Football
November 20,2015

Tulane vs. Tulsa Prediction, Game Preview

The Tulsa Golden Hurricane (5-6) must defeat the Tulane Green Wave (3-8) Friday night to reach bowl eligibility. Check out the Tulane vs. Tulsa prediction and game preview.

Tulane vs. Tulsa Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Friday, November 27
Game Time: 8:00 ET
Venue: Yulman Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana
Network: ESPNU

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Why You Need To Care

Tulsa would desperately love to earn a bowl berth so that the first-year staff can spend a part of December coaching up the kids. Those extra 15 practices and four quarterbacks would positively Philip Montgomery’s blueprint for 2016. But after dropping back-to-back games to Cincinnati and Navy, the Hurricane must still defeat Tulane to qualify. The Green Wave has won just once in the last seven games, getting blitzed last Saturday by SMU, 49-21. Curtis Johnson is now 15-33 after four seasons, and is in danger of coaching his final game with the program.

Why Tulsa Will Win

The Hurricane offense versus the Green Wave D is a mismatch favoring the visiting team. Tulsa has been potent and balanced all year, averaging 35 points per game behind the passing of Dane Evans and a deep ground game that’s birthed three 400-yard backs, Zack Langer, D’Angelo Brewer and Ramadi Warren. Tulane, meanwhile, has been a sieve that allowed 323 yards and six touchdowns on the ground to SMU.

Why Tulane Will Win

Sure, Tulsa can score in bunches, but its inability to make stops is the reason why it’s still under .500. The Hurricane stands last in the American in total defense, giving up 531 yards per game. If a track meet breaks out at Yulman Stadium, Tulane is capable of keeping pace with Tanner Lee over the top and Dontrell Hilliard, who’s rushed for 175 yards the past two weeks, between the tackles.

Player Who Matters

If Tulsa wants to reach the .500 mark and earn a bonus game, it ought to ride the legs of Langer and Brewer, who each bring something a little different to the offense. After watching the film of Tulane being bullied on the ground by SMU, Montgomery just might be content to run behind Evan Plagg and Chris Wallace, putting Evans in the kinds of second-and-short situations in which he’s most effective.

What’s Going To Happen?

The Golden Hurricane has the want-to and the superior offense to grab a win in New Orleans and bowl for the first time in three years. The Green Wave defense is trending in the wrong direction, capped by last week’s awful showing in Dallas. Tulsa will use the run to set up the pass, sending Tulane to its second straight three-win season.