Tulsa @ Tulane preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 22, 2016 ) Tulane 27, Tulsa 50

Tulane prides itself on being able to run the ball and should see the lanes open this week, when it hosts Tulsa on Saturday. The Golden Hurricane faced a similar offense in a home loss to Navy last week and are trying to avoid a four-game slide and sole possession of last place in the American Athletic Conference's West Division.

Tulsa is surrendering an average of 319.8 yards on the ground, the worst mark among FBS schools, and was gashed for 421 rushing yards in the 31-21 setback against the Midshipmen last week while playing with an injury-depleted group. “We have basically four guys that started the season that aren't out there, and then we got some backups to those guys that aren't out there," Golden Hurricane coach Philip Montgomery told reporters of his defense after the loss to Navy. "We've got a lot of young guys out there playing. I thought they played extremely well. Those guys up front, you look at the guys that are rotating in, and especially on the interior, I'm not sure the oldest one is not a true sophomore." The Green Wave will attack that defense with a rushing offense that averages 244.3 yards and has yet to lose at home after outlasting Army 21-17 in their last game on Sept. 23. Dontrell Hilliard posted his second straight 100-yard effort with 134 yards in the win and is averaging 5.8 yards per carry.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Tulane -4.5

ABOUT TULSA (1-4): The Golden Hurricane might not be able to stop the run with their defense, but they can roll up yards on the ground with their offense. Tulsa's rushing attack is even better than Tulane's at an average of 295 yards and senior D'Angelo Brewer leads the way with 643 yards and six touchdowns. Quarterback Chad President only owns two passing TDs but ran in for five scores and leads the team with an average of 7.8 yards per carry.

ABOUT TULANE (2-2): The Green Wave got a week off after winning a bruising battle with Army and will try to get an offense that features five different players with at least 115 rushing yards on the season into gear after it topped out at 21 points in the last three games. Hilliard leads the way but fellow senior Sherman Baddie is becoming a big-play threat in the running game and is averaging 7.8 yards per carry. Baddie carried only twice in the win over Army but one was a 72-yard TD scamper that put Tulane in front at the half.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Tulane S Roderic Teamer is third in FBS with seven sacks.

2. The Green Wave have lost only two turnovers on the season.

3. Tulsa took the last three meetings in the series, including a 50-27 win last season.

PREDICTION: Tulane 24, Tulsa 21