UL Monroe @ Tulsa preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 30, 2007 ) Tulsa 35, UL Monroe 17

Tulsa will try to avoid looking too far ahead when it hosts ULM on Saturday in a non-conference tilt. The Golden Hurricane faces a visit to American Athletic East Division contender East Carolina the following week before hosting West-leading and undefeated No. 25 Memphis in a prime-time game on Friday, Oct. 23.

That gives Philip Montgomery's squad three straight challenges to begin the league slate - including last week's 38-24 setback against Houston. The Warhawks will not be overwhelmed with the visit to Tulsa after having traveled to Georgia and Alabama earlier in the year, and hosting Sun Belt favorite Georgia Southern last week. Garrett Smith threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns in that affair but also had three interceptions - giving him five in the last two weeks - in a 51-31 loss. ULM head coach Todd Berry played quarterback at Tulsa in 1979 and 1980 before suffering a career-ending injury.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPN3.com. LINE: Tulsa -9.5

ABOUT ULM (1-3): The Warhawks are playing with heavy hearts a week after the sudden death of junior college transfer quarterback Daniel Fitzwater - who was out for the year with a knee injury - before the Georgia Southern game. "It was heartbreaking for them, at that moment, and still is now," Berry told reporters Tuesday. "In my coaching career, it was the hardest time that I've ever had, having to send those guys out to play a game, when they were weeping in pregame talk." The squad also had to dismiss safety Justin Backus - who had started 18 straight games - and wide receiver Tre' Perrier in the past week.

ABOUT TULSA (2-2): Dane Evans can continue his climb up the charts at Tulsa, as he needs 325 passing yards to leap John Fitzgerald (5,822) and move into fourth place alone on the school's career list. He has thrown for at least 321 yards in each game this season and went 125 passes without an interception before throwing one against Houston in the third quarter. Receivers Keyarris Garrett and Josh Atkinson both have three 100-yard games already but leading wideout Keevan Lucas (knee) is out for the year.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Warhawks WR Ajalen Holley has 25 catches for 359 yards and two touchdowns over his last three games.

2. The Golden Hurricane won the prior meeting 35-17 at ULM in 2007.

3. Tulsa's offense ranks seventh in FBS play with 569.2 yards per game.

PREDICTION: Tulsa 34, ULM 26