Brent Venables and his offense are under pressure to find answers after last week’s troubling performance, and they’re also looking ahead to a spectacular SEC opener in college football a week from now when No. 15 Oklahoma hosts Group of Five challenger Tulane for Week 3 action on Saturday.
Tulane is no slouch: Despite a significant coaching change in the offseason, the team has the longest active road winning streak in the country at 10 games, has a 24-6 record over the past two years, and nearly knocked off a higher-ranked Kansas State team at home last Saturday.
Green Wave tailback Makhi Hughes surpassed 100 yards rushing last week and fits well with quarterback Darian Mensah, who has performed well in the previous two games.
Oklahoma beat Temple in its opening game, but it was a much closer game than expected against a Houston team that was expected to finish at the bottom of the Big 12. Oklahoma ultimately won 16-12, and Venables said his team may have deserved the loss.
What to expect from this matchup Here’s what to look for when Oklahoma and Tulane face off in this Week 3 college football game with our updated prediction.
1. Green wave on the attack. Mensah was overlooked in the preseason but earned the top spot with his performance in two games, rushing for 547 yards with 4 touchdowns and 342 yards with 2 scores against K-State.
He can force the Sooners to spread their defense, using some solid receivers like former OU transfer Mario Williams. Those could have the combined effect of opening up running lanes inside for Hughes, who ran for 1,378 yards last fall, to move the chains and extend offenses.
2. The dynamics of the Sooners. OU’s offensive line was a problem area early in the season after replacing all five of its starting linemen and the offense failed to score consistently last week.
Oklahoma managed just 252 total yards and ran 2.8 yards per touch against a Houston rush defense that allowed nearly 200 yards rushing in the opener. Injuries played a role on the line and at receiver, but they were able to find angles against a Tulane front that allowed nearly 5 yards per carry.
3. Go deeper. Tulane has defended the pass admirably through two games so far, allowing opponents just two catches of over 20 yards, while Oklahoma is tied nationally with eight forced turnovers and is No. 1 in college football with a turnover percentage of over 7. Both defenses pose a real challenge when the ball is in the air.
Lines provided courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
Oklahoma: -13.5 (-106)
Tulane: +13.5 (-114)
OU wins: -600
Tulane win: +430
Over 45.5 points: -118
Below 45.5 points: -104
The fourth quarter is expected to be exciting, as the Green Wave, combined with a seemingly legitimate and versatile attack, poses a serious hurdle in pass defense.
But when it comes to being more physical at the line, the Sooners’ defense may have the edge. They had 7 tackles for loss and held Houston to 1.7 yards per carry.
Maybe the Sooners won’t be quite as successful against some decent Tulane winners led by Mensah and Hughes, but creating a new dimension in Tulane’s offense will be the final piece of this puzzle.
College Football HQ’s selection…
More … Oklahoma vs. Tulane score prediction by an expert football model
When: Saturday, September 14
Time: 2:30 p.m. Central
TV: ESPN Network
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The game odds are updated regularly and are subject to change.
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