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GREG'S GAME DAY BREAKDOWN

Tulsa at East Carolina

Nov. 9, 2013 —  3:45 p.m.
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium
TV: Fox Sports Net

By Greg Vacek
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Game Day Weather

Hurricane Warning

Another game, and it's another switch up at quarterback for the opposing team as Tulsa redshirt freshman Dane Evans is expected to start under center when the Golden Hurricane blows onto the field in East Carolina's homecoming game today. For the season, Evans has completed 47 percent of his passes for 399 yards, with four touchdown passes against four interceptions. The Golden Hurricane will commit to the run with senior tailback/return specialist Trey Watts leading the way. Watts has had two 200-plus-yards all-purpose games this year, including 247 vs. Colorado State and 231 yards at Oklahoma. Tulsa has four 200-plus-yards rushing games this year, including 215 against Colorado State, 222 against Rice, 204 against Texas-El Paso and 205 at Tulane. But the Hurricane will have to connect on some pass plays to prevail. While East Carolina leads Conference USA in total defense and rushing defense, the Pirates are only 11th in pass defense.

The Pirates attempt to move their record to 7-2 for first time since 1999 and post their eighth-straight Homecoming victory. On the other side, Tulsa is one loss away from eliminating a chance at bowl eligibility, something that's not lost on coach Bill Blankenship.  "We can count. It's something we get reminded of pretty regularly," he said Thursday. 

The Pirates can't afford to relax against the defending Conference USA champions.  Two of Tulsa's league losses came against West Division leaders Rice and Tulane. The games were decided by an average of 5 points — a three-point overtime loss against Rice and a seven-point loss at Tulane. This year, despite a disappointing season, Tulsa's players still say they have too much drive to give up on their 2-6 season.  "It's not over until it's over. We're going to keep battling," said Blankenship.

 And that's what I expect from the Pirates also if they want to win a championship.
 

 
Tulsa
Rank / Value
Tale of the Tape* ECU
Rank / Value
92/80 Total Offense 46/437.9
80/154.4 Rushing Offense 113/102.8
78/215.9 Passing Offense 10/335.1
106/20.1 Scoring Offense 30/36.8
64/393.1 Total Defense 15/332.8
97/198.1 Rushing Defense 3/85.3
14/195.0 Passing Yards Allowed 88/247.5
54/124.15 Team Passing Efficiency Defense 57/124.32
88/31.0 Scoring Defense 34/22.1
117/-1.3 Turnover Margin T-46/0.3
97/0.349 3rd Down Conversion Pct 13/0.516
56/0.380 3rd Down Conversion Pct Defense 89/0.425
83/0.800 Red Zone Offense 54/0.848
109/0.909 Red Zone Defense 6/0.680

*2013 FBS National Ranking
 


Top Performers at a Glance

PASSING  Comp-Att-Int. YDS. TD

Tulsa- D Evans 36-77-4 399 2
ECU – S Carden 251-341-5 2589 19

RUSHING ATT. YDS. AVG. TD

Tulsa – T Watts 151 737 4.9 5
ECU - V Cooper 131 561 4.3 6

RECEIVING NO. YDS. AVG. TD

Tulsa – K Lucas 24 347 14.5 1
ECU - J Hardy 72 901 12.5 5

TACKLES UA A TFL/YDS SACKS/YDS

Tulsa – S Jackson 50 24 74 10.0-34 1.0-6
ECU – D Johnson 21 30 10.0-49 4.5-36

WORTH NOTING
 


• Tulsa is 22-6 against C-USA East Division teams since joining the league in 2005. ...Three of Tulsa's East Division losses have come against East Carolina.  ECU has won the last three games between the teams, including a 51-49 victory on a "Hail Mary" in Greenville in the 2010 season opener.
 

• Tulsa's current scoring average of 20.1 points is its lowest since 2002. During the previous six seasons, the Hurricane averaged 64 offensive touchdowns per season. ECU’s current scoring average is 36.8 points, while the Pirates have allowed only 22.1 points per game.
 

• Tulsa has turned the ball over 22 times in eight games this season, including 12 fumbles and 10 interceptions. ... Tulsa's season high for turnovers numbers four — on three occasions, coming against Iowa State, Tulane and Texas-San Antonio. ECU has won nine of the last 10 games when forcing two or more turnovers.
 

• East Carolina has received
the opening kickoff in 19-straight games, the second-longest active streak nationally (23/San Diego State). Of those 19 possessions, the Pirates have cashed in nine with TDs (2-of-11 in ‘12, 7-of-8 so far in ‘13)
 

• OLB Montese Overton tallied six solo stops last Saturday in ECU's win over Florida International. Three of the tackles were pivotal second half sacks (two on third down in the third period and a fourth-down drop in the final quarter). ... Overton and DE Lee Pegues (against Florida Atlantic) have both turned in three-sack performances this year, which stands as the second-highest single game total among all FBS pass rushers nationally in 2013
 

Schemes:Tulsa utilizes a no-huddle spread offensive attack while employing 4-3 defensive alignment. ECU will also line up in a spread offense and presents a multiple 3-4 unit on defense.
 

 

Read Greg Vacek's Complete Analysis of Today's Opponent on Boneyard Banter...

GAME DAY WEATHER

It should be a good fall day for football although temperatures will drop after kickoff from the upper 50s into the upper 40s by game's end. You can leave the rain gear at home as there is a zero percent chance of precipitation, according to the National Weather Service. Humidity will be 38 percent at the start of the game and should be 63 percent when the closing cannon sounds. Generally sunny and clear with about five percent cloud cover is the forecast. Wins will diminish from five miles per hour south-southwest to three mph during the Conference USA contest. (Filed by Al Myatt)

Full-size animated radar loop and forecast discussion...

Key Links: Keys to the Game | C-USA at a Glance | ECU Recruiting | ECU Schedule

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PAGE UPDATED 11/09/13 03:26 AM.

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