Houston @ Tulsa preview
Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 15, 2016 ) Tulsa 31, Houston 38
Tulsa is searching for consistency as it prepares to host Houston in American Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon. Redshirt freshman Luke Skipper replaced starting quarterback Chad President during the first quarter of last week's loss at Tulane but coach Philip Montgomery hasn't named a starter for the Houston game.
"We'll just see how it al plays out," Montgomery told the media Tuesday. "I thought (Skipper) came in and did some nice things. His play is just like everybody else's - it's got to be more consistent across the board." Tulsa has a strong running game but has allowed 93 points in back-to-back conference losses. Houston seems to have answered its own quarterback questions, winning two straight behind Kyle Postma after starting the year with Texas A&M transfer Kyle Allen. Duke Catalon handled the majority of the carries in last week's 35-22 win over SMU and nearly matched his season total with 177 rushing yards.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, ESPNews. LINE: Houston -13
ABOUT HOUSTON (4-1, 2-0 AAC): Postma (547 yards, four touchdowns this season) is 44-of-63 for 402 yards, three interceptions and three touchdowns as the starter. Catalon has 359 yards and three touchdowns and Postma adds 165 yards, just ahead of Dillon Birden (145 yards, two TDs), who did not play last week. Defensive tackle Ed Oliver played a week after an MCL sprain and recorded four tackles for a defense that is allowing 16.2 points and has eight interceptions.
ABOUT TULSA (1-5, 0-2): Tulsa trailed 21-0 when Skipper (12-of-17 for 266 yards, TD) replaced President (71-of-126 for 809 yards, two INTs and two TDs and 365 rushing yards, five TDs). Tulsa had two passes of more than 40 yards in its first five games before Skipper recorded three completions of at least 50 yards. D'Angelo Brewer (six rushing TDs) is second in the AAC with 684 yards while freshman Shamari Brooks adds 393 yards and six scores.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Houston WR Steven Dunbar has 30 catches for 355 yards while Linell Bonner - who did not play last week while on concussion protocol - has 32 catches for 300 yards and three scores.
2. Tulsa WR Justin Hobbs (29 catches, 449 yards) has two of the team's three touchdown receptions.
3. Houston has 137 takeaways since 2013 - the most among FBS teams - including 11 this season.
PREDICTION: Houston 45, Tulsa 31