Tulsa @ Oklahoma preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2011 ) Tulsa 14, Oklahoma 47

Quarterback Blake Bell will make his first career start when No. 13 Oklahoma hosts in-state foe Tulsa on Saturday. Starter Trevor Knight suffered a bruised right knee late in the first half of the Sooners' 16-7 victory over West Virginia last week and left the game after three quarters in favor of Bell with Oklahoma ahead 13-7. Knight is expected to up to two weeks, but could miss only one game as the Sooners are off next week prior to their showdown at No. 21 Notre Dame on Sept. 28.

It may not matter who plays quarterback for Oklahoma as its defense has yielded seven points in two games - the fewest allowed by an FBS school that has faced two FBS teams. The Golden Hurricane, voted to win the Conference USA West Division in the preseason poll, were headed for an 0-2 start before rallying from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Colorado State 30-27 last week. Julius Caesar (Trey) Watts III, son of former Sooners star quarterback and U.S. Congressman J.C. Watts, is responsible for 251 of Tulsa's 700 yards and should attract the majority of Oklahoma's attention.

TV: Noon ET, ESPN2. LINE: Oklahoma -24

ABOUT TULSA (1-1): Watts rushed for 152 yards against Colorado State and his 45-yard jaunt with less than a minute remaining set up Carl Salazar's 34-yard field goal as time expired. All four defensive linemen started their first career game in the Golden Hurricane's 34-7 season-opening loss at Bowling Green and 13 of the 22 players on its two-deep roster are freshmen and sophomores. Senior quarterback Cody Green bounced back from a sub-par performance in the opener by finishing 21-of-39 for 212 yards and three touchdowns against Colorado State.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA (2-0): While Bell is only 13-of-26 passing for 153 yards in his career, the redshirt junior has rushed for 403 yards and 24 touchdowns. Bell - along with Brennan Clay (30 carries, 213 yards, touchdown) - could have a big day against a Golden Hurricane defense which has yielded 411 rushing yards in their first two games as the Sooners have averaged 310.5. Oklahoma's defense forced four turnovers against West Virginia, with safety Gabe Lynn recording an interception and fumble recovery en route to being named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Oklahoma is trying for three consecutive 300-yard rushing games for the first time since 1988, when they recorded 360 at Colorado, 463 versus Kansas and 424 against Oklahoma State.

2. Tulsa's opponents have scored on all nine trips inside the 20 (six touchdowns).

3. Oklahoma leads the series 17-7-1, including 11-3-1 at home. The Sooners won the last meeting 47-14 in 2011 and are 6-0 against the Golden Hurricane under coach Bob Stoops.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma 38, Tulsa 14