Tulsa at Tulane Preview: Homecoming at Yulman
Tulsa Golden Hurricane @ Tulane Green Wave
Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. CT
Yulman Stadium (Homecoming) | ESPNU
Both teams enter 4-4. Tulane is 2-2 in the American after the overtime win at Charlotte. Tulsa is 1-3 in the league and coming off a bye.
Series is 13-8 Tulsa all-time; the Wave have won the last three, including 31-14 last year.
Early line has Tulsa as a slight favorite.
Part 1: Tulane and Tulsa
Tulane Green Wave
Year 1 under Will Hall. The offense has settled on true freshman Trace Johnson after the early carousel.
He's been efficient in recent starts (284 yards and a late tying score at Charlotte).
The backfield is deep and explosive, Johnnie Daniels (493 yards, 6.2 ypc, 6 TDs), Maurice Turner, and Jaylin Lucas.
Destyn Hill leads the receivers (390 yards).
The defense is still the identity piece under Tayler Polk and Nate Fuqua (Jack Tchienchou, Dickson Agu, Ed Smith IV), even if the run defense has been leaky.
Homecoming atmosphere at Yulman, let's see if it's real.
The Wave just showed they can finish a game on the road in overtime.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Tre Lamb's second year.
Baylor Hayes has grown into a legitimate dual-threat (1,343 yards, 10 TDs, 2 INTs).
After two straight years with 1,000-yard backs, this year has featured a shared backfield with Cade McConnell (435 yards) and Greg Morgan (366 yards).
Their receivers are unproven, with Kamdyn Benjamin leading in receptions and Michael Williams in yards.
Tulsa will test Tulane's still-developing run defense.
Part 2: The Matchups
Offensive showdown: Tulsa is a middle-of-the-pack rushing team in the American, and Tulane's run defense will attempt to hold the front.
This is where the game might find its 'grind' feel, with neither side having much defensive breathing room.
In the air: Tulane could exploit Tulsa's 120th-ranked pass defense, currently sitting in the bottom half of the nation. Tulsa's secondary is allowing 280.5 yards per game, 10.6 yards per attempt.
Bottom-line: Tulane's run game needs to attack with depth, and Trace Johnson needs to play within himself and let the receivers and the backfield work.
X-Factor: Tulane's run defense. Tulsa's top back Cade McConnell's pass-catching threat will need to be accounted for all day. If Tulane doesn't control Tulsa early, the Hurricane will dictate the tempo.
Part 3: Early Betting Previews
Early Markets: Houston is favored by 2.5 points over East Carolina, while Tulsa is a 4.5-point favorite in the Tulane matchup, paying -185 on the moneyline.
The total for the Tulane/Tulsa game is set at 50.5, with the under shifting to -115.
Over/Under Odds: The under opens at -110, with the over at -105.
All lines can shift before kickoff.
It's hard to read too much into the matchup picture; early lines have Tulsa as a slight favorite, but that could change with homecoming momentum, weather, and noise.
This is open to shift. Houston covered games at -2.5, their loss earlier this season to UAB?
Early betting preview based on early U.S. sportsbook lines as of Nov 6, 2026.
Part 4: Prediction and Game Flow
Game Script: Tulane just survived a late surge at Charlotte, winning in OT. Tulsa has come off a bye, giving them time to prepare.
While neither defense is elite, expect a moderate pace and both teams trading blows. Tulane has the better defense but also a less reliable backfield in ball security.
X-Factor: turnovers. Who blinks first?
The Flamingo's new chink in the armor from the Charlotte game, loss of key RB Rubin who could be a key loss in this one.
Prediction: Tulane 31, Tulsa 24.
Wrap Up: More preview content from after this drop. Follow @RollDatWave for all the latest.
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