After two of three games on the road to start the season, Tulsa returns home to Chapman Stadium for three of the next four starting with Saturday afternoon's game against New Mexico. The Golden Hurricane's lone victory on the season came at home against Louisiana 66-42 on Sept. 9.
Tulsa carries one of the nation’s top ground attacks into the game, ranking third in FBS at 363.7 yards per contest.
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TV: 1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3. LINE: Tulsa -10
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D’Angelo Brewer leads the way with 447 yards, fourth-most in the country while his 262 yards against Lafayette is the top single-game mark in the nation this season.
Brewer, along with fellow running back Shamari Brooks and quarterback Chad President, each rushed for more than 100 yards in last week’s 54-51 loss to Toledo, the first time Tulsa had three players rush for more than 100 yards in the same game since Nov. 1, 1986.
That ground attack will be challenged by a stingy Lobos' rush defense that has allowed only 78 yards per game, ranked seventh in FBS.
ABOUT TULSA (1-2)
The Golden Hurricane need to shore things up defensively after allowing at least 42 points in all three games this season, leaving them 128th out of the 129 FBS teams in points allowed at 51.7 per contest. Tulsa has been susceptible to giving up the big play, allowing Toledo five scoring plays of 49 or more yards. President is completing 58.7 percent of his throws with Justin Hobbs (16 catches, 242 yards) recording the only passing touchdown.
ABOUT NEW MEXICO (1-2)
The Lobos feature a clock-control, ball possession type of game by averaging 66.7 plays per game. Combined with a run defense that has held its opponents to fewer than 128 yards on the ground in the first three games, New Mexico likes to control things on both sides of the line of scrimmage. In the early stages of the season, the Lobos have used three different quarterbacks to leads an efficient offense, keeping teams honest when they throw the ball, but completing only 40 percent of the 72 pass attempts on the season.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The combined total points in Tulsa’s first three games is 296.
2. Tulsa leads the series 5-2, winning the last three meetings by an average of 31.7 points.
3. New Mexico has had six different leading rushers in the past six games.
PREDICTION: Tulsa 44, New Mexico 24