NEW ORLEANS – A very promising season took a turn over the last two games for Tulane, which will try to avoid a three-game slide when it hosts Tulsa on Saturday. The Green Wave were off to their best start since the 1998 squad went undefeated before getting crushed at Memphis and falling at Navy on a last-second field goal.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, ESPN 2. LINE: Tulane -10.5
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Tulane, which can become bowl eligible with a win on Saturday, has yet to suffer a home loss and is intent on getting off to a better start after falling behind early in the last two contests. "You cannot rely on hanging on in the ball game and just figuring it out," Green Wave coach Willie Fritz told reporters. "If you do that against good teams, you will get behind by so much that you will not be able to catch up. We have to do a much better job in the first quarter." The Golden Hurricane are still searching for their first American Athletic Conference victory but nearly knocked off Memphis at home Saturday and is ready for a breakthrough. "I think there's a lot of talent in our league, a lot of great coaches in our league and every week is a battle," Tulsa coach Phil Montgomery told reporters. "I think we're a good football team. Our record doesn't show it. ... So, top to bottom, especially on the west side of it, I think it's really, really tough."
ABOUT TULSA (2-6, 0-4 AAC)
The Golden Hurricane totaled 584 yards against Memphis with a balanced attack that included 275 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. “I think we could still do even more since we have such a talented offense with so many guys who can make plays,” Tulsa running back Corey Taylor II told reporters. “I’m just looking forward to being able to capitalize on those things and keep working on those things in the future.” Taylor, who totaled one TD in his first seven games, accounted for three of those rushing scores while quarterback Zach Smith enjoyed his third 300-yard passing game of the season.
ABOUT TULANE (5-3, 2-2)
The Green Wave allowed a total of 88 points in the last two games after surrendering an average of 19.2 in the first six contests and is looking for a more consistent performance on that side of the field. “Besides the last drive, and one other drive in the second half, really in the middle of the second quarter on, we started playing pretty good defense,” Fritz told reporters, referencing the Navy loss. “You have to play good defense the whole game.” Tulane isn’t having as much trouble on offense and is eighth in FBS in rushing at an average of 257.6 yards with quarterback Justin McMillan’s 415 yards and nine rushing TDs leading the way.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Tulsa RB Shamari Brooks (2,342) is 10th on the school's all-time rushing list.
2. Tulane WR Darnell Mooney recorded a receiving TD in each of the last three games.
3. The Green Wave has won the last two meetings, including a 24-17 victory at Tulsa last season.
PREDICTION: Tulane 38, Tulsa 31