The complete collapse of the Golden Hurricanes this year is one of the biggest story line sin C-USA. Tulsa has given up 33.3 points per game, while a once explosive offense averages just over 23. The other big surprise through the conference? Tulane, who is now 5-2 after winning two close games by a combined 6 points against North Texas and East Carolina.
When Tulsa has the ball:
The Tulsa offense hasn't been very good this year. Starting at their own 29 normally, the Golden Hurricanes have averaged just 28 yards per drive. They go three and out on 30% of their drives, while having just 25 of their 82 drives get to the red zone. Senior signal caller Cody Green hasnt been sharp this season, completing just 55.4% of his passes for 6.8 yards per attempt with a nearly 1:1 TD:Int ratio. Third downs have been his struggle this year, where he is completing only 46% of his passes, and has converted just 25% of third down attempts in long situations. Jordan James has been his main target, catching 21 passes for 296 yards. 14 of his catches have bene for first downs, and six have been for more than 15 yards. The only truly efficient player on the offense has been RB Trey Watts, who has 565 yards on 115 carries on the ground and another 255 through the air. Watts has been better in the second half of games than the first, averaging 5.6 yards per carry with 19 first downs and 10 runs of more than 10 yards. The offensive line hasnt done him many favors though, with a low stufffed ranking (helping to lead to just a 50% conversion rate on third and less than 3). They have though been good in pass protection, allowing just 4.2% of passing attempts to be hurried.
The Green Wave have given up 5.2 yards per play to opposing offenses this year, suffocating most run games by allowing only 2.96 yards per attempt. Theyev also been able to keep opponents out once they reach the redzone, allowing scores on just 77% of those drives. They make plays in the backfield, totaling 55 by 20 different players. DE Julius Warmsley leads the team with eight, and has seventeen overall with three sacks. Safety Sam Scofield is second on the team with 6.5 tackles for loss amongst his 48 stops, and has five passes defended. They Green Wave do create turnovers, with CB Lorenzo Doss picking of four passes and 8 players having at least one int. This hasn't meant they arent vulnerable through the air though, allowing a 59% completion rate and 7.2 yards per attempt.
When Tulane has the ball:
The headline grabber for Tulane thiss year has been Nick Montana, son of the infamous Joe. Nick hadn't been perfect, but he was having a solid enough season as a first year starter. However, he missed last week's win against the Pirates when Devin Powell completed 59% of his passes for 5.7 yards per attempt. Montana was especially limited in practice this week, so it will be likely Powell sees playing time again. He does luckily have an excellent receiver in Ryan Grant, who is averaging 13.3 yards per catch. He has 14 receptions of more than 15 yards, and has converted 12 of 15 third down grabs. Orleans Darkwa averages 4.15 yards per carry on the ground, but has reached the century mark only once this season. Battery mate Rob Kelley is slightly more explosive, with ten of his 55 carries going for more than ten yards.
Its that ground game that Tulsa will have to be better against, after allowing 4.33 yards per carry on the ground. Last week was the first this season hey kept opposing backs out of the end zone, and only once this season have they kept opposing backs under four yards per carry. They have only made 32 stops in the backfield, only just over 5 per game. Shawn Jackson is the leader of the front seven, with 6.5 tackles for loss and 57 total stops to go with a team high three ints. DB Michael Mudoh though leads the team with 71 tackle, and has a pass defended.
Whats our take:
Its actually pretty surprising that Tulane has been able to accomplish what they have already. They go 3 and out on almost 40% of their drives and average just 21 yards per drive. But, they were impressive last week in getting past East Carolina on the road. Neither offense really has been very efficient, and so playing the under could be a safe bet. However, we'll take Tulsa -3 as the play, since theyre a better team overall and are slightly healthier.
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