Tulane @ Navy preview
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2016 ) Navy 21, Tulane 14
Quarterbacks Zach Abey of Navy and Jonathan Banks of Tulane look to build on their season-opening successes when the Midshipmen host the Green Wave on Saturday in Annapolis, Md., in the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams. Abey, a junior, proved he's capable of orchestrating one of the most potent rushing attacks while Jonathan Banks made a smooth transition from junior college in his first career FBS start.
Abey put his name in the school record books in the 42-19 opening victory at Florida Atlantic, becoming the first quarterback in program history to rush for more than 200 yards (235) and pass for at least 100 yards (110) in a game. Abey, who started the final two games of last season, was named AAC co-offensive player of the week after rushing for two touchdowns and passing for another. Banks, a junior college transfer from Kansas, made a big impact for the Green Wave. Banks threw for 185 yards and three touchdowns on 10-for-15 passing while adding another touchdown and 69 yards on the ground in a 43-14 victory against Grambling State. "I thought our quarterback showed a lot of poise for his first Division I game,'' Tulane coach Willie Fritz told reporters. "He threw the ball well and did a good job of reading the option - when to give, when to pitch, when to run it himself. He had an outstanding game.''
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Navy -13.5
ABOUT NAVY (1-0): The Midshipmen finished with 526 yards of total offense, which included 416 yards on the ground -- only the 42nd-most in program history. Abey put his best foot forward to show he's ready to run the offense full time, though some areas need to be polished. "Zach did a lot of good things,'' Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo told the Capital Gazette. "But he knows he has a lot of room for improvement.''
ABOUT TULANE (1-0): After finishing third in the conference and tied for 34th nationally in total defense in 2016, Tulane opened the 2017 campaign by limiting Grambling State to 225 yards of total offense. Junior corner back Donnie Lewis, Jr., set the tone with his third career interception in the first half. Dontrell Hilliard, Terren Encalade and Darius Bradwell provide Banks with plenty of options as each caught a touchdown pass.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Navy is 8-1 in home openers under Niumatalolo with the only loss coming in 2014 to Rutgers.
2. After finishing last season with a 28 percent success rate on third-down conversions, Tulane went 7-for-11 against Grambling State.
3. Navy is 14-2 in AAC regular-season games since joining the conference in 2015.PREDICTION: Navy 28, Tulane 24