Rice travels to Tulsa for key C-USA West Division matchup

Homecoming can always be such a tricky proposition for any team. It’s a week filled with off-the-field distractions mixed in with some work.

So the challenge for the Tulsa coach Todd Graham and his staff has been making sure the Golden Hurricane is ready to play a very important Conference USA west division game against Rice Saturday at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium.

First place is on the line.

Tulsa (4-0, 1-0) has shown no mercy toward any of its first four opponents as it has averaged nearly a national best 55 points and a national best 600.8 yards per game. But Rice (3-2, 2-0) has been equally proficient scoring 41 points per game.

The winner of this game controls its destiny in the division because it would win the head-to-head matchup. The Golden Hurricane is quietly making its case to get into the BCS conversation. Should it get through this game, it’s likely last two toughest games are Nov. 1 at Arkansas and Nov. 15 at Houston.

Rice coach David Bailiff fully appreciates the uphill climb his team has in front of it.

“They are something special to watch,’’ Bailiff said, “because of all of the different personnel packages formations, gadgets, hard counts and everything they do. We’re going to have to have a great week of preparation.’’

After Paul Smith graduated, sitting on the bench for most of his career didn’t appear to affect senior quarterback David Johnson. This season Johnson has been brilliant competing 74 percent of his passes for 1,505 yards and 19 touchdown passes. That includes a pair of 400+ games against North Texas and New Mexico.

The diversity of the Tulsa offense is that Johnson can distribute because 11 different players have caught at least one pass. But Brennan Marion has been the big target averaging 24 yards per catch. And the running game has been the perfect compliment averaging 210 yards per game.

So the Rice defensive coaching staff has had to decide what it wants to do. Does it want to apply pressure on Johnson to disrupt the timing of the offense? Or does it want to give some of the underneath routes be crisp with its tackling after the catch.

Obviously, North Texas, UAB, New Mexico and Central Arkansas didn’t have the right answer.

“We’ve got to be great tacklers,’’ Bailiff said. “We’ve got to come up with some turnovers. You know that’s going to be one of the big keys to this football game.’’

Indeed, this should be a game where points and yards will be plentiful. Rice’s offense has been very efficient behind senior quarterback Chase Clement who is making his case for CUSA offensive player of the year. He’s thrown for 1,427 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Clement’s target is always senior Jarett Dillard who has already caught 10 touchdown passes.

There won’t be many punts but whoever forces more of them, likely walks away with the win.

Prediction: Tulsa 48, Rice 37

Notable

• Tulsa scored 50+ points for the three consecutive games for the first time since the 1920 season.
• When these two teams have met, Tulsa coach Todd Graham has never lost. As the coach at Rice in 2006, the Owls won. Last year in Houston when he was in his first year at Tulsa, the Golden Hurricane won.
• Rice is plus 9 in the turnover ratio this season.

Rice (3-2, 2-0) at Tulsa (4-0, 1-0)
When: 7 p.m. CDT
Where: Tulsa, Okla.
TV: CBS College Sports Network
Series: 14th meeting. Rice leads, 7-5-1