KC Star Tulsa preview

[The PonyGrad]

FACTS & STATS: Site: Gerald J. Ford Stadium (32,000) -- Dallas, Texas. Television: Time Warner Cable. Home Record: Tulsa 2-0, SMU 2-1. Away Record: Tulsa 1-2, SMU 1-1. Neutral Record: Tulsa 0-0, SMU 0-0. Conference Record: Tulsa 1-1, SMU 2-0. Series Record: SMU leads, 11-6.

GAME NOTES: The Golden Hurricane of Tulsa head to Dallas to take on the SMU Mustangs in a Conference USA battle at Gerald J. Ford Stadium this weekend.

Tulsa comes into this weekend's matchup with wins in its last two games, including last Saturday's 48-7 rout against Conference USA rival Memphis.

SMU heads back home after defeating the Rice Owls 42-31 on the road. After losing the season-opener to Texas Tech, the Mustangs have won three of their last four games, with the only loss coming against nationally-ranked TCU.

This Saturday's showdown marks the 18th time these programs will face-off. SMU currently holds an 11-6 advantage in the all-time series, including a 27-13 victory over the Golden Hurricane in 2009.

Tulsa's offense has been incredibly productive, averaging 39.8 points per contest while scoring over 40 points three times this season, including last weekend's 48-7 beating against Memphis. Quarterback G.J. Kinne has stood out, completing 62.2 percent of his passes while averaging 284 yards per game. Kinne has thrown 13 touchdowns this season but needs to cut down his interceptions as he has already been picked off six times. He has also scampered for two rushing touchdowns. Senior halfback Charles Clay leads the receivers with four touchdowns on the season, catching 19 passes for 215 yards.

On the other side of things, the Golden Hurricane defense started the 2010 campaign in terrible fashion. Opponents gained over 1,550 yards against Tulsa in the first three contests of the year, averaging an unprecedented 521 yards per game. However, the Tulsa defense has been able to right itself in the past two showdowns, giving up just 526 total yards combined and averaging 263 yards per contest. After holding Central Michigan to 318 yards of offense two weeks ago, the Golden Hurricane allowed only 207 total yards in the team's deciding victory at Memphis.

SMU's offense is led by the one-two punch of quarterback Kyle Padron and running back Zach Line. Padron helped lead the Mustangs to a 42-31 victory over at Rice last weekend, completing 24 of his 32 pass attempts for 371 yards and three touchdowns, snapping a 24-year losing streak on the road against the Owls. Receiver Aldrick Robinson had eight catches, two for touchdowns, amassing 148 yards on the day, while Cole Beasley snatched 8 balls for 158 yards. Zach Line ran for one touchdown on just 11 carries for 45 yards, but averages 103.8 yards per game this season while finding the end zone four times.

The Mustangs have one of the best rushing defenses in the Conference USA so far in 2010, allowing their opponents to gain an average of 111.2 yards per game on the ground, good enough for second in the conference and 27th in the nation. The Mustangs have also allowed just five rushing touchdowns in their five games played so far. SMU had a bit of a hiccup in that regard last week in the win over Rice as the Owls scored three times on the ground on 120 yards rushing. The Mustangs have allowed and average of just over 245 yards per game through the air, while opponents quarterbacks have thrown for eight touchdowns.

Tulsa's defense has made quite the turn-around in recent weeks, but with the consistent combination of Padron, Line and the SMU receivers, look for the Mustangs to ultimately come out of this weekend with a hard-earned victory.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: SMU 37, Tulsa 33



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[OR-See-Nee]

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[rlm1951]

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