-23 for 162 yards and one touchdown. Davis did admit to some nerves and he had one big play ruined by a dropped pass, but if the Ragin' Cajuns are going to compete consistently, Davis is going to have to be a leader and keep the team's offense moving the ball.

ABOUT TULSA (0-1): Though it came against one of the top offenses in the country, Tulsa's defensive effort against Oklahoma State in the opener left a lot to be desired. The Cowboys had 453 yards of offense in the first half alone, including a pair of touchdowns of more than 70 yards, and finished with 640 yards of total offense. Montgomery's team will certainly be better this week against Louisiana, but it must be consistently better, especially in the secondary, if the Golden Hurricane is going to compete for a bowl berth.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Louisiana RB Raymond Calais Jr. returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in the opener against Southeastern Louisiana, only the 20th time in FBS history that feat has been accomplished.

2. Tulsa LB McKinley Whitfield had a career-high 10 tackles against Oklahoma State in his first game since moving from safety in the offseason.

3. The Golden Hurricane is 12-5 in home openers since the 2000 season.

PREDICTION: Tulsa 35, Louisiana 24